Among the fastest growing social networks today, you’ll find plenty of chat apps. In fact, it could be argued that instant messaging (IM) is the way forward for social networks, which is why Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion and Twitter opened up its Direct Messages.
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What is the best (non-iChat) video chatting application for Mac OS X that would allow chats with Windows and Linux clients? Is there a need for another IM client on Mac OS X? Is there any way of exporting chat logs from the Trillian IM client (web/Mac)? 10 Best Instant Chat Messenger Alternatives for PC/Mac. The integration of instant messenger and popular online services has reduced the need for an IM client, especially when comes to a PC platform, but it hasn't vanished completely. All right, I'm wondering what the best IM client for OSX is at the moment? Preferably with video chat and an iPhone version. I'm currently trying trillian on OSX, seeing if its any good. Trillian is a decentralized and federated instant messaging platform that lets your whole company send private and group messages, keep tabs on what co-workers are doing, share files, and much more.
However, only some of these chat services have a desktop client, while others only give you web-based versions. There is some truth to the death of the desktop client. But third-party developers aren’t giving up yet.
From all-in-one messaging apps to dedicated chat clients that do a better job than the official web versions, here are some amazing chat apps you should be using on your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer.
1. Franz (Windows, Mac, Linux)
All-in-one messaging app for WhatsApp, Slack, Skype, and many more.
Franz is an all-in-one, universal messaging app, which supports 65 services. This includes Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Slack, Telegram, WeChat, Skype, Discord, and several others. Not all of them are chat-oriented either, giving you things you need like Google Calendar or Inbox by Gmail. And the developers say they are busy adding more services.
In essence, Franz is a Chromium-based desktop wrapper for the web versions of all these apps, but it also offers a few additional benefits. For starters, you can sign into multiple accounts of Facebook Messenger without having to constantly log in and out.
You also get native notification support compliant with your operating system. There’s a helpful badge on the icon announcing the number of unread messages. And a quick check shows that Franz takes up less battery and CPU usage than running the same tabs in the Google Chrome browser—not surprising, given Chrome’s troubles with battery and power3 Quick Tips to Reduce Chrome's CPU Usage & Battery Drain3 Quick Tips to Reduce Chrome's CPU Usage & Battery DrainIs Chrome using too much CPU and draining your battery? There may be a way for you to reduce its impact.Read More.
More than anything, Franz is simply convenient. With all your chat powered by one app, you can safely close it when you want some distraction-free work time, knowing you won’t be disturbed.
The free version of Franz is good enough for most users, but if you want to use a VPN with Franz, then you’ll have to pay for the pro version.
Download: Franz for Windows | Mac | Linux (Free)
2. Manageyum (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Add any chat app you want.
Like Franz, Manageyum puts all your messengers into one window. Like Franz, Manageyum also lets you use multiple accounts simultaneously. But unlike Franz, Manageyum lets you use any alternate messenger service with it.
Yes, the pre-loaded chat and messenger services will work better. Use a service that the app doesn’t support, say, a Slack alternative like Twist? Insert a link to it and Manageyum will turn it into a simple app like a browser tab. After you set it up the first time, Manageyum will remember preferences for that app.
While it’s not a deal-breaker, this is a feature you might miss on Franz, so it’s good to know that there’s an alternative.
Download: Manageyum for Windows | Mac | Linux (Free)
3. Caprine (Mac)
Gorgeous Facebook Messenger app with privacy controls.
Caprine is a beautiful and lightweight app for Mac users who want to chat on Facebook Messenger. It only supports that service and no other, but it adds more to Messenger.
The app’s focus on design makes it seem more synchronous with how the rest of Mac apps feels. It has a responsive design that adjusts to window size, multiple themes, and it will give you easy notifications too.
Caprine also lets you control your privacy on MessengerHere's How You Can Appear Offline on Facebook and MessengerHere's How You Can Appear Offline on Facebook and MessengerSometimes you might want to be invisible on Facebook. We'll explain how to appear offline on Facebook and Messenger.Read More by not showing the recipient when you are typing or whether you have seen their messages.
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Apart from Caprine, there are a few other unofficial Messenger apps7 Best Facebook Messenger Apps for Desktop and Mobile7 Best Facebook Messenger Apps for Desktop and MobileLike Facebook Messenger, but want more flexibility? Don't worry, third party developers have your back. Here are the best Facebook Messenger apps you can get, apart from the official one.Read More that you might want to check out.
Download: Caprine for Mac (Free)
4. YakYak (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Torrent client for mac os. The Hangouts desktop client that Google should have made.
A lot of us who grew up using Google Talk are amazed at how Google dropped the ball with Hangouts. Google redeemed itself a little with the new Hangouts web appGoogle Finally Made a Hangouts Web App & It's Worth ItGoogle Finally Made a Hangouts Web App & It's Worth ItFor the longest time, Hangouts on desktop was a nightmare. Now, it has got a major update on the web in the form of an all new dedicated web app.Read More, but it’s still not perfect. Leave it to a third party developer to figure that out.
YakYak is a clean and simple version of Google Hangouts that works as a standalone client. It looks and feels a little like WhatsApp WebUse WhatsApp Web on Your PC: The Ultimate GuideUse WhatsApp Web on Your PC: The Ultimate GuideWhatsApp Web is a quick and easy way to use WhatsApp messages on your computer. We show you how to use WhatsApp Web on your PC.Read More, without making you miss any feature. You can take conversations off the record, you can add contacts; everything just works.
YakYak also adds new features, like marking any contact as a favorite so they will be pinned to the top of the contacts list. You can also change color themes, or opt for a night mode.
Overall, it feels like the desktop client for Hangouts that Google should have made, but never did.
Download: YakYak for Windows | Mac | Linux DEB | Linux RPM (Free)
5. Station (Windows, Mac)
A chat client made for the workplace.
When you are ready to work, is your browser window filled with tabs for Gmail, Google Drive, Slack, and more? Then you should check out Station, the browser and chat app made for the workplace.
Each of the “apps” show up in a vertical bar on the left. Click any, and you can see all the tabs for that app. Click any to open it in a focussed, no-tab window. It’s essentially tab management in a browser, but using it for a while makes you realize how cool it is.
Station supports a wide variety of apps, both for productivity and messaging, so you will probably find any service you use. There’s also a handy one-click button to stop all notifications when you need to focus to get more work done.
Station might be overkill as a universal chat app alone. But if you’re looking for something more than just universal chat, try it out.
Download: Station for Windows | Mac (Free)
6. All In One Messenger (Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS)
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A Chrome-based all-in-one chat messenger app.
You can open a separate Chrome window with the web app for every messenger you use. Or you can do it with All In One Messenger, a Chrome-based app dedicated to bringing chat apps together.
The only major difference between All In One and a Chrome window is that you get to sign into multiple accounts of a messenger. Other than that, the only thing that changes is the look and feel. That said, All In One looks quite inviting with its big, bold tabs on top.
It’s also the only such client that works as a useful Chrome app, which means you can install it on any computer, even a Chromebook. Of course, you’ll need to have installed Google Chrome beforehand.
Download: All In One Messenger for Chrome (Free)
7. Pidgin
For everything else, there’s Pidgin.
Not every must-have software has to be newly made. Pidgin has been around for years, but that doesn’t make it any less awesome today. While Franz concentrates on the new wave of chat apps, Pidgin handles almost every other IM service you can think of.
Given its many years and open-source nature, Pidgin supports a wide variety of chat networks, along with third-party plugins to enable many more. For example, there isn’t an official WhatsApp plugin, but you can get WhatsApp on Pidgin using third-party plugins.
Here’s a brief list of protocols that Pidgin supports:
- AIM
- Bonjour
- Gadu-Gadu
- Google Talk
- Groupwise
- ICQ
- IRC
- MSN
- MXit
- MySpaceIM
- SILC
- SIMPLE
- Sametime
- XMPP
- Yahoo!
- Zephyr
Pidgin is especially great at handling old-school web IMs like IRC or ICQ, and anything which uses the XMPP protocol.
Note: Pidgin officially has apps for Windows and Linux, but Mac users can get a Pidgin port called Adium and use it in the same way.
