iChat AlternativesInstant Messengers and other similar apps like iChat

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 a instant messenger in the social & communications category. There are more than 10 alternatives to iChat for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Web-based, Android and iPhone apps. The best iChat alternative is Jitsi Desktop, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like iChat are Adium, Trillian, Psi XMPP Client and LINE.

iChat iconiChat
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iChat (formerly iChat AV) is an AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MobileMe, ICQ and XMPP client by Apple Inc. for their Mac OS X...

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iChat alternatives page was last updated Sep 13, 2021
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  1. Jitsi Desktop icon
     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 .

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    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 iChat

     
    • Jitsi Desktop is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to iChat.

    • Jitsi Desktop is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to iChat.

    • Jitsi Desktop is Free and Open SourceiChat is Paid and Proprietary
    • Jitsi Desktop is Privacy focusediChat is not according to our users
  2. Adium icon
     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...

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Discontinued

    The last update is from March 2021.

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

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

    Adium VS iChat

     
  3. Trillian icon
     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.

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

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

    Trillian Features

    1.  Support for Multiple protocols
    2. XMPP icon  Supports XMPP
    3.  Messages
    4.  IMAP Support
    5.  POP3 Support

    Trillian VS iChat

     
    • Trillian is the most popular Android, iPhone, iPad & SaaS alternative to iChat.

    • Trillian is Freemium and ProprietaryiChat is Paid and Proprietary
  4. Psi XMPP Client icon
     92 likes
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    Psi is an XMPP client designed for experienced users. It is highly portable and runs on GNU/Linux, MS Windows, macOS, FreeBSD, NetBSD and Haiku.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  VoiP Calls
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Multiple Account support
    6.  End-to-End Encryption
    7.  Decentralized
    8. XMPP icon  Supports XMPP
    9.  Support for Multiple protocols
    10.  OTR

    Psi XMPP Client VS iChat

     
  5. LINE icon
     106 likes
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    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.

    145 LINE alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • JP flagJapan

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Google Chrome

    LINE Features

    1. IFTTT icon  IFTTT Integration
    2.  VoiP Calls
    3.  People nearby
    4.  Stickers
    5.  Voice Chat
    6.  Public groups chat

    LINE VS iChat

     
    • LINE is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to iChat.

    • LINE is Freemium and ProprietaryiChat is Paid and Proprietary
  6. Tango icon
     30 likes
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    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.

    98 Tango alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Tango Features

    1.  VoiP Calls
    2.  Earn Money
    3.  Meet new people

    Tango VS iChat

     
  7. Kik icon
     56 likes
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    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.

    100 Kik alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Kindle Fire

    Kik Features

    1.  Support for GIF
    2.  Chat Bot

    Kik VS iChat

     
  8. FaceFlow icon
     12 likes
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    FaceFlow is a free web-based application for video calling and group video calling. It also offers additional features such as chat rooms.

    97 FaceFlow alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Blackberry 10

    FaceFlow Features

    1.  Random Chat
    2.  Video Conferencing

    FaceFlow VS iChat

     
  9. Camfrog icon
     12 likes
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    Free live webcam video chat room software for multiple desktop platforms including mobile platforms like iOS and Android.

    74 Camfrog alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Kindle Fire

    Camfrog Features

    1.  Meet new people

    Camfrog VS iChat

     
  10. Paltalk icon
     8 likes
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    Paltalk is an instant messaging service that enables users to communicate via internet chat, voice and video chat. It offers chat rooms and the ability for users to create their own public virtual chat room.

    58 Paltalk alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Kindle Fire

    Paltalk Features

    1.  Voice Chat

    Paltalk VS iChat

     
  11. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Cloud Phone is a virtual pbx that enables small businesses to quickly, easily, and affordably set up a business phone solution without having to purchase hardware

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone

    Voxox CloudPhone Features

    1.  Virtual PBX
    2.  Unified communications
    3.  Voice Chat

    Voxox CloudPhone VS iChat

     
    • Voxox CloudPhone is the most popular commercial alternative to iChat.

    • Voxox CloudPhone is Paid and ProprietaryiChat is also Paid and Proprietary
  12. Spreed icon
     8 likes
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    Spreed is the worldwide unified web conferencing service offering integrated web and telephone conferencing. It is based on Flash Player. Free service includes 3 attendees and max 1.5h meetings. Single events or monthly service can be purchased.

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online

    Spreed Features

    1.  PDF annotation
    2.  Screen Sharing
    3.  Based on Flash Player
    4.  Integrated File Sharing
    5.  Interactive Whiteboard
    6.  Video Conferencing

    Spreed VS iChat

     
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