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Best Free Instant Messaging Client

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  Go straight to the Quick Selection Guide
Introduction

If you're like me, then you probably have friends and family using a variety of IM networks. One way to talk with people on each one of these networks, is to open an account for each and then download and install each IM client on your computer.

However, running four different IM applications on your computer uses a lot of system resources, is difficult to manage, and broadens your attack surface. Therefore, I would recommend using a multi-protocol IM client. These applications not only allow you to connect to multiple IM networks, but they are also advertisement free, more secure, and have features that allow you to easily manage your various IM accounts.

All IM clients reviewed in this article have their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and I'm certain there are users who will remain faithful to each.

Discussion
 

Software Clients

PidginFor most average users, Pidgin (formerly Gaim) fits the bill best. It's easy-to-use, cleanly-designed, and very functional. It supports AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, IRC, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, and Zephyr IM networks and is available for multiple platforms.

The interface is basic but functional -- nobody's going to be blown away by its styling, but many users may appreciate the simplicity and lack of popups. There is some customization available through Guifications as well.

Being non-commercial, open-source software makes it even easier to support. I can confidently recommend Pidgin as the first choice for a multi-protocol IM client.

 

Miranda IMNow, if you're a power user and want support for more networks and the ability to add features via plug-ins, then definitely check out Miranda IM.

In addition to the networks supported by Trillian, it has native support for Gadu-Gadu and Jabber (it also will connect to the Google Talk network with a little plug-in tweaking). Its interface is minimalist, but the application is very extensible through plug-ins.

 

Trillian AstraIf you're looking for something with a bit more style, Trillian is a solid option. It has a flashy interface and is designed to be very user-friendly. It is also surprisingly light on resources. It supports the AIM, ICQ, IRC, MSN, Yahoo networks, Skype, Facebook, Google Talk as well as many more. Many users will be impressed with the eye-candy and cutomizablility of Trillian's interface, while others might be turned off by its busyness and occasionally cluttered design.

It should be noted that Trillian requires users to create and log in to a Trillian account—but this also means Trillian stores their other networks so you won't need to re-enter your login information each time you install Trillian on a new PC.

 

Web Client

MeeboIf you're looking to use multi-protocol IM networks without downloading any software clients, then your best choice would be Meebo. With Meebo you can log in to any of your IM networks, including: AIM, Yahoo, Google, MSN, ICQ, Jabber & Meebo, all from one page.

This is a great choice if you are using a computer which you cannot or don't want to install new software on, such as a public PC. With its vast extra language support, it adds a lot of flexibility.

Related Products and Links

You might want to check out these articles too:

Best Free Email Client
Best Free Anonymous Surfing Service
Best Free Online TV Viewer

Quick Selection Guide

Pidgin
10
 
Gizmo's Freeware award as the best product in its class!

Runs as a stand-alone program on a user's computer
Easy to use, cleanly designed and very functional. Non-commercial, open-source software and available for multi-platform.
Nobody's going to be blown away by its styling.
http://www.pidgin.im/
2.10.1
8.96 MB
Unrestricted freeware
There is no portable version of this product available.
Windows, Linux, Mac OS X

Supports AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, IRC, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, and Zephyr IM networks.

Meebo
9
 
Is a web service or web application
Log in to any of your IM networks all from one page. Vast extra language support.
https://www.meebo.com/
Unrestricted freeware
Web Application, no installation required.

Supports AIM, Yahoo, Google, Windows Live, ICQ, Jabber, Meebo, etc.

Miranda IM
9
 
Runs as a stand-alone program on a user's computer
The application is very extensible through plug-ins.
User interface is minimalist.
http://www.miranda-im.org/
0.9.42
3.10 MB
32 and 64 bit versions available
Unrestricted freeware
There is no portable version of this product available.
Windows 2000 to 7

Supports Gadu-Gadu and Jabber in addition to the networks supported by Trillian. Also connects to the Google Talk network with a little plug-in tweaking.

Trillian
8
 
Runs as a stand-alone program on a user's computer
Flashy interface and designed to be very user-friendly, light on resources.
Cluttered and busy design.
http://www.trillian.im/
5.1.0.18
20.3 MB
Unrestricted freeware
There is no portable version of this product available.
Windows 2000 to 7, Mac, iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Web

Supports AIM, ICQ, IRC, MSN and Yahoo networks.

Editor

This software category is maintained by volunteer editor skizzze. Registered members can contact the editor with any comments or questions they might have by clicking here.

Tags

Instant Messenger, IM, Online IM, freeware.

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Comments

by George.J on 9. January 2012 - 9:36  (86864)

FYI:
"There is no portable version of this product available."
All clients have portable versions

by skizzze on 12. January 2012 - 21:37  (87095)

I've looked for a Trillian portable app version but there doesn't seem to be an official Cerulean Studios app for it. There is however a third party download you can use, with a bit of a set up, to get it small enough to fit on a portable device and give you all the same features, maybe that's what you mean by ALL clients have a portable version? But modifying it, or other clients, to make it portable might go against the licensing agreement so in reality, there doesn't seem to be a totally legit portable version for Trillian right now. I could be wrong though and would love it if you could find an official portable version of Trillian for us and send me a link so i can update the section :)

by George.J on 9. January 2012 - 9:04  (86861)

Digsby has a clean installer : http://majorgeeks.com/Digsby_d6022.html
From majorgeeks:
"Editors note: This is the clean install. A smaller download is available that bundles malware, so be careful."
Info: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/2310/be-careful-not-to-install-junk-softw...

I havn't tested it yet.

by xray5483 (not verified) on 30. November 2011 - 7:38  (84154)

Digsby is also a very good messenger which should be mentioned!

by Anupam on 30. November 2011 - 7:47  (84157)

Site of Digsby has an unsatisfactory WOT rating, and therefore as per our site policy, wont be reviewed :).

by Anonymouser (not verified) on 2. November 2011 - 0:29  (82546)

Does anyone know anything about the encrypted IM service X-IM? OR about the chat/IM client in Comodo's Unite VPN suite? Any suggestions, recommendations of alternative services, or feedback iw greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

by jmronet on 2. October 2011 - 21:35  (80772)

Jitsi "(previously SIP Communicator) is an audio/video and chat communicator that supports protocols such as SIP, XMPP/Jabber, AIM/ICQ, Windows Live, Yahoo!, Bonjour and many other useful features". http://jitsi.org/ Important for me because support multiple SIP ACCOUNTS.

by Anupam on 29. June 2011 - 16:56  (74521)

A new multi-protocol messenger.

Instantbird : http://www.instantbird.com/

by Dejan S (not verified) on 27. July 2011 - 15:49  (76310)

Nice one. It is simple and easy to use, but lacks couple of things. Most important of which: file transfer. On my job I must IM that can transfer files and thus is automatically excluded as an option. Too bad. I think it may have nice future.

by Anupam on 27. July 2011 - 16:07  (76312)

I agree. I too found that it has less features, but its in early stages, and maybe it will improve further.

by cmatthews (not verified) on 20. May 2011 - 11:19  (72393)

What about commenting on Trillian 5.0?

This link shows it offers more support for any service period... (hands-down maybe??)
www.trillian.im/guide/images/windows-accounts4.png

It does screen capture (great for techs, as I have pre-annotated jpg's from picpick for sending ADHOC when someone needs help).

by Ajax (not verified) on 23. January 2011 - 0:51  (65038)

http://imo.im has been working out great for me. Simple and light.

by oddbain (not verified) on 24. February 2011 - 17:39  (67024)

Digsby has some advertising now as well, which would ban it for a second reason apart from the WOT rating.

by Dainius (not verified) on 16. January 2011 - 19:40  (64666)

Digsby
it's EXELENT, BEST Free Instant Messaging Client AND I SUPRISED THAT EVEN NOT MENTIONED Digsby.
Once you download on your computer you will in love with him. Most of time i skype user unfortunately not skype but all other most popular Instant Messaging Clients Digsby had.

