Amazon Is Killing Off a Video Call App You Probably Never Heard Of

Sometimes, the first time you hear about a product or service is when the company behind it decides to shut it down. That’s exactly what’s happening with Chime, Amazon’s Zoom alternative. Most people, including me, had never even heard of it until now. But now that Amazon is killing off a video call app that was supposed to compete with Zoom, I couldn’t help but wonder—was it ever really a competitor in the first place?

Amazon Is Shutting Down Chime – If You’ve Even Heard of It

As announced in an AWS blog post, Amazon Chime will soon be gone. Amazon stopped accepting new Chime customers on February 19, 2025, and support for the app will officially end by February 20, 2026.

Until then, existing customers—those who created an Amazon Chime Team or Enterprise account before February 19, 2025—can still use features like business calling and hosting meetings.

However, Amazon isn’t replacing Chime with another in-house app for meetings. Instead, reports from Business Insider say Amazon is going with Zoom. They’re also recommending Zoom, along with Webex and Slack, as alternative solutions for Chime users.

I’ll admit, I had never even heard of Amazon Chime until now, as I’m writing about its shutdown. I’d guess that most people are hearing about it for the first time, too.

And for those who did know about it, especially the ones who had to use it to do business with Amazon, well, let’s just say their feedback wasn’t glowing. A quick search for “Amazon Chime” on X (formerly Twitter) shows plenty of negative comments.

So, in a way, maybe it’s a good thing Amazon is getting rid of Chime.

Amazon Is Shutting Down Several Little-Known Services

Amazon Chime isn’t the only service getting the axe this week. It’s just one of several products, services, and features that Amazon has decided to shut down. Others include the Amazon Appstore on Android, its TikTok-like Inspire feed, and even the ability to download and transfer Kindle books via USB.

It’s unclear why Amazon is suddenly shutting down so many services at once. However, it could be a way to clean house and focus on what’s next. There are rumors that Amazon is preparing to launch a new and improved version of its Alexa virtual assistant, potentially with AI-powered upgrades. If that’s the case, this could just be the beginning of more changes to come.

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FAQ

1. What is Amazon Chime, and why is it shutting down?

Amazon Chime is a video conferencing and business communication app that was designed to compete with Zoom and Webex. However, it never gained significant popularity. Amazon has decided to discontinue it, likely due to low adoption and a shift in focus toward other priorities.

2. When will Amazon Chime stop working?

Amazon Chime stopped accepting new customers on February 19, 2025, and support for existing users will officially end on February 20, 2026. Until then, current users with an Amazon Chime Team or Enterprise account can still use its features.

3. What alternatives does Amazon recommend for Chime users?

Amazon suggests users switch to Zoom, Webex, or Slack as alternatives to Chime. Interestingly, Amazon itself is reportedly adopting Zoom for its internal meetings.

4. What other Amazon services are being shut down?

Along with Chime, Amazon is also shutting down:

• Amazon Appstore on Android
• Inspire (a TikTok-like shopping feed)
• USB-based Kindle book transfers

5. Is Amazon planning new services after shutting down Chime?

While Amazon hasn’t officially stated its future plans, there are rumors that it is focusing on AI-powered upgrades to Alexa and other new projects. The shutdowns may be part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and shift resources to more promising areas.