While new options have made their way into the market over the years, Skype is still the most popular VoIP solution in the world. It supports over 40 languages and it works with multiple devices and platforms. Skype supports high quality voice calls, video chat, file sharing and text messaging. In addition, Skype lets you make calls on mobile or landline numbers at rates that are lower than the standard ones you pay to phone companies. Although Skype may be cheaper than other options, the rates may still be higher than expected due to different factors. For instance, when you call to mobile numbers, you are charged more. In addition, there are special fees per call and the consumed minutes are rounded up.
Thankfully, there is am easy way in which you can enjoy better rates when using Skype. First of all, it is important to mention that the calling rates vary from one country to another. For instance, users in the United States pay lower rates than those in Australia. Someone in the US would pay less for making international calls than those in other countries, so in order to get lower rates, the most practical solution would be to trick Skype into thinking that you are in the US. This is possible with the help of a VPN, a technology that allows you to disguise your real IP and location and that also offers additional benefits.
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and this service can direct all your internet traffic through a set of servers that are located in different countries. Your real IP address won’t be visible to others because when you connect to a VPN server, the IP is replaced with the server’s one. If you connect to a server in another country, you will appear as if you were in that location. This gives you access to websites and services that are only available there and in the case of Skype, it gives you the possibility of getting lower rates. VPNs also encrypt your online traffic so others won’t be able to find out what content you access, what websites you visit or anything else.
In order to get cheaper calls, Skype users can connect to a server in the United States so that they appear as if they were located in that country. This will reduce the rates that you pay and will give you flexibility to access other apps and services that are only available in the US. VPNs are also ideal for bypassing censorship and general restrictions so if Skype happens to be blocked in your location, you can use a VPN to get around the blocks. The encryption that a VPN offers also means that the privacy of your conversations will be protected since others won’t be able to see what you say when you use the text option or listen to the calls.
There are many VPN services available that allow you to connect to servers in the United States so that you enjoy lower rates on Skype. However, in order to get the best possible experience, it is important to choose the best vpn option that offers high quality, reliability, strong security and good speeds. This is why we recommend an option like ExpressVPN, a trusted provider that offers incredible speeds and strong security. They have servers in over 90 countries, including the United States, of course. ExpressVPN also has excellent software and it supports different platforms. Other great options to consider are Private Internet Access, which offers very affordable plans (you can pay as little as $3.33 per month if you go for the yearly plan) and NordVPN, a provider that is known for its solid commitment to privacy. Once you sign up for a VPN service, you just need to connect to a server in the United States to start enjoying better rates when making calls with Skype.