Instant Messaging:
One combined buddy list for AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Google Talk, Jabber, and Facebook Chat Accounts.

Email:
Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL/AIM Mail, IMAP, and POP accounts

Social Networking:
Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn accounts.

by Broken Arrow (not verified) on 9. September 2011 - 15:37  (79302)

I used to love Digsby too, untill I learned that it does something in the background, I don't care good or bad, as long as I don't really know what it does.

Also, in the past, Digsby simply messed up my privacy by sending messages from an account that it wasn't suppose to. What else do you need to abort it?

It is very unfortunate for such a good IM client to end up like this!

by Anupam on 16. January 2011 - 19:52  (64667)

Digsby was featured in the review before, but not anymore. Reason being, Digsby site has got unsatisfactory WOT rating, because of which we cannot allow it in the review. Unless the WOT rating goes green, it will not be included.

by thebat1 on 20. May 2011 - 20:17  (72406)

can you explain WOT rating??

by MidnightCowboy on 21. May 2011 - 7:26  (72428)

Just expanding a bit on what Anupam correctly states below.

Because the WOT ratings are largely user generated they can be manipulated for malicious purposes. See Remah's excellent review here:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/best-internet-safety-check.htm)

This possibility of course is not unique to WOT and they do have procedures in place to reduce this risk and/or enable site owners to have an erroneous rating corrected.

Suffice to say that entering any red rated site is like playing Russian roulette. You may as well surf with firewall and AV switched off because the rate at which malware "evolves" in these places is guaranteed to bypass your security software at some point, or at least tempt you to allow this (human engineering) yourself.

Orange rated sites may not be so dangerous but is the risk worth it? In all my time online I've never found anything that I must have in an orange rated site for which there wasn't a safer alternative somewhere else.

A WOT plugin is available for many of the leading browsers or can be used in some others which are not fully supported via a bookmarklet. Another alternative is to replace your current search engine DuckDuckGo which enables WOT ratings to be displayed in search results.

by Anupam on 20. May 2011 - 20:44  (72408)

This is from the WOT site, at www.mywot.com :

The WOT add-on shows you which websites you can trust based on millions of users' experiences.

by wingdash (not verified) on 19. October 2010 - 3:18  (59718)

Is there any program that can see msn smilies.... other then msn messenger?

by Anupam on 19. October 2010 - 4:17  (59719)

aMSN : http://www.amsn-project.net/

The MSN clone. Its good.

by supanut on 2. October 2010 - 10:30  (58893)

I've heard about digsby being a trogen, but does any antivirus/internet security suites started detecting digsby as trogen?

by supanut on 3. October 2010 - 0:47  (58933)

Replying to my own comment
I think the only way to find out if AVG would detect it as a virus is to go and download the installation file!

by Telchyr (not verified) on 29. September 2010 - 17:35  (58653)

Do any of these offer an option to send or receive messages directly over a home network without going through an online service?

by supanut on 29. July 2010 - 7:18  (55102)

Does any of them supports Windows Live ID?
I'm looking for Windows Live Messenger alternative because MS quit support Windows XP in version 2010 beta, nor they will support Windows XP in the final release.

by Anupam on 29. July 2010 - 7:21  (55103)

All of the above support Windows Live, or MSN. If you want alternative MSN messenger, you can go for

aMSN : http://www.amsn-project.net/

Emesene : http://www.emesene.org/

by Anonymous on 20. April 2010 - 3:30  (48005)

All the clients are waste of time because non has skype login.
some of them have seperate addons but are not working properly. Therefor skype users avoid any of the above

by Anonymous on 20. April 2010 - 22:53  (48093)

Trillian Astra does support Skype.

by Anonymous on 30. June 2010 - 9:21  (53509)

For Trillian Astra in order to use the the skype plugin you have to install skype which defeats the purpose!

by Broken Arrow (not verified) on 9. September 2011 - 15:40  (79303)

The problem is not with these IM clients, the trouble is with the Skype architecture. You need to have Skype installed, no matter whatever 3rd party IM client you use to access Skype from (May be this is because Skype uses proprietory protocol?).

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