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Best Free Instant Messaging Client
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Introduction
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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. |
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Discussion
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Software Clients
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.
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.
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
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. |
Now, 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 
If you're looking for something with a bit more style, 
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Related Products and Links
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You might want to check out these articles too: Best Free Email Client |
Supports AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, IRC, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, and Zephyr IM networks.
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.
Supports AIM, Yahoo, Google, Windows Live, ICQ, Jabber, Meebo, etc.
Supports AIM, ICQ, IRC, MSN and Yahoo networks.
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Editor
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This software category is in need of an editor. If you would like to give something back to the freeware community by taking it over, check out this page for more details. You can then contact us from that page or by clicking here |
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Tags
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Instant Messenger, IM, Online IM, freeware. |
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Comments
Gizmo, I just started to check out your new site http://46best.com/ and went straight to the 'Best Free Instant Messaging Client' section.
My friend, you're missing my latest discovery: Digsby. I've been using Trillian (free) for years, but now I've jumped. I've had Digsby for only a few days, so I have not tested everything thoroughly yet, but until now I'm impressed. It has most everything I wanted: connection to GoogleTalk, besides Yahoo, AOL, and MSN, voice chat and, through integration with TokBox, video chat. Beautiful! When they'll add the possibility to see your Skype contacts also (they're talking about it), I'll be perfectly happy.
ML
ML,
Thanks for the information. I was unaware of Digsby. I will download it and give it a try. I'm currently using Trillian Pro, but I will give Digsby a try and see if it can sway me!
Thanks,
Edward A. Weissbard-Best Free Instant Messaging Client Editor
Thanks for your IM info, Edward.
Here's a couple of things on my experiences.
I tried Miranda at first as it looked ideal for business use: small and discreet. I only use one network, Yahoo, as most of my text is done on Skype. However I found it has some usability issues - after loading my Yahoo profile I couldn't get it to connect. Easy to sort out by investigation, no doubt, but I don't need that. If there's no 'Connect' button, and changing status to 'Online' doesn't connect it, I don't have time to hunt down the reason - I just need it to work.
Uninstalled.
Then I tried Pidgin, which looks like a similar offering; worked first time on install, no problems. They suggest using the English Spell-Check Dictionary, but I advise you not to install it unless you really need it -- and who does for chat, it's all slang and abbreviations anyway, isn't it? The install is bigger than the main application and takes much longer and many more clicks. It probably adds a layer of complexity you don't need unless you can't spell LOL.
Works fine for me so I'm sticking with it unless it has problems somewhere down the line.
rolygate
I've have noticed some "issues" when using Miranda, most seem trivial and annoying more than disabling. It is not a "perfect" IM client, but it does have the smallest resource footprint on memory compared to other similar clients. I am currently trying Digsby, which does take up more resources, but seems to include more configurations options and more connections to other online networks such as MySpace, Twitter and Facebook. This may prove useful to some. In your case, I would say Miranda or Pidgin would be the best choice due to its more "light" and "less memory hungry" nature.
Thanks,
Edward A. Weissbard- Best Free Instant Messaging Client Editor
Hi! I came across your site on StumbleUpon and instantly went for the IM section.
I've been getting EXTREMELY annoyed with MSN messenger lately and wanted to use a different program which would allow me to combine my Googletalk and MSN accounts. Digsby seemed like a brilliant choice but sadly it didn't work because I use my Gmail account for my MSN messenger and Digsby doesn't like that, even with that stupid .net passport thingy from MSN verified.
Any idea on how to make this work?
Thanks!
Pan
Pan,
I think I'm a little confused about using your Gmail account being used to log on to the MSN network. I've never attempted that, so I cannot give you any advice in regards to the problem. As far as I am aware, you need to log to the MSN network with a MSN network email address. When I log onto MSN messenger with Digsby, I have entered my Hotmail account, which is associated with the MSN network. If you can go more into detail about your issue, maybe I can advise you better.
Thank You,
Edward A. Weissbard-Best Free Instant Messaging Client Editor
Hi Edward,
I haven't used IM for many years now - in fact since the days that ICQ started. Now I am online almost 24/7 and just want ONE system that allows me to talk to my son (also online most of the time) with the facility to deliver a message later if he/we are offline, and an audible warning when something is posted/delivered. I may be reading things wrongly but it seems to me that all the systems reviewed need you to first set up an account with someone else (Yahoo/ICQ/AOL whatever). Am I wrong and, if I am, then is there a simple one-to-one system that doesn't require registration with the above resource hogging spam and ad riddled systems?
Jim Campbell (volunteer editor).
My son and ! use Gmail and it's associated Chat facility & Gmail notifier. It's certainly clean.
Hey Jim,
Thanks for the question. Unfortunatelly, you would have to register with "that certain network" to be able to use their chat features, be it MSN, AIM, YAHOO, GMAIL, Skype......etc...... Now if you are chating within the same network, that would be a different story. Since you are using two seperate systems/networks to chat, you would have to use one of the many free IM networks. I wouldn't worry so much about spam, it does come through sometimes, but I haven't noticed that it's too much of a problem.
