AIM AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Instant Messengers

The best Instant Messenger alternative to AIM is Signal, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to AIM and many of them are Instant Messengers so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Instant Messenger alternatives to AIM are Telegram, Discord, Pidgin and WhatsApp.

AIM iconAIM
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AOL Instant Messenger is an instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the proprietary OSCAR instant...

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AIM alternatives page was last updated Sep 13, 2021
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Alternatives
  1. Signal icon

    Signal

     1272 likes
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    An open-source messaging app emphasizing privacy with encrypted communication. Share texts, calls, photos, and videos without ads or trackers, available across major platforms. Developed by Signal Technology Foundation and praised globally for security measures.

    219 Signal alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    Signal screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Encrypted Chat
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Video Calling
    5.  Self Destructing Messages
    6.  Private messaging
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Encrypted Connection
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Mobile friendly
    11.  Desktop Application
    12.  Stickers

    Signal VS AIM

     

    • Signal is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to AIM.

    • Signal is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to AIM.

    • Signal is Free and Open SourceAIM is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Signal is Privacy focused and Security-focusedAIM is not according to our users
  2. Telegram icon

    Telegram

     2045 likes
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    Maximize your messaging experience with efficient communication, speedy delivery, and optional end-to-end encrypted Secret Chats. Engage in unlimited channels and groups up to 200,000 members. Enhance chat management and media sharing with Telegram Premium and its exclusive benefits. All core features remain free.

    295 Telegram alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Linux Mobile
    • Android Wear
    • PortableApps.com
    • FreeBSD
    • Apple Car Play
    • Android Auto
    Telegram Desktop

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Chat
    2.  Stickers
    3.  Chat Bot
    4.  Large File Transfer
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  End-to-End Encryption
    7.  Video Calling
    8.  Multi Device Support
    9.  Channels
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Bots
    12.  Secret chats

    Telegram VS AIM

     
    Comments about Telegram as an Alternative to AIM
    Guest
    Negative •Dec 5, 2017
    0

    As opposed to AIM this is a SMS replacement that requires a phone number.

    AIM Icon
    Telegram icon

    • Most users think Telegram is a great AIM alternative.

    • Telegram is the most popular Web-based & Android Tablet alternative to AIM.

    • Telegram is Freemium and ProprietaryAIM is also Freemium and Proprietary
    • Telegram is Lightweight and Privacy focusedAIM is not according to our users
  4. Discord icon

    Discord

     1074 likes
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    An integrated platform for text and voice communications. Offers tailored channels for different topics, customizable moderation tools, low latency for fluency, and managed user roles for optimal community facilitation.

    185 Discord alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Epic Games Store
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
    Discord screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Gaming-focused

    Features

    1.  Screen Sharing
    2.  VoiP Calls
    3.  Video Calling
    4.  Multi Channel
    5.  Text chat
    6.  Bots
    7.  Voice Chat
    8.  Multiple Servers
    9.  Push to talk
    10.  Text to Speech
    11.  Two-factor Authentication
    12.  Dark Mode

    Discord VS AIM

     
  5. Pidgin icon

    Pidgin

     1522 likes
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    Pidgin is a chat program which lets you log into accounts on multiple chat networks simultaneously. This means that you can be chatting with friends on XMPP and sitting in an IRC channel at the same time.

    122 Pidgin alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    Pidgin screenshot 1

    Top Pidgin Features

    1.  Support for Multiple protocols
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Supports XMPP
    4.  Multiple Account support
    5.  IRC
    6.  Portable
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  VoiP Calls
    10.  Multiple languages
    11.  Xmpp
    12.  Multiple chat protocols

    Pidgin VS AIM

     
    Comments about Pidgin as an Alternative to AIM
    SM64Roblox88
    Negative •Oct 6, 2017
    0

    It is a tool for connecting and chatting on AIM and other services, not an actual communication service

    Guest
    Negative •Oct 7, 2017
    -1

    AIM is the server plus the protocol. Pidgin just has the protocol, as well as many other protocols. With the AIM server going away, and pretty much all the other protocols supported having closed or limited servers or needing specialized network support, there is no good way to generally use Pidgin.

    AIM Icon
    Pidgin icon

    • Some users think Pidgin is a great AIM alternative, some don't.

    • Pidgin is Free and Open SourceAIM is Freemium and Proprietary
  6. WhatsApp icon

    WhatsApp

     843 likes
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    Exchange messages without SMS fees using this app for iPhone, Android and desktop, featuring group chats, multimedia sharing, and video calls. The app requires an internet connection and the latest version for optimal functionality.

    253 WhatsApp alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Wear
    • Android Auto
    • Apple Car Play
    WhatsApp screenshot 1
    WhatsApp screenshot 2
    WhatsApp screenshot 3

    Top WhatsApp Features

    1.  Mobile friendly
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Custom Backgrounds
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Two-factor Authentication
    7.  Screen Sharing
    8.  VoiP Calls
    9.  Picture in Picture
    10.  Passkey Support
    11.  Support for @mentions
    12.  Expiring Stories

    WhatsApp VS AIM

     
  7. Jitsi Desktop icon

    Jitsi Desktop

     489 likes
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    Jitsi Desktop (previously SIP Communicator) is a legacy audio/video and chat communicator with full encryption, precedessor of Jitsi Meet .

