Google Voice vs. Skype
Skype has been fine-tuning its peer-to-peer voice service for the last seven years, but Google Voice is coming on strong.
Google's communications service may offer a different set of tools, but its rich features and brand cachet are quickly making it a go-to service for tech-savvy talkers. Skype is sure to be feeling the heat.
Now that Google has introduced yet another another trick by integrating Google Voice with your Gmail in-box, it's high time we throw both powerhouses into the ring and see which is left standing.
Ante up your bets, everyone. This Prizefight is about to begin.
Editors' note: The Prizefight scoring system is as follows: Each judge rates on a 0-to-5-point scale. At the end of each round, we will take an average of the three judges' scores. The final score will be an average of all five
rounds.
Round 1: Apps and interface
How an app looks often goes hand in hand with how easy it is to use. Which service's public face has the goods, Skype or Google Voice?
| player | Jessica | Nicole | Brian | the winner |
 Google Voice | 4I'm not a huge fan of Google's spare design, but the in-box metaphor just works when it comes to managing voice mail and missed calls. Though you don't need a mobile app to use Google Voice, the smartphone apps, especially on Android, make it easy as pie to use. | 4I personally really like Google Voice because of how tightly integrated it is with my Google account. I already have my Gmail account open most of the time, so making a call is just a matter of typing in a few numbers and pressing Enter. Relying on the Web browser also means you don't need to download another app. | 4I don't live in the Google ecoystem 24-7, but it's an advantage to do everything in a single browser on a desktop. Once you set up a Google Voice number, you don't really need any app on your mobile phone to use it. | 4 |
 Skype | 3Skype has undergone some major overhauls, but the app seems behind some of its direct competitors. The mobile apps are easy to use, but they haven't yet implemented video chat, a key feature. (Note that Google Voice apps don't offer video chatting either.) | 3The Skype interface is similar to that of other instant messaging programs, which means it's pretty easy to use. I also like that the chat interface is closely tied to the program. However, I find that the Skype app can be rather sluggish, and it can take a while for it to launch and load. | 3It's a clean standalone desktop IM client that has no major flaws. On the mobile side, both sides of the call need to have the app to use the service. | 3 |
Round 2: Features
Two voice services, two approaches. We break it down to tell you which provider offers more pow in their punch.
| player | Jessica | Nicole | Brian | the winner |
| Google Voice | 4Google Voice hits you over the head with services; call forwarding and visual voice mail are the best. Voice mail transcription is tragicomically incorrect, but it's easy to access via text message, e-mail, or the Web. However, it requires more up-front commitment to get started than does Skype. | 4The key feature I like is that you can forward calls to your phone number with Google Voice. Additionally, you can use your Google Voice number to hand out to people if you want to screen your calls. I don't think transcription is that valuable, however, because Google Voice's transcription technology is horribly inaccurate most of the time. | 4Being able to use the service and forward your Google Voice number to other phones is a big deal to me. Transcription is anything but perfect, but I like my visual voice mail in a browser. | 4 |
| Skype | 4Long-distance video and voice chats are Skype's main purpose, and for the most part, it does an admirable job. Skype has recently beefed up call and video quality. IM, SMS, voice mail, and games are extras, but vocal communication is the star. | 3I enjoy having a separate chat window with the Skype app, and the main value of Skype is that it is available internationally, whereas Google Voice is not. Still, that's not quite enough to unseat Google Voice for me. | 4Skype excels when you're talking about video calls. Its video and audio quality and connection reliability give it an edge over Google. And as long as both people are using the app, I can communicate anywhere for free. | 3.7 |
Round 3: Device compatibility
A voice service isn't any good if you can't use it when and where you want. See which service wins this round.
