Home Instant Messaging Round-Up

Instant Messaging Round-Up

There are more and more ways to get your instant messaging done, with a large number of new online and offline clients from third parties. With so many instant messaging options, it’s hard to figure out which one to use. Below, we’ve listed a large number of online and offline instant messengers, as well the various protocols supported by each, so that you can more easily find the one that’s right for you. There’s really not all that much difference between each except in interface and supported protocols. The best option for you will likely be the one that supports the networks your friends connect to and has an interface that you feel comfortable using. If there are any we’ve missed, please mention them in the comments. (Note: we did not link to any official offline clients.)

Online Clients

Name: Meebo
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber

Name: FlickIM
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber

Name: Kool IM
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Gadu-Gadu, Xfire

Name: eBuddy
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, MySpace

Name: ILoveIM
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber, webcams/video chat

Name: RadiusIM
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk

Name:Imo.im
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk

Name: Mabber
Supports: Proprietary Jabber-based (aimed at mobiles)

Name: IMUnitive
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, gim (proprietary)

Name: Snimmer
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber

Name: EasyMessenger
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, ICQ, Jabber

Name: MessengerFX
Supports: MSN

Name: IMhaha
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, QQ

Name: Google Talk
Supports: GTalk, Jabber

Name: Yahoo! Web Messenger (web.im)
Supports: Yahoo!, MSN

Name: MSN Web Messenger
Supports: Yahoo!, MSN

Name: AIM Express
Supports: AIM

Name: ICQ2Go
Supports: ICQ

Name: JWChat – Jabber Web Chat
Supports: Jabber

Name: Trillian Astra (closed alpha)
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber, MySpace, iChat

Offline Clients

Name: Trillian
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, IRC
Platforms: Windows

Name: Pidgin
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, QQ, MySpace, iChat, IRC, Lotus, Novell
Platforms: Windows, UNIX

Name: Adium
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, QQ, iChat, Lotus, Novell, LiveJournal
Platforms: Mac OS X

Name: AirTalker
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber, MySpace, Friendster, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter, blogging
Platforms: Windows, Mac OS X (via Adobe AIR), also has web version

Name: Miranda IM
Supports: AOL, Yahoo!, MSN, ICQ, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, IRC, IAX, Tlen, Netsend
Platforms: Windows

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