    79 Jitsi Desktop alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    Contact list
    Discontinued

    Jitsi Desktop is not actively developed anymore: last version, released in October 2017, can be still downloaded from GitHub. Its successor is Jitsi Meet icon Jitsi Meet

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Video Conferencing
    2.  SIP
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Support for Multiple protocols
    5.  Live Meeting
    6.  WebRTC
    7.  Multiple Account support
    8.  Desktop Sharing
    9.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    10.  Voice Chat
    11.  Web-Based
    12.  Unlimited users

    Jitsi Desktop VS AIM

     

    • Jitsi Desktop is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to AIM.

    • Jitsi Desktop is Free and Open SourceAIM is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Jitsi Desktop is Privacy focusedAIM is not according to our users
  9. Zulip icon

    Zulip

     204 likes
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    Zulip is the only modern team chat app that is designed for both live and asynchronous conversations. Zulip topics create a separate space for each discussion, so different conversations will never get in each other's way.

    230 Zulip alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    Zulip screenshot 1

    Top Zulip Features

    1.  Threaded Conversations
    2.  Team Collaboration
    3.  Support for Hotkeys
    4.  Community-based
    5.  Support for MarkDown
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Chat Bot
    8.  Secure Chat
    9.  Third party integrations
    10.  Integrated File Sharing
    11. GitHub icon  GitHub Integration
    12.  Integrated Search

    Zulip VS AIM

     
  10. Conversations icon

    Conversations

     99 likes
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    Conversations is a privacy focused, open source XMPP Texting [Jabber] client for Android 4.0+ smart phones with wife-approved easy encryption [OTR, OMEMO, or GPG].

    160 Conversations alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Conversations screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Intuitive Interface

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Encrypted Chat
    4.  Image Sharing
    5.  Supports XMPP
    6.  OMEMO
    7.  OpenPGP
    8.  Encrypted Connection
    9.  GPG Encryption
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Self Destructing Messages
    12.  Dark Mode

    Conversations VS AIM

     
  11. Adium icon

    Adium

     337 likes
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    Adium is a free and open source instant messaging application for Mac OS X, written using Mac OS Xs Cocoa API, released under the GNU GPL and developed by the Adium team. Based on the libpurple protocol library, Adium can connect you to any number of messaging accounts on any...

    69 Adium alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Adium screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The last update is from March 2021.

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Support for Multiple protocols
    2.  Xmpp
    3.  Supports XMPP
    4.  Multiple languages
    5.  Tabbed interface
    6.  Messages
    7.  OTR

    Adium VS AIM

     
  12. Messenger icon

    Messenger

     231 likes
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    Provides comprehensive communication features including group video calls, voice calls, fast messaging, photo sharing, and location mapping. Access through mobile and web platforms with real-time notifications, ensuring seamless interactions using multimedia tools.

    203 Messenger alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Android Auto
    • Android Wear
    Messenger screenshot 1
    Messenger screenshot 2
    Messenger screenshot 3

    Messenger Features

    1.  VoiP Calls
    2.  Face Filter
    3.  Expiring Stories
    4.  Stickers
    5.  Messages
    6.  Text messaging
    7.  In-app Money Transfer
    8.  Private messaging

    Messenger VS AIM

     
  13. Trillian icon

    Trillian

     280 likes
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    Trillian is an instant messaging app that works on phones, tablets, and desktops while keeping your chats neatly synchronized between all of them! We think conversation should be easily shared between all of your devices, not trapped as text messages on your phone.

    152 Trillian alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Blackberry
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Trillian screenshot 1

    Trillian Features

    1.  Support for Multiple protocols
    2.  Xmpp
    3.  Messages
    4.  IMAP Support
    5.  POP3 Support

    Trillian VS AIM

     

    • Trillian is the most popular SaaS alternative to AIM.

    • Trillian is Freemium and ProprietaryAIM is also Freemium and Proprietary
  14. Franz icon

    Franz

     119 likes
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    Franz is a free messaging app / former Emperor of Austria and combines chat & messaging services into one application. Franz currently supports Slack, WhatsApp, WeChat, HipChat and many more. You can download Franz for Mac, Windows & Linux.

    74 Franz alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • AT flagAustria
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Franz screenshot 1

    Top Franz Features

    1.  Support for Multiple protocols
    2. WhatsApp icon  Whatsapp integration
    3.  Unified messaging
    4.  Multiple Account support
    5.  Web application wrapper
    6.  Lightweight wrapper
    7.  Multi-messenger
    8.  Slack client
    9. Gmail icon  Gmail integration
    10.  iPhone/iPod sync
    11. Slack icon  Slack integration

    Franz VS AIM

     
12 of 37 AIM alternatives