| player | Jessica | Nicole | Brian | the winner |
| Google Voice | 5Google's ubiquity gives Google Voice the upper hand. It's accessible from the Web, smartphones, and even your Gmail account. But you can also place calls using just your phone, once you've called your own Google Voice number and have gone through the menu system. It's not always elegant, but it works. | 5This is kind of a no-brainer here. Most any cell phone and modern smartphone can use Google Voice to varying degrees, and, of course, you can use a browser as well. You can't use VoIP-only devices, but the fact that you don't even need a VoIP device should be a plus. | 5I can use Google Voice pretty much anywhere, on almost any phone I want without having an app to get in the way. If I want to use the service on a browser, I can do that, but I'm not dependent on it. | 5 |
| Skype | 3Skype is accessible via Web app, smartphone app, and dedicated Skype phone that you can purchase. However, apps are no longer available for all mobile platforms, which makes it more limited. | 3Yes, you can use Skype on a smartphone if you have the app, but Google Voice doesn't need an app. Of course, you can also use it on a computer, but again, that requires an app. | 3The Skype app lives on your desktop and mobile phones and VoIP phones, but it needs an app on those platforms if you want to use it. | 3 |
Round 4: Cost
Both Skype and Google Voice are free in some situations and will incur a cost in others. Let's see how the pricing stacks up in this final round.
| player | Jessica | Nicole | Brian | the winner |
| Google Voice | 3It really depends on your needs. Google Voice makes free calls to landlines and mobile phones for U.S. users only, and only to the U.S. and Canada. Google profits from any other international calls. | 4Google Voice can make free calls to landlines in the U.S. and Canada, and voice mail and receiving text messages is free. | 5At the moment, it's free to use in the U.S. and Canada through 2010, but will it stay free forever? You'll still have to pay fees to call internationally. | 4 |
| Skype | 4Skype-to-Skype calls are free, but they'll cost you a (reasonable) rate to a landline or mobile phone. Serious long-distance callers should make the effort to get the fee app. Skype is still limited, but it helps more people save more on long-distance calls. | 3Making Skype-to-Skype calls is free, but everything else requires a fee. | 4Skype offers free calls ANYWHERE, as long as both parties are using a Skype client. That's a specific condition, but it will always be free that way. If you want the flexibility to call landlines or mobile phones, you'll have to pay. | 3.7 |
The winner is...
Winner
Google Voice (4.3 pts)
Runner-Up
Skype (3.4 pts)
![Skype]()
Google Voice led early in this punch-out, and kept the hits coming with its rich features and its convenient availability on cell phones, smartphone apps, and the Web. Yet Skype fans should take heart: Google Voice may have swept our Prizefight, but it isn't for everyone or every situation, and Skype remains the better option for international video chatting.
On Skype, the other person looks(and sounds) like they are made up of legos.
I do have Google Voice now. The GVmobile app in Cydia is my primary reason for jailbreaking.
as we are always a second class by many US companies.......SKYPE WINS !
It is 100% free across ANY phone in North America (U.S. & Canada). I have been using it since it came out. it rocks and demolishes Skype when it comes to calls (not video calls).
Be warned people who occasionally use Skype, your minutes will be taken by Skype for no good reason.
Six Months is a huge amount of time to decide if an account is non active. You don't get that with your Utility company's.
Skype is the best for International..
Sucks.
Other than that... I can do without the monthly cost. I am awaiting the day I can use VoIP (Skype or Google, voice over WiFi) and drop my landline -and- my cellular. If Skype can get on the new iPod Touch cameras with video-phoning... I'll be trying it out for wifi phoning, esp. at home... and keeping an old cellphone charged up.
You can always dial 911 with a cellphone, even if you don't have a cellular account. 911 access from any/every cellphone, in service or not, is mandated by the FCC. So it's good to keep a charged cellphone at floor level, for those who might "fall and can't get up". (Really)
Cell 'phone service is erratic here in a Boston suburb ... low / no signal , dropped calls etc.
Google Voice so far works great with my POTS - I wonder how long Google is going to be willing to provide this service free ..
Secondly, Skype is a peer-to-peer system and thus could use part of your bandwidth. Google Voice is not peer-to-peer as best as I know. I have heard some folks express concerns over security with Skype, especially in its early days; I have not heard similar concerns over Google Voice.
For iPhone users -- for now -- Skype is preferred when you are interacting with other Skype users, because you don't use mobile minutes -- unlike Google Voice.
I suggest this comparison be re-run with the factual errors corrected.
you can make phone calls via google voice now without using any minutes on your cell phone. Skype is not just a peer to peer network since you can make phone calls to tradditional phone numbers at a charge.
Have you tried outside north america?
Because if you try, you'll find that it doesn't work anywhere at all outside north america.
Epic fail.
I find Skype easer to use for work as its nice and simple and works very well, much better video quality and sound, googles is very poor sound and video is terrible.
