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

    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 .

    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 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

    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...

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

    Adium VS iChat

     
  4. 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.

    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 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
  5. Psi XMPP Client icon

    Psi XMPP Client

     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

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    Psi XMPP Client screenshot 1

    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

     
  6. LINE icon

    LINE

     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

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • JP flagJapan

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Google Chrome
    LINE screenshot 1
    LINE screenshot 2
    LINE screenshot 3

    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
  7. Tango icon

    Tango

     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

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Tango screenshot 1
    Tango screenshot 2
    Tango screenshot 3

    Tango Features

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

    Tango VS iChat

     
  9. Kik icon

    Kik

     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

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Kindle Fire
    Kik screenshot 1
    Stream and interact with your viewers in the live-chat or invite them in the guestbox.
    Kik screenshot 3

    Kik Features

    1.  Support for GIF
    2.  Chat Bot

    Kik VS iChat

     
  10. FaceFlow icon

    FaceFlow

     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

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Blackberry 10
    Random chat

    FaceFlow Features

    1.  Random Chat
    2.  Video Conferencing

    FaceFlow VS iChat

     
  11. Camfrog icon

    Camfrog

     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

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Kindle Fire
    Camfrog screenshot 1

    Camfrog Features

    1.  Meet new people

    Camfrog VS iChat

     
  12. Paltalk icon

    Paltalk

     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

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Kindle Fire
    Paltalk screenshot 1

    Paltalk Features

    1.  Voice Chat

    Paltalk VS iChat

     
  13. Voxox CloudPhone icon

    Voxox CloudPhone

     8 likes
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    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 screenshot 1
    Voxox CloudPhone screenshot 2
    Voxox CloudPhone screenshot 3

    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
  14. Spreed icon

    Spreed

     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

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    Conference Interface

    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

     
12 of 17 iChat alternatives