10 Best Instant Messengers for Linux
Like other Operating systems, there are some great Instant messengers for Linux. These IM’s comes with features like any other, including custom emoticons, web-cam support, nudges, themes, plugins, customizations and lots more. Here’s a list of 10 Best Instant messengers for Linux, I hope it comes in handy.
1- Pidgin
Pidgin (used to be known as Gaim) is a great IM (Instant messenger) for Linux/Unix and other OS. You can easily connect to services like AIM, MSN, Yahoo, Google Talk, MySpaceIM and much more through it at one time.
2- aMSN
aMSN is a popular open source IM client which acts as a MSN clone. The look and feel is almost like Msn Messenger and supports offline Messaging, display pictures, emoticons, webcams, file transfers, tabbed chat windows, conferencing etc. It’s also gives you the ability to sign-in to more than 1 account at a time.
3- Mercury
Mercury is another nifty instant messenger for Linux that work great. It features, fast file transfer, multiple accounts sign in, offline messaging, webcam, customizable emoticons, status icons, display pictures, yahoo contacts & much more.
4- PSI
Psi is a free instant messaging software that lot of linux users are playing with right now. It offers full unicode support, file transfer, customizable emoticons, works with Google talk, ability to send and receive messages in virtually any language and much more.
Monkey Messenger is an open source MSN client written using the MONO framework, gtk+ and the and a modified version of the DotMSN library. Their main concern is to replace MSN messenger client with all the features which are already provided in earlier versions of MSN. It features, Display pictures, tabbed chat windows, emoticons, nudges and loads more.
6- Empathy
Empathy supports multi-protocol services including Jabber, Gtalk, MSN, IRC, Salut, and all supported by pidgin. With a accound editor, away messages, auto re-connect, smilies, spell check, voice and video call, private/group chats etc, it’s can be a good choice for your IM needs.
7- Skype
Skype is one of the best IM’s out there. I’ve been using it for more than a year and still going good. With it’s group chats, emoticons (Doesn’t support custom emoticons yet), conferencing, history logs etc, it’s becomes a strong contender along with others.
8- Emesene
Emesene is an open source IM designed for use with Microsoft’s .NET messenger service. It replicates the functions and look of the Windows Live Messenger but in a simpler, cleaner and easier to use interface. Features include, tabbed chat, custom emoticons, file transfering, nudges, customization for themes – smileys – clouds – GUI- conversation format, support for MSN Plus, plugins and more.
9- KMess
KMess is a another MSN alternative for linux giving you the ability to chat with users who are using .NET messenger service. It focuses on MSN specfic features and with a clean / easy to use interface. It’s a free softwares, licensed under GPL and offer features like fast file transfer, custom emoticons, nudges, offline messaging, colorful chat styles, live email notifications, Now Playing” support for several Audio Players etc.
10- Kopete
Kopete is an KDE based IM with supports AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, Jabber, IRC, Gadu-Gadu, Novell GroupWise Messenger, and more. It offers group messaging within a window with tabs, mutliple accounts log-in option, Alias nicknames for contacts, grouping, logging conversations, custom emoticons support, notifications, MSN and yahoo webcam support, spell checking and more.
36 Comments
Linux/Ubuntu? Lol
Nice list! Pidgin (formerly Gaim) has always been my favorite to use on both Linux and Windows. It has a ton of nice features and works very well.
kinda strange you’re reviewing ‘Linux’ messengers under windows !!
You forgot to talk about some web services like
http://www.meebo.com
http://www.ebuddy.com
That provide a web-program which runs in linux to access to a pletora of chat services. This is my main option when chatting in linux.
nice list.
I really liked pidgin and its tabbed interface. But it fell flat on its face when it came to file transfer. Terribly slow. I think this was something they still have not fixed yet. (This is a feature i used a lot at the office. But it does not support video or voice support)
@Dlego: Yes, Meebo and ebuddy are good web messengers but I was covering the ones that you can download =)
Kopete for the win!
Fantastic article. Linux is great alternative to established high-dollar, mass market operating systems.
Also perfect Jabber client is Jabbim – http://dev.jabbim.cz/jabbim/wiki/en/index in my opinion far far better than Psi.
What about the only yahoo messenger chat client for linux that has audio that works for the chat-rooms!
http://gyachi.sourceforge.net/
agree with kuba, i’m too happy jabbim user
I have been using GAIM/Pidgin for years but in the past month I switched to Empathy because of the instability of Pidgin. So far the move has been nice.
Anyone else have problems with Pidgin crashing?
Yep, Jabbim is a great IM client. Far better Jabber client than Pidgin and far more user-friendly than PSI. It’s got potential to be the best IM client in short time.
@Kuba & Matt: Thank for your mentioning
i also vote for jabbim … it is very good and nice client, for linux/win/macOS.
i have a problem with Pidgin, my Pidgin is crashing
@Yellosn0w: Yes, users are confronting the crash problem with the latest Pidgin
Why are some screenshots taken from Vista and XP, when this article is about messengers on Linux???
How could you NOT mention bitlbee? ….
http://www.bitlbee.org
Why the hell is pidgin number 1? pidgin sucks the dick compared to anything else. Im just wating for digsby to come out for linux. Digsby is the shit for windows, and its coming soon to linux.
blake, you dumbass i told you that pidgin is number 1 b/c it’s the most recognized and it comes pre-installed…geez learn to listen
terms of best shouldnt be determined by popularity.. whos the real dumbass?
you. most countdowns are based on popularity. and anyway, who said it was arranged in any order??
umm, if its a countdown then its in order. and no, most countdowns arent based on popularity. they are based on which is BEST. pidgin is definitely not best
well then darling, find a better one
like i said, waiting on digsby
i don’t like digsby…thats why i switched back to just using aim, idk why you like it so much…
Digsby rules!
Yeah, digsby is pretty freaking awesome. Hopefully the linux version is as stable as the latest pidgin. Can’t wait to switch…
Yea,.. as a new user Pidgin was highly recommended,.. but it sucks on file transfer, and empathy,… lol,. it won’t even connect to yahoo… I bet you wrote this list on a windows OS… just a hunch…