Pidgin Alternatives for Linux

There are many alternatives to Pidgin for Linux if you are looking for a replacement. The best Linux alternative is Element. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Element or Matrix. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Pidgin and loads of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to Pidgin are Jami, Beeper, SeaMonkey and Trillian.

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Alternatives list

  1. Element icon

    Element

     789 likes

    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.

    313 Element alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    • Snapcraft
    Video calls for desktop and mobile
     
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    1
    Element vs Pidgin Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    9

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Element is Free Personal and Open SourcePidgin is Free and Open Source
    • Element is Privacy focused and LightweightPidgin is not according to our users
  2. Matrix icon

    Matrix

     392 likes

    Open standard protocol enabling decentralized, encrypted instant messaging, VoIP signaling, IoT device connectivity, and persistent data management across federated servers without central control or single points of failure, bridging communication platforms.

    171 Matrix alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • WebRTC
    • Python
    • JavaScript
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron
    • Java
    • Perl
    Main Page
     
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    2
    Matrix vs Pidgin Comments
    alttojb
    Positive
    0

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

    Guest
    Negative
    -1

    It's not a universal messaging platform

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Matrix is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Matrix is Privacy focused, Security-focused and LightweightPidgin is not according to our users
  4. Jitsi Desktop icon

    Jitsi Desktop

     488 likes

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

    77 Jitsi Desktop alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    Message window
     
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    3
    Jitsi Desktop vs Pidgin Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    4

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    1

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    it does not support Jabber/XMPP anymore

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • 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

     238 likes

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

    164 Jami alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Jami video conference OS X
     
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    1
    Jami vs Pidgin Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    5

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Jami is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Jami is Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  6. Beeper icon

    Beeper

     74 likes

    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.

    22 Beeper alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Chrome OS
    Beeper screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Beeper vs Pidgin Comments
    belisimato
    Positive
    0

    Unifies text communication into one inbox

    • Beeper is Freemium and ProprietaryPidgin is Free and Open Source
    • Beeper is Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  7. SeaMonkey icon

    SeaMonkey

     241 likes

    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.

    185 SeaMonkey alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    SeaMonkey screenshot 1
     
  9. Trillian icon

    Trillian

     280 likes

    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.

    149 Trillian alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Blackberry
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Trillian screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Trillian vs Pidgin Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    -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.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Trillian is Freemium and ProprietaryPidgin is Free and