Pidgin AlternativesTop Instant Messengers & Video Calling Apps like Pidgin

Pidgin is described as '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' and is a leading instant messenger in the social & communications category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Pidgin for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Windows, Android and BSD apps. The best Pidgin alternative is Element. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Matrix or Jitsi Desktop. Other great apps like Pidgin are Jami, Beeper, Element X and SeaMonkey.

filter to find the best alternatives

Pidgin alternatives are mainly Instant Messengers, but if you're looking for Group Chat Apps or Encrypted Chat Apps you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Android + Free. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Pidgin.
Pidgin iconPidgin
  1522
  • ...

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.

More about Pidgin
More about Pidgin
Pidgin alternatives page was last updated May 14, 2024
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
  1. Element icon

    Element

     724 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Provides secure collaboration with end-to-end encryption, supporting chat, voice, and video calls. Available on all major platforms, it enables digital sovereignty with a decentralized design and interoperability through bridges to systems like Slack and Teams. Includes enterprise-grade SaaS.

    301 Element alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    Video calls for desktop and mobile

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Clean design

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Federated
    4.  Team Collaboration
    5.  Encrypted Chat
    6.  Video Calling
    7.  Matrix Protocol
    8.  Voice Chat
    9.  Direct Messaging
    10.  Federation
    11.  Cross-Platform
    12.  Dark Mode

    Element VS Pidgin

     
    Comments about Element as an Alternative to Pidgin
    Guest
    Negative Nov 10, 2017
    9

    Pidgin is a universal IM client. Riot is a Matrix client with integrations providing weak bridging for other protocols.

    Pidgin Icon
    Element icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Element is a legitimate Pidgin alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Element is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Android & Mac alternative to Pidgin.

    • Element is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Pidgin.

    • Element is Free Personal and Open SourcePidgin is Free and Open Source
    • Element is Decentralized and Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  2. Matrix icon

    Matrix

     364 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Matrix defines a set of open APIs for decentralised communication, suitable for securely publishing, persisting and subscribing to data over a global open federation of servers with no single point of control.

    162 Matrix alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • WebRTC
    • Python
    • JavaScript
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron
    • Java
    • Perl
    Main Page

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight
    4.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Federation
    4.  Team Collaboration
    5.  Random Video Chat
    6.  Encrypted Chat
    7.  Voice Chat
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Spaces
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Support for @mentions

    Matrix VS Pidgin

     
    Comments about Matrix as an Alternative to Pidgin
    alttojb
    Positive Sep 21, 2022
    0

    Matrix does allow multi-protocol chat via "bridges". https://matrix.org/bridges/

    Guest
    Negative Sep 11, 2022
    -1

    It's not a universal messaging platform

    Pidgin Icon
    Matrix icon

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

    • Matrix is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Matrix is Decentralized, Privacy focused and LightweightPidgin is not according to our users
  4. Jitsi Desktop icon

    Jitsi Desktop

     489 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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 Pidgin

     
    Comments about Jitsi Desktop as an Alternative to Pidgin
    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Negative Nov 16, 2020
    4

    It's only focused on video chat, no more Xmpp Support

    Guest
    Negative May 6, 2018
    1

    Jitsi is now a video-chat only application, with no support for XMPP/Jabber functionality.

    Guest
    Negative Oct 29, 2021
    0

    it does not support Jabber/XMPP anymore

    Pidgin Icon
    Jitsi Desktop icon

    • Most users think Jitsi Desktop is a great Pidgin alternative.

    • Jitsi Desktop is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Jitsi Desktop is Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  5. Jami icon

    Jami

     231 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Jami (formerly GNU Ring, SFLphone) positions itself as a potential free Skype replacement

    159 Jami alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Jami video conference OS X

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Video Conferencing
    4.  Peer-To-Peer
    5.  Video Calling
    6.  Multi Platform
    7.  Distributed
    8.  Encrypted Chat
    9.  End-to-End Encryption
    10.  SIP client
    11.  Screen Sharing
    12.  No Tracking

    Jami VS Pidgin

     
    Comments about Jami as an Alternative to Pidgin
    Guest
    Negative Jun 25, 2016
    5

    Pidgin more focused on text and mutiprotocol messaging. While Ring more focused on a distributed non-multiprotocol service.