Thanks,
Edward A. Weissbard
Best Free Instant messaging Client Editor
Couple comments here,
Didsby is a massive resource hog. I have seen it hit 100MB of RAM. It also has a huge foot print. It installed at 60+MB on my machine.
Miranda is the lightest of all the IM apps mentioned but it is a night mare to configure. Just open the options panel and it is over whelming. Getting help to use it can be difficult because the Miranda Wiki crashed again losing all data so they have to start all over again. This isn't the first time either.
I have settled on Pidgin. I find it does everything I want and is very easy to configure. Slightly bigger resource usage than Miranda but nothing to turn me of of it. Much easier to set up to.
yea, digsby took 72mb on my hard disk and 54mb on my ram.
it takes 15 secs just to finish it's startups and signing in.
but i still like digsby.
my aol on digsby keeps getting disconnected
i sign into every account digsby support.
http://manoj91.blogspot.com/
Hi , Well I have used miranda for many years , ok it has it quirks but is lite on resources and has many addons . Therefore it is much more secure than the others if one wants privacy , which google (gmail) certainly hasn't got .
I guess it all comes back to individual needs
You know I'm tempted to place Miranda in the "best" position due to it's lite resources and very nice plug-ins........hmmmmmm
I use my gmail account for my msn too but i haven't had any problem about that.
I have been looking for a good alternative for Windows Live Messenger for a while and I came across this site. I used Trilian first, then changed to Miranda and later thought Pidgin is the best. But now, I use Digsby, and I swear, there is no messenger like it. It has everything! I can even chat with my Facebook friends. It's an amazing software.
I have told all my friends about this site. Thanks for the great "freeware encyclopedia".
Best regards,
Hasit
Thanks for suggesting Digsby in the article. I started using it, and i must say i really loved it. It has a nice look and great interface. Liked it better than the other multi-protocol IM clients. And i think it has audio/video capability as well, which other clients dont. But i have yet to try that.
About Digsby using quite a lot of memory, the makers have taken that into notice, and they are working on it. They announced this in their blog. So it shouldnt be a problem in the later releases. Thumbs up to Digsby.
Anupam,
Thanks for the comment. I also look forward to seeing Digsby use less resources. It is the best IM client so far, so any more improvements would just add to the benefits already there.
Thanks,
I know two messengers that work only for Yahoo!. I don't know if you've heard of them, but they are YahElite and Y!mLite. YahElite is supper light.
Thanks for the information. Those two look like a good alternative to the standard Yahoo client.
Thanks,
To the maintainer of this category : the link to Trillian Basic website is directing to guification sourceforge page instead.
I really like Digsby, after using Pidgin and Yahoo Messenger for some time, my favorite definitely is Digsby. Sure, it's rather heavy on resources, but if you got the spec for it and try it once, you'll never look back.
After reading about YahElite and Y!mlite , i searched for them and found two more clients while i was browsing. They are YaZak and Yahaven. I tried both of them, and liked both of them too. They are a nice alternative to yahoo messenger. And they present the yahoo chat in a irc-like style. Thanks for telling about them.
The trillian link has been fixed. Thanks
Thanks keroffs!
I'm on MSN with an account which redirects all incomming mail to spam. I check my Y! and google mail every few months, and never give out these addresses unless to sites which I don't trust from the beginning (although google does a pretty good job at filtering spam out). But I certainly use their IM servers. So I see no obstacle in you setting up accounts just for IM, then forgetting about them, with regard to mail.
You could set up a private jabber server, where just you and your son would have an account, in order to be able to do private messaging. I don't know about free jabber servers, but there must be some.
Most IM services delivery messages later if the recipient is not online when you send the message.
Helpful? I hope so.
I've not tried Digsby yet. I was a long time Trillian Basic user, before switching to Pidgin. Pidgin rocks for me - can even do Skype with the help of a (free) plugin.
I love Digsby!
I have to say I like Trillian Pro the best, for several reasons: I log into Yahoo, MSN, AIM, and Jabber, so I need those four. I need a good logging system that dumps them into individual files per contact (I save them at the end of each day so I have separate log files per day's convos). I also love the simple beautiful blue theme; I prefer simplicity with themes, and blue is a favorite color. Trillian just feels the best to me. I also like its Metacontact system, the ability to tab or not tab conversations as I like, and the history aspect, where it'll show the last so many lines of the conversation grayed out in a re-opened conversation window.
None of the others do the logging correctly, afaik, and I didn't like the looks of either Miranda or Pidgin (both of which I tried).
Do any of these support webcam? Without me downloading each one and trying them? :)
Have any of you guys used meebo? It's very good alternative for those who are between computers. It supports google talk, yahoo, AIM, ICQ, msn, & Jabber. If you get a (free) account with them, you can log history. For an online app this is rather good I'd say. I think it deserves honorable mention here at least.
Meebo is definitely the way to go, if you're not fixed to one specific machine with admin rights.
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