Slideshow: Voice chat for free on your PC

(Credit: Skype)

You don't need a fistful of dollars to make an international call, just a computer with a microphone, speakers, and one of the six applications we gathered together for you in this collection of free voice-chat apps (some offer upgrades to premium services.) As a bonus, all of these fine downloads offer video calls to let you put a face to a voice.

Voice chat for free on your PC

Jessica Dolcourt reviews the latest and greatest smartphone apps, in addition to a healthy dose of Windows software. E-mail Jessica and follow her on Twitter.

Topics:: Chat and e-mail,; Windows Software

Tags:: Voice chat,; video call,; VoIP,; Skype,; Yahoo Messenger,; VoxOx,; ooVoo,; Camfrog

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) (25 Comments)

by Joannec95 February 17, 2009 8:56 PM PST

Hello CNET.
We have been using skype for few weeks now. My parents and I have been using it every day. We love it. I am trying to get some of my friends to used it as well. Again Skype is great and it is very easy to use and download the program.

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by Youngrob70 February 17, 2009 11:51 PM PST: A program that is really good for voice and video is CQPHONE. It will work on slow connections very well too.
One little problem you may have to forward some ports.; Like this

by DaltonDan February 17, 2009 9:47 PM PST

There is another free video chat you are missing. Dell Video Chat powered by SightSpeed. Easy to use, picture and sound are great. One on one is free and they have the option for a fee to have up to four people on at one time. Look into this and let us know what you think. I like it much better than Windows Live messanger.

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by Dina Saur February 18, 2009 4:47 AM PST: I changed to SightSpeed in October - I have had horrendous problems. The call quality is poor and the customer support is almost non-existent. I have been emailing them since November, and requesting a refund. At the beginning customer support seemed to be working with me, but as the issue still continued, they stopped responding to my emails, yet have continued to take money each month from my account and not cancelled as requested.; Like this


by Madphil February 17, 2009 10:02 PM PST: Just a comment re Skype. I was video chatting with my daughter in Japan on Skype and she kept dropping off. So I asked her if she had upgraded to Version 4.0.0.xxxx. She wasn't sure but downloaded the new version from 3.8 and the video call stayed on for the next hour we talked. Obviously the different versions don't work well together so make sure you both have the same version.; Like this Reply to this comment

by realman_785 February 17, 2009 11:23 PM PST

thank u for u progrems such as it is so great wish u always sucess

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by BAHRAMI1340 February 19, 2009 12:58 AM PST: thank u for u progrems such as it is so great wish u always sucess; Like this


by ema609 February 18, 2009 1:29 AM PST: Hiii
I would like to know if any of these chat programs offer a free phone no where you can be
contacted on your pc. Or what is the cheapest phone no you can get on your pc.
I used to have aim free phone but they stopped giving a number
I am on dial up
thank you
Ema; Like this Reply to this comment


by alexferri001 February 18, 2009 1:46 AM PST: I should mention this chat add-on called ScreenCamera that I use to stream my Desktop while I am on Skype, and Live Messenger. It has great video resolution, works with my webcam, and is completely configurable including the frame-rate in which to stream the Desktop or parts of it.

It is really great and I can not chat without it, so I decided to mention it here in this post.

I think you can get ScreenCamera here:
http://www.pcwinsoft.com/screencamera/download.asp
http://www.pcwinsoft.com/screencamera/

Best,
Alex; Like this Reply to this comment


by February 18, 2009 2:44 AM PST: is this realy free els i don't want this.; Like this Reply to this comment


by addola4444 February 18, 2009 3:12 AM PST: cnet / Download.com is the best; Like this Reply to this comment


by johninc February 18, 2009 4:55 AM PST: I am waiting forever for an IM that permits video chat and file sharing across all systems. Trillian permits only messaging across all systems, but not video or file sharing. It seems no one is universally compatible in the IM world. What a shame!; Like this Reply to this comment


by rochgypsy February 18, 2009 5:33 AM PST: You mentioned the major brand names we all know but what about TokBox which has a good and feel to the users?; Like this Reply to this comment

by jw1ls5n0129 February 18, 2009 6:24 AM PST

just a comment as you get nothing for nothing ,I have used SKYPE for a few years and at the start it was very cheap when I called a land line. to other Skype clients it was free . as the years has gone by
I find that it is cheaper to use the land line phone to call other land line phones . also if you call other Skype users it goes off after about one hour ,so you have to call again and you are reconnected.so i am not as of yet happy with any of the so called free calls .I have tried others like Yahoo etc. but none that I would stay with .I still use Skype but, I take note of the charge for the call and, most weekend calls by landline in the UK are free or very cheap. john. ( put £10.00 on skype and that = £11.50)