    Pidgin Icon
    Jami icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Jami is a legitimate Pidgin alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Jami is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Jami is Decentralized and Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  6. Beeper icon

    Beeper

     64 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Access all your messaging in one place with a universal app connecting WhatsApp, Messenger, and more across Android, iOS, and desktop. Enjoy real-time sync and intuitive management.

    20 Beeper alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    Beeper screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for Multiple protocols
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Telegram
    4.  Sms from PC
    5.  Slack client
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  IMessage
    8.  Multiple Account support
    9.  End-to-End Encryption
    10. WhatsApp icon  Whatsapp integration
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Unified inbox

    Beeper VS Pidgin

     
    Comments about Beeper as an Alternative to Pidgin
    belisimato
    Positive Feb 20, 2024
    0

    Unifies text communication into one inbox

    Pidgin Icon
    Beeper icon
    • Beeper is Free and ProprietaryPidgin is Free and Open Source
    • Beeper is Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  7. Element X icon

    Element X

     31 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    It is the brand new, and fastest ever, Matrix client. It is for personal and community use, and will support enterprise functionality later this year.

    97 Element X alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Element X screenshot 1
    Element X screenshot 2
    Element X screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Matrix Protocol
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  VoiP Calls
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Support for MarkDown
    8.  Decentralized
    9.  Support for @mentions
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    12.  Voice Chat

    Element X VS Pidgin

     
  9. SeaMonkey icon

    SeaMonkey

     235 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Web-browser, advanced e-mail, newsgroup and feed client, IRC chat, and HTML editing in one application. Itis built on the open source Mozilla Gecko engine, the same code which underlies Thunderbird and is the base for the Firefox browser.

    180 SeaMonkey alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    SeaMonkey screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Integrated Email Client
    2.  Built-in RSS reader
    3.  Add-ons
    4.  Built-in Download Manager
    5.  WYSIWYG Support
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Portable
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Support for Firefox extensions
    10.  Modular System

    SeaMonkey VS Pidgin

     
  10. Trillian icon

    Trillian

     280 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    153 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 icon  Supports XMPP
    3.  Messages
    4.  IMAP Support
    5.  POP3 Support

    Trillian VS Pidgin

     
    Comments about Trillian as an Alternative to Pidgin
    Guest
    Negative Jan 17, 2016
    -17

    Pidgen supports multiple accounts from multiple services, while this is a single service. So instead of allowing you to use all your existing accounts it requires you to use their account. The beauty of Pidgen is that you can connect with your friends using the service they use instead of trying to sell them on the service you want to use.

    Pidgin Icon
    Trillian icon

    • Most users think Trillian is a great Pidgin alternative.

    • Trillian is the most popular SaaS alternative to Pidgin.

    • Trillian is Freemium and ProprietaryPidgin is Free and Open Source
  11. Adium icon

    Adium

     337 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

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

    Adium VS Pidgin

     
    Comments about Adium as an Alternative to Pidgin
    Mister Hutchinson
    Positive Jul 28, 2021
    0

    Good third-party protocol support, simple user interface.

    antoniobeana
    Positive Oct 13, 2016
    1

    Has the inactivity detector and is setting me as away when I am not in front of computer.

    Pidgin Icon
    Adium icon

    • Most users think Adium is a great Pidgin alternative.

    • Adium is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
  12. Conversations icon

    Conversations

     100 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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].

    161 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. XMPP icon  Supports XMPP
    5.  Image Sharing
    6.  OMEMO
    7.  OpenPGP
    8.  Encrypted Connection
    9.  GPG Encryption
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Self Destructing Messages
    12.  Dark Mode

    Conversations VS Pidgin

     
    Comments about Conversations as an Alternative to Pidgin
    Schnatt_App
    Positive Feb 22, 2020
    3

    very good Alternative if you seek a client for android

    Pidgin Icon
    Conversations icon
    • Conversations is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Conversations is Decentralized, Lightweight and Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
10 of 121 Pidgin alternatives