Most people reading this will be familiar with Skype, the most popular VoIP solution today. VoIPBuster is a stripped-down version of Skype with one essential difference – it’s cheaper. You may be wondering just how minimal is “stripped down”? There are no conference calls, video conversations, chat sessions and customer service is not all that, but for a price of free, many are willing to settle with what is on offer.

The program is basic, with tabs for your contact list, call history, buttons to dial and details of your current call. During a call the program takes control of your recording volume and while this feature is potentially very useful, it tended to gradually get lower and lower to a point beyond being comfortable. Setting the volume manually will work for a while but VoIPBuster showed real determination by pushing it down again. As recommended, the best way to secure a quality line is to use a headset. This point was driven home when we gave the external speakers a go and suddenly went from regular telephone quality to a crackly, echoing kind of static noise!

VoIPBuster is owned by a Swedish telecom company and although they circulate multiple versions of software similar to VoIPBuster, it doesn’t subtract from the fact that if you make regular calls to fixed numbers it will save you a considerable amount on those costs. To get started with unlimited free calls you must subscribe and charge your account with ten Euros worth of credit. A small price to pay for unlimited free calls, although bear in mind that credit does expire after a period, currently set at 120 days.

Download VoipBuster 3.00 in Softonic

SkypeCap isn't free (unless your recording is less than two minutes) but it does a pretty good job of ensuring that your Skype calls are recorded for posterity. Note that during installation, I was presented with an unspecified error. It didn't seem to hamper the performance of SkypeCap but doesn't exactly give a good first impression of the product.

Calls recorded in SkypeCap can be saved as MP3, WMA or AAC files; and video calls as Quicktime Movies (MOV), MPEG4, MPEG, VOB, PSP MPEG4, SWF and FLV. SkypeCap only kicks in when you initiate a Skype call (you'll have to allow SkypeCap to access Skype, which you'll be prompted to do when you start a call).

The recorder is very basic. There's a small equalizer to visualize sound levels and recording automatically starts and stops when your Skype call does. When the call ends, you're presented with the length of the call and a 'Save' dialog which also allows you to convert the recording into another format. Calls up to two minutes are recorded for free but anything beyond that you'll have to purchase a registration key.

SkypeCap is an easy-to-use and fully automatic Skype recorder, ideal for those that need recordings saved in multiple formats.

Download SkypeCap 3.7 in Softonic

If you're a Google Talk fan, like me, then the first good thing is that Gizmo5 and Google Talk are now connected. This means that Gizmo5 users can now send instant messages to Google Talk users but unfortunately, you can't call them although the developers promise that it's coming soon. To send Instant Messages, simply click on the IM icon next to your contacts name and you can instantly text other Gizmo5 users. One great feature of Gizmo5 is that you can perform free mobile phone and landline conference calling although you have to setup the system beforehand with the Gizmo5 FreeConferenceCall utility which can be tricky due to a few complicated configuration options. Another interesting feature is that Gizmo5 includes Asterisk PBX Support which means that you can now log into your virtual office with Asterisk PBX software. This basically means that you can receive calls and access your Gizmo5 phone wherever you are in the world. I also like the fact that it includes a free recorder which is something lacking in Skype.

Easy to use and integration with GTalk makes this a nice little app although it's calling rates need to be a lot more competitive before it can compete with Skype.

Download Gizmo5 4.0.0.386 in Softonic

For example, you may want to connect your personal account and your business account at the same time which you can do with Multi Skype Launcher if you have more than one webcam and microphone.

Before using Skype Multi Launcher, you have to configure it. The first step is to add several accounts with the Add button. To connect to one of them, select it and click Launch. Multi Skype Skype Launcher will then automatically connect as many accounts as you've added simultaneously.

Note that Skype Multi Launcher does not alter any of Skype's files - it is simply a patch which modifies the application's behavior and can be removed easily by uninstalling it as you would any other program.

Multi Skype Launcher is an excellent solution for anyone that needs to connect two Skype accounts.

Download Multi Skype Launcher 1.8 in Softonic

Skype for Business has the same features as the general public release, with the exception of a few details. In fact, the average user is unlikely to notice anything difference - only the Skype administrator will really see how it differs.

Skype for Business is easy to install, as it comes in an MSI file which is perfect for an extended number of computers. Above all, it offers more flexibility network administrators. From the Skype Manager homepage, you'll be able to log into your company account and manage the service from there. Employees using the service are known as Members, and they'll be able to join your network with new or existing Skype accounts.

Some of these features, for example, include allocation of credit, so your employees can call non-Skype numbers, or the disabling of calls to personal numbers. You can pay by a variety of methods, and can enable or disable auto-recharge. Once you've purchased credit, you can set about assigning features to different members. These features include call forwarding, subscriptions, voicemail and online numbers.

When it comes to the everyday basics of using Skype, you'll find that Skype for Business has all of the same features as the standard version. To find out more about them, read our Skype review!

Skype for Business is convincing. Average users get the service they are used to, while Skype administrators get flexible, professional control over use.

Download Skype for Business 6.1.32.129 in Softonic

Skype is one of the most popular VoIP clients out there, allowing you to call people all over the world for free or at low cost. Having multiple Skype accounts is useful for lots of things - distinguishing between work and personal life, for example - but you can't open more than one on a computer at any given time.

SkypeLauncher puts an end to this by allowing you to sign into as many Skype accounts as you want at the same time, so you'll be able to monitor all of your phone calls, no matter which account you are signed into. To use SkypeLauncher, just add all the accounts you want to sign into. You'll be able to modify these accounts at any time, adding new ones and removing ones you don't need any more.

SkypeLauncher is easy to use on a basic level, but it does offer lots of advanced settings that the average user isn't likely to bother with. If you need more information before jumping in, read the FAQ on the SkypeLauncher website and be aware that changing too many options could render the software unusable!

If you have multiple Skype accounts that you want open at once, try SkypeLauncher.

Download SkypeLauncher 1.6.5 in Softonic

VOIP Stunt is certainly one of the most eye-catching of the Skype copycats out there, due to the fact that it’s very, very cheap. It’s so cheap, in fact that it offers free calls from your PC to landlines in a wide range of countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Canada, Australia and the US. This of course, is even cheaper than calling with Skype, which applies an, albeit small, call charge. Even for those countries where calls to landlines aren’t free, the call charge with VOIP Stunt is generally cheaper than Skype.

Before you start ditching Skype and switching to this app, there are a couple of points you should consider. For starters, to use VOIP Stunt you need to have credit in your account in order to make calls, even free ones. While it may sound like a bit of a scam, the minimum top-up is only about $12, and credit remains in your account for 120 days, so it’s possible to make infinite calls to landlines (in the countries listed) while only paying this nominal fee every four months. Nevertheless, the service is still effectively a subscription-based system, but then the developers do have to make their money from somewhere.

It’s also worth noting that VOIP Stunt contains nowhere near the amount of features that Skype comes with. This means no instant messaging, no video conferencing and only a limited range of settings. This said, if you’re busy chatting away all night with your friends and family for nothing then you can quite easily forgive the application these shortcomings.

Download VOIP Stunt 4.02.487 in Softonic

The Skype Office Toolbar allows you to access the popular VOIP service directly from Microsoft Office applications, providing you with the use of all its many features.

The program is also great for quickly sending Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents toyour Skype contacts. You can even see when the author of a document is online and start communicating with them using Skype.

Download Skype Office Toolbar 1.1.0.10 in Softonic