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by macha February 19, 2009 5:54 AM PST: hi, try www.voipwise.com no video chat but it is great for free calls to landlines local and international (to 26 countiries) 300 minutes a week limit, you have to buy credit every 4 (four months) minumum ?/£ 10. plus VAT. I bought ? 10 credit 3 months ago still have ? 8.50 they only charge me if I call mobiles (very cheap rate too).; Like this


by dalesgo February 18, 2009 7:48 AM PST: I only recently purchased a webcam, and then downloaded and began videochatting on the internet with Skype (Ver. 3.8). It was just a few days later that I became aware of Skype Ver. 4.0 being released. After reading some of the comments--mostly negative--about this later version, I've decided to hold off on dowloading it. My daughter, who lives about 80 miles away, as the crow flies, downloaded Skype Ver. 4.0, and uses it with a laptop computer that connects to the internet via. a wireless router.

In the last couple of contacts with my daughter, when she was speaking, her voice would cut off about every 10 seconds, and remain off for about 5 seconds before coming back on. While this is happening, there is no loss of the video, so I can see that she is actually speaking during that time. I asked her if the same thing happened with my voice (or video) whenever I was speaking, and she said NO. I wonder if anyone out there has experienced the same problem, and what did you do in order to correct it. I suspected that it might be a problem cause by the wireless router connection, but I am not sure, especially after seeing all the negative comments about Skype Ver. 4.0.

Another question I have is: Is it possible to videochat with someone using a different videochat program? For example, would I (using Skype 3.8) be able to videochat with someone using Camfrog, ooVoo, OxVox or any of the other videochat programs?

David; Like this Reply to this comment


by maskiljw February 18, 2009 8:31 AM PST: Where are the downloads ?; Like this Reply to this comment

by oldskool52 February 18, 2009 10:15 AM PST

I have a computer from Dell, Do,emsopm E310. that has the Media Center on it but lately, everytime I try to pull up the Media Center, I am alerted that I have something missing; NET Framework: 1.1.4322. I took the computer to a computer to a computer store and they wanted to charge me over $100 to check my computer out. Is there any way that I can avoid that and just download the Framework? Help

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by audguy March 17, 2009 7:10 AM PDT: I think you can easily save your 100$ by searching for "NET Framework: 1.1.4322" in google. You will probably get many download options because NET framework is free. If you don't find 1.1.4322, then download and install the whole 1.1; Like this


by peterlewis1956 February 18, 2009 1:22 PM PST: I love your products keep them coming, I look forward to them all!!; Like this Reply to this comment


by cadbiker February 18, 2009 2:44 PM PST: Hey cnet,

Last summer, my oldest boy went to Sweden. His friend over there had Skype and a webcam and encouraged me to get it. I downloaded and installed it and within a couple of minutes me, my son and his friend were having our video chat. The video was very good and the sound was like he was sitting next to me. I used my JVC digital camcorder for my video feed and his friend I think had a Logitech webcam. I was impressed with the whole experience. Considering the international rates via cellphone or landline, this was a great experience. At some point, I will try and get my distant relatives to join on to Skype and start video chatting with them.

Doug; Like this Reply to this comment


by wurkinstiff February 18, 2009 3:43 PM PST: Hey what can i say ,you people are AWESOME!!!!!!!!; Like this Reply to this comment


by BAHRAMI1340 February 19, 2009 12:59 AM PST: thank u for u progrems such as it is so great wish u always sucess; Like this Reply to this comment


by bskaradi February 19, 2009 6:46 AM PST: Off all the Video chat Windows live Messenge (like its msn Messenger) is the best. And does not dump on you all the sales pitch to upgrade to a paid version.
Thanks; Like this Reply to this comment


by WmJB February 19, 2009 9:06 PM PST: I and many of my acquaintances prefer Trillian, Trillian is an excellent engine for video conferencing or just voice contact. It is not a site but and engine. I'm on msn some are on yahoo others on goggle BUT we all can chat together thru Trillian. Better control of how we ring one another, Number and types of smilies, who's on and not etc.; Like this Reply to this comment