I use Skype for now, but will probably switch to Ooma once my son comes back from overseas.
I don't know how anyone can spam a phone account. They didn't get it out of my Mac data files, since PC viruses don't reach there. The only thing I can figure is they got the info from Skype, or hacked Skype's phone network.
Either way, I was quite irritated that this happened.
I pulled down the help menu for spam and it said to enable the '" Block this site" which is probably useless. I didn't see any way to delete the message.
I carefully figure out where to sent the spam to Skype (they don't want you to know an email address, it is abuse@skype.com). I sent offending spam and they replied - just ignore it, or block it. This is not the answer I was looking for. They apparently don't take spam or hacking their customer's accounts seriously.
I sent a note back saying so and got roughly the same response.
The next day I got exactly the same piece of spam.
I am ready for another web phone option.
I've used Skype for many years as a pre-paid, non-subscription service. I like it and unless GV moves to let me use it internationally, it won't be of much use. (I did sign up while in the US and I now already get junk voice mail messages!)
The scarce mention of international calls bothered me. I talk to Moscow from California sometimes, Skype-to-Skype, completely for free. This seems not to be possible with Google Talk. That's a big deal to me. Come on, CNET, you are usually so with-it technically! Don't you realize that we live in one world, not just the US and maybe Canada? Everything you rate should have an international component when appropriate, as in this case.
Americal no longer is the biggest and only place in the world, how about recogising the rest of the world (and spelling correctly)
Martin in Wantirna South (look it up in Google).
I now use skype-out to call toll free 800 numbers in USA (free)
I use gmail for voice calls to other phones in USA (free vs paid at skype)
To call phones in Europe, i use voipraider or voipstunt. Quality not always as good as skype
but calls are "free" to land lines and cheap to mobiles. "free" means deposit $10 or 10 euros every 3 months. this money does not expire and carries over to future times. If you did not pay again when your 3 mos is over, they charge about 1 cent/minute for the otherwise "free" calls to land lines. I usually deposit $10 every 3 mos, my credit is growing because I pay only for calls to mobiles outside US(typically cheaper than skype usually about 5cents -20cents per minute)
You can even make cheap or free calls from yoour cell phone by calling a local usa number (but you use up your cellphone minutes)
In rural Spain the utility companies are all controlled by the State, so Telefonica ( the national phone company) treat customers like the "enemy" so best avoided if you require a "landline" service.
I and many of our neighbours use both Skype and Voipstunt, Skype has improved tremendously over the past year, and for me having part of my familiy in Singapore and part in the UK, Skype has been fantastic and Free on PC to PC calls.
The advantage of Voipstunt is the FREE calls I can make to our Familiy in Singapore for both Mobile and Landline calls, (no Video with Voipstunt) call quality has been excellent, I can also call friends in the US & Canada on either their Mobile or Landline Phones "Free"
I would llike to RECORD the conversation.
Someone please advise how to do that with gmail skype or voipraider Thanks in advance
If possible, send instructions to cporder2010@gmail.com.
It will record every word said.
Except Brian when he calls internationally.
This was a poor comparison... and the points awarded were tipped too much to Google... esp. where international calling was discounted, and GVoice is only free for the next few months. Google should step up and make the decision... is GVoice going to remain free in the U.S. or not... that indecision makes for -negative- points. Skype wins those points massively... making the prize fight dead even.
Skype icons are 'janky'? Gee, maybe Google's interface is oldskool.
Both should freshen their interfaces, with an optional 'skin' or 'compact' choice, to make them dead simple for old/young users (or just those who like 'clean' interfaces) without all the clutter... just to make a "play school" simple voice or vid call ...without all the janky and oldskool options cluttering the app. All software should have a 'simplified' skin/view... for the very young, the 'challenged', and the elderly... who oftentimes have the same needs/skillsets. They don't need the complex options, colors, etc... but they can still be valid users of many devices/apps/emergency services.
GTalk is US (and maybe Canada?) only.
You do have to download an installer file that installs an Add-on application to your browser in order for it to work. so you really are installing another application, it is just an add-on to an application you already have on your computer (your browser) opposed to a full blown stand-alone application.
However, the point should be clearly made that you can't make a phone call without installing something first.
...Steve