Download: Pidgin for Windows | Linux (Free)
Download: Adium for Mac (Free)
Download: Adium for Mac (Free)
Protect Your Privacy When You Chat Online
Hopefully, you use one of these WhatsApp alternatives that protect your privacy. But not all messaging apps are that particular about your privacy. In fact Facebook Messenger is infamous for its privacy violations.
The bottom line is, when you are using any of these chat clients, or the official messaging service itself, you are putting your personal data online. And that comes with its own risks. Before you dive in, read our guide to protecting your online privacy and securityThe Complete Guide to Improving Your Online Security and Defending Your PrivacyThe Complete Guide to Improving Your Online Security and Defending Your PrivacyEveryone wants your data, reputable companies and criminals alike. If you want to build up your defenses and protect yourself online, let us guide you through how to improve your security and safeguard your privacy.Read More.
Explore more about: Chat Client, Instant Messaging, Online Chat, Pidgin.
- Why not mention rambox? It's imo a better alternative to Franz.
- this article is too much help full for me as i'm noob in linux, searching just an awesome article like this and finally found here!
On Tuesday we asked for your favorite instant messaging applications, and over 550 comments later, we've culled it down to the most popular five. From web-based chat to desktop clients to tools that combine IM, email, and social networking, your nominations spanned a wide range of instant messaging applications. Let's take a closer look at the five most voted-for apps, and face them off against each other in a final showdown to crown the ultimate favorite.
Best Instant Messenger?
UPDATE: Check out the five best instant messengers for the results of this Hive Five. Once upon a…
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Digsby (Windows)
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The youngest application by far to make the Hive Five, Digsby has taken the world by storm since we first mentioned it in February. Boasting integration with all of your IM networks as well as your email and social networking (Facebook and MySpace included), Digsby is converting new users left and right with their simple but appealing formula: IM + Email + Social Networking = Digsby. Currently a Windows only app, Digsby's developers promise that Mac and Linux versions are in the oven—and that they're constantly squashing bugs from the still-young Windows version.
Consolidate IM, Email, and Social Networking with Digsby
Windows only: Newly released chat application Digsby consolidates instant messaging, email, text…
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Pidgin (Windows/Linux)
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Formerly known as Gaim, this cross-platform, open source IM client has a huge following on both Windows and Linux platforms, estimating over 3 million users in 2007. Much like Firefox, Pidgin is open and extensible, meaning you can add your own improved functionality and tools to Pidgin by simply installing a plug-in (like one of these 10 must-have Pidgin plug-ins.)
Power Up Your Buddy List with These Awesome Pidgin Plugins
Best free bittorrent client for mac. Pidgin is our favorite instant messaging application for Windows, not only for all its great…
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Meebo (Web)
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By far the most popular web-based chat application, Meebo boasts support for all popular chat networks, video and voice chat, and even an iPhone interface. Meebo's main appeal is that it works wherever you are, no matter what operating system you're using, as long as you've got a web browser and an internet connection. Can't go wrong with that.
Meebo Adds Video and Voice Chat to Web-Based IM
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Adium (Mac OS X)
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The overwhelming favorite chat app for OS X, Adium puts Apple's default IM application, iChat, to shame. Like Pidgin, Adium is highly customizable, extensible with plug-ins, and works across all your favorite IM networks. In fact, Adium is kind of like a brother from a different mother to Pidgin; it got its brain from Pidgin's daddy, libpurple, but its looks straight from the dangerous maiden that is OS X.
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![Best Best](/uploads/1/3/3/2/133281025/870886894.jpg)
Trillian (Windows)
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Once an overwhelming favorite for cross-network instant messaging, Trillian has lost a lot of users to newer apps like Digsby or fresher ones like Pidgin. That said, the long-awaited update to Trillian, Trillian Astra, is still in alpha, and those who have tried it continue to place all of their IM trust to Trillian. In the future, Trillian is also promising a Mac release along with an iPhone version, so it may have plenty of life in it yet.
Now let's see if we can't crown a favorite.
![Mail client for mac Mail client for mac](/uploads/1/3/3/2/133281025/455572562.jpg)
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Honorable mention goes to Miranda IM and Google Talk/Google Chat, both of which barely missed the cut.
Whether or not your chat app of choice made the top five, let's hear what you love about it in the comments.
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