iChat Alternatives
iChat is described as '(formerly iChat AV) is an AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MobileMe, ICQ and XMPP client by Apple Inc. for their Mac OS X operating system. Using a Jabber-like protocol and Bonjour for user discovery, it also allows for LAN communication' and is an app in the Social & Communications category. There are more than 10 alternatives to iChat for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Android, iPhone, Online / Web-based and Mac. The best alternative is Jitsi, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like iChat are Hangouts (Free), Trillian (Freemium), Adium (Free, Open Source) and LINE (Freemium).
- Jitsi (previously SIP Communicator) is an audio/video and chat communicator with full encryption that supports protocols such as SIP, XMPP/Jabber, ICQ/AIM, Windows Live, Yahoo!, GTalk/Hangouts extensions, as well as OTR, ZRTP, etc.
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- iPad
- Hangouts is a messaging app that lets you send and receive messages, photos and more, and even start free video and voice calls – one to one or with a group!
- Free • Proprietary
- Windows
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Chrome OS
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Google Chrome
- Android Wear
- 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.
- Freemium • Proprietary
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Blackberry
- iPad
- 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.
- LINE is a Japanese proprietary application for instant messaging on smartphones and PCs. Line users exchange text messages, graphics, video and audio media, make free VoIP calls, and hold free audio or video conferences.
- Freemium • Proprietary
- Mac
- Windows
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Chrome OS
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Apple Watch
- Kik is way more than just messaging. It’s the easiest way to connect with your friends, stay in the loop, and explore – all through chat. No phone numbers, just pick a username.
- The application is a push-to-talk (PTT) walkie-talkie for consumers and business and available for Android, iOS, Blackberry, Windows Phone, Windows PC, rugged mobile devices and two-way radios.
- Free Personal • Proprietary
- Windows
- Windows Mobile
- Android
- iPhone
- Blackberry
- Windows Phone
- FaceFlow is a free web-based application for video calling and group video calling. It also offers additional features such as chat rooms.
- Tango allows you to easily connect with friends & family or make new friends. Make video & voice calls, send text messages, play games, send music messages powered by Spotify and more all for free.
- Freemium • Proprietary
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- A development branch of the Psi XMPP client. Psi is a cross-platform powerful XMPP client (Qt, C++) designed for the XMPP power users.
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD