Best Free Instant Messaging Client

Newb question.

Do I have to download and setup an account with Googletalk to use it or can I just add GTalk contacts into Digsby and use it from there?

Worth keeping an eye on, but it looks too basic and early for inclusion in the article just yet. Doesn't seem to really offer anything over the competition as it is.

Hi Anupam,

I have tested, and I love it, it so simple to have everything in the same place.

Tom

Thanks for the suggestion. If I'm reading it correctly, it looks like Spark is a single-protocol client, though, while we've focused on multi-protocol clients here. I'm considering adding a list of "notable" single-protocol clients, though, and I'll definitely keep Spark in mind if I do so.

Thanks for mentioning this. I'd actually been leery of Digsby's adware elements for a while, and this is just one more annoying step. I'll definitely update the article to make Pidgin the top recommendation.

As it is, I don't see much to recommend Nimbuzz over Digsby. The best thing about Nimbuzz is that it also has mobile clients, but the Windows Mobile client I tried was terrible, so it wasn't much of a bonus. I'll keep my eye on the program.

Thanks for the comment. I thought I had mentioned the adware from the Digsby installer, but I didn't.

Digsby's privacy policy doesn't look too unusual -- they collect information about logins and features used, but not about messages sent within the service or about logins and passwords.

Having spent a while comparing the two, I'm going to be revising this article to change the recommendation to Pidgin over Digsby.

Emesene looks fine, but I don't think I'm going to include it in the main article. I think multi-protocol clients are a lot easier to recommend.

Thanks for the suggestion, though.

Scott Foster
Best Free Instant Messaging Client Editor

I have tried Emesene, but I think its still in its early stages, and has a lot to improve. I use aMSN, and I find it to be quite good. You should try aMSN, lot better than Emesene.

Anupam Shriwatri, India

We used Skype and Pidgin for awhile but still found ourselves susceptible to attacks because our employees were chatting with people outside the company. We had to resort to using an enterprise im client called Brosix (brosix.com, which has been a good move.

We liked Pidgin, but a multi-protocol im client just meant employees had access to more people. I think this point gets glossed over too often: if security is a concern, the more protocols you get the more open you are to attack.

It's nice to be able to talk to everyone at once and Pidgin got our vote. As security becomes more important, expect companies to shift to enterprise instant messaging.

Albert

IM.IMO its an webased instant messenger

I definitely agree that Digsby's adware is a bit off-putting. It especially troubles me because it uses an uncommon style of installer that will make it harder for some users to realize they can opt out of the adware installations. Not good business practice in my book.

At the same time, it doesn't make the core client any less useful, and that's really what's being evaluated. I personally think Digsby is a bit bloated unless you REALLY demand facebook / myspace integration. The next revisions to the main article will reflect this, and I think I'm going to be changing the recommended client to Pidgin.

Scott Foster
Best Free Instant Messaging Client Editor

After reading this, i went to the Digsby site, and clicked the link to download Digsby. And yes, now it offers to download an installer to download and install Digsby on the computer.

However, if you dont want the installer, then below the big "Download Now" button, theres a small line that goes like this:
"Installing to a USB drive or secondary hard drive? Having trouble with the above installer? Click Here."
The click here link has the link to directly download the Digsby standalone setup, which is without any ad-ware(almost, explained later).

Coming back to the Digsby installer. Its a 4.34 MB download, and is an installation utility from freeze.com. On starting the installer, the first screen is about Digsby. On clicking accept button, it takes to next scren, where it offers to download "PC Confidential". It can be discarded by clicking on Decline button. Next screen offers to download "Registry Power Cleaner". This can also be discarded by clicking on Decline button.
If Decline is not pressed, on the left side, it will be shown what programs are going to be installed, and both two programs will appear in the list.
On the next screen after the "Registry Power Cleaner", it offers to make "My.Freeze.com" as your browser's home page. A check box is provided, so it can be unchecked to prevent that.
After this, Digsby will start to download. I havent been able to install Digsby this way, coz the download keeps getting stuck on my PC, due to some reason. So after this, i cant tell what Digsby exactly installs along with the messenger.

When i ran the standalone Digsby setup, it runs the Digsby setup. On finishing the setup, a screen is there, which has checkboxes for:
1. Make google powered digsby search my home page.
2. Make google powered digsby search my search engine.
3. Add amazon and ebay search to my browser.

If you dont want them, all these can be deselected by unchecking the checkboxes.

So yes, seems like Digsby is now ad-ware. But still, its a great product, and they need money to support the development, and keep Digsby free. So, as far as i am concerned, i will overlook this, as long as i am able to avoid the ad-ware installation. I would keep using Digsby.

Anupam Shriwatri, India

I also agree, I never did catch this till recently I grabbed the latest version of A-Squared and one of the things it found (medium risk I believe) was called "Freeze.com" and it clickd with me that, Freeze.com is part of the installer of Digsby.

Thanks for the information, I will evaluate this

I have a Zune 80GB and I love it. Way better than the iPod because of the larger screen, and cheaper price. You can also play games on the Zune.
However, I am going to sell it and get a Creative Zen Vision. The Zune is VERY proprietary to Microsoft's Zune software. Not even Windows Media Player can access it. I am also switching over to Ubuntu as my operating system, so the Zen will be a better choice for me now. It has a large screen as well. The hard drive in it is smaller, but I can easily replace that with an 80,100GB,or more as I see fit.
If it is down to Zune or iPod, and you only use MS Windows, I would say the Zune is champ.

rusty

The Zune seems to be a little more flexible in function, of course the IPod is still on top in regards to popularity. The Zune really has improved over the last 3 years or so. My personally I would go with the Zune.

You may be right, I'm in the process of re-evaluating IM clients.

Thanks,

I see, this is actually a web based application, similar to Meebo.com. I believe I will at as an alternative to Meebo.com

Thank You,

Thanks for the lead, was not familiar with iloveim.com

Thank You,

I have been Digsby for a long time now, and i havent had any problems like you are having. Something else is the problem. Are u running an updated Digsby? They keep updating it. So keep it updated.

Anupam Shriwatri, India