VPN for Skype: Bypass All Restrictions

It’s true that Skype is available worldwide, and is also free to use (well, as long as you don’t make calls to landline or mobile numbers, of course). Despite that, you might still not be able to access and use the service due to various reasons:

Governments Censor Skype

While Skype itself doesn’t use geo-restrictions to prevent people from certain countries from using the service, some governments might use firewalls to block the service altogether instead. The ban period can be long-term, temporary, or indefinite, and – in some countries – there’s no telling when it can occur.

Here are some of the most notable examples of Skype being censored around the globe:

• China – It’s hardly surprising that VoIP services like Skype don’t work 100% of the time in China considering how many other platforms are blocked in the country. A lot of years ago, trying to access Skype’s website redirected you to a modified Chinese version of Skype. While that doesn’t seem to be an issue anymore, the fact that the app was removed from Android and Apple stores in the country isn’t a good sign either. If you check websites like TripAdvisor, Quora, and Reddit, you’ll find both people that say they can use Skype in China, and people who can’t, though the general consensus seems to be that you can’t use Skype without a VPN.
• Bangladesh – Skype was blocked by the government for a few days back in November 2018 due to political reasons. Luckily, the ban didn’t last long, though that does mean that Skype can be suddenly blocked any time the government wants in the future.
• Morocco – Back in 2016, the country blocked access to Skype alongside other VoIP services like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Viber. According to users on TripAdvisor and Reddit, you might be able to access Skype in Morocco, but Skype’s website says the service might still be blocked in the country. It’s likely that said users managed to use Skype with a VPN.
• The UAE – Skype has been blocked numerous times in the UAE, with the last recorded instance taking place in April 2019. Skype’s website also makes it clear that the service doesn’t work in the UAE since national ISPs block the service. While discussions about lifting the restrictions have taken place, not much has changed yet. Plus, given the government’s behavior, there’s no telling when they might randomly block Skype (and any other VoIP services) again.
• Russia – While there are no clear news about Skype being blocked in the country, the government’s data localization laws are a huge concern. Basically, those regulations require foreign companies to store Russian user info in data centers located in Russia. As far as we know, Microsoft hasn’t started doing that with Skype data yet, so there’s no telling when Russian authorities might start blocking Skype all of a sudden.
• North Korea – Seeing as how the country has its own intranet, and blocks access to the worldwide web, it’s safe to assume that Skype doesn’t work there. Still, it is worth noting that if you’re visiting the country, you might be able to use Skype at your hotel (though that’s a big “if”). Also, it seems that North Korean hackers have been able to use Skype in their cyber attacks.

Other countries where Skype continues to be blocked, or was blocked in the past include Belize, Kuwait, Vietnam, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, Qatar, Oman, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Jordan.

Why do many countries block Skype? It’s usually because some governments want people to use their own VoIP services, so that they can better track online users in their country. That, and they might also want to shut down any competition their own national ISP services might have because of these convenient VoIP platforms. Political, religious, and security-related reasons can also be at play.

Your ISP Can Block Skype

If you happen to live in or travel through one of the countries we mentioned above, the ISP you will be using to connect to the web will more than likely block access to Skype if the government requests it.

However, sometimes, ISPs can block Skype even if you are in a country where the service should normally be available. For example, an ISP who offers both telecommunication and Internet services could block Skype because they consider it a competitor. Alternatively, they might block the app because it eats up too much of their network bandwidth (basically, because too many of their clients use it).

Skype Can Be Blocked at Work or School

Unfortunately, even if your government or ISP aren’t preventing you from using Skype, you might still not be able to use the service if your workplace or school’s network admin is required to block the service with a firewall.

Why would something like that be a requirement? Because the company or school might think their employees/students would “slack off too much” if they’d be able to use Skype to talk with their friends. Some companies might even restrict access to Skype alongside any other VoIP service to prevent employees from leaking sensitive company info.

Whichever the case, it’s hardly fair that you can’t get to relax chatting with your best friend or significant other when taking a break from studying or work.

It’s tempting to do that, but it’s not really worth it. Here’s a quick overview of why free VPNs aren’t good options:

• Free VPN servers often experience a lot of downtime, and they can be overcrowded, which means you’ll get slow speeds. 
• Free VPN providers can’t usually afford to offer unlimited bandwidth or customer support, meaning you’ll need to put up with bandwidth caps and the fact that you’ll be on your own if anything goes wrong. 
• With a free VPN, you’re going to be exposed to tons of ads. They need to make money somehow, right?
• Free VPN providers can log your data, and sell it to third-party advertisers. 
• If you use a free VPN, you can be exposed to malware, and you can have your bandwidth stolen and sold. 

If you’d like to learn more about how free VPNs compare to paid VPNs, check out this in-depth article we wrote about that topic.

Well, in theory, a proxy server should let you unblock Skype since it hides your IP address and handles connection requests on your behalf. So, firewall restrictions shouldn’t be an issue. But the problem is that many proxy servers are often overcrowded and unstable (especially the “free” servers). That, and proxies don’t exactly offer the same level of security VPNs do.

Besides all that, it seems that you need to make sure you’re using a proxy server that has been specifically configured to connect to Skype – at least according to Skype’s own website. So, make sure you ask any proxy provider about that before using their services.

Also, you should know that a proxy server won’t 100% let you unblock Skype’s mobile applications. Proxies are generally used to unblock websites and web apps, not apps. Of course, there’s always a chance you might be successful, but just keep in mind that you’ll have better odds of unblocking Skype for Web instead.

All in all, it’s a safer bet to just use a VPN provider whose servers double as proxy servers. That way, you get the best of both worlds, and always have a backup plan if one service doesn’t work for you.

1. You’ll Get Better Security/Privacy

Skype offers pretty decent security – especially since it now provides end-to-end encryption with 256-bit AES. However, if you really care about your online privacy, you should know a couple of things:

• Back in 2014, cybercriminals were able to exploit a flaw in Skype to eavesdrop on Android online communications. While that issue happened a few years ago, and it was solved, what’s to say new security vulnerabilities won’t appear in the future again? Sure, they will likely be solved too, but during that period, your traffic will be vulnerable.
•  After Microsoft purchased Skype back in 2011, they implemented eavesdropping capabilities for Russian, US, and Chinese law enforcement agencies. There’s not a lot of recent info about that right now, so it’s hard to say if those backdoors are still active or not. Even if they allegedly aren’t, how can you be 100% sure Microsoft is telling the truth? That’s a company that willingly collaborates with the NSA, after all.

Even if you were to ignore all of the above, using a VPN for Skype will still provide you an extra layer of privacy that will help you keep annoying “personalized” ads at bay. Basically, since your Skype traffic and usage will no longer be so easily tracked, third-party advertisers won’t have such an easy time bombarding you with Skype-related ads on the web. Also, your traffic will be much safer when using public WiFi.

2. You Won’t Have to Deal With Bandwidth Throttling Anymore

If you’re not familiar with bandwidth throttling, here’s an article that might help you understand it. Basically, it’s when your ISP limits user bandwidth in an attempt to get rid of network congestion. It’s also a way for them to try and make more money by pressuring users into paying for a bigger data plan or pricier subscription.

Luckily, if you use a VPN for Skype, you won’t need to worry about your ISP lowering your speeds because you’re “spending too much data on Skype.” They won’t be able to see what you’re doing online, so they won’t manage to throttle your bandwidth.

3. You Might Get Better Pricing

Skype might be free to use, but if you plan on making any calls to landline or mobile numbers, you’re going to have to pay for them. The fees can normally be covered if you buy Skype Credit or get a Skype subscription. Depending on what country you are from, the rates can be pretty expensive, though.

“Okay, but what’s that got to do with a VPN? Call rates vary according to what country you’re calling, not where you’re calling from.”

Yes, that’s true, but here’s the thing – the total cost-per-minute will be different depending on your telecom provider. With some providers, you can get much better deals. We actually found out that with a Netherlands or Romanian IP address, we got a Skype deal that offered unlimited minutes for $7-8 per month. However, when we switched to a Polish IP address, the price dropped to around $4 per month – pretty much a half-price discount!

Overall, it’s not guaranteed that a VPN for Skype will help you save money, but there’s a chance that can happen, so it’s worth trying out if you’re looking to enjoy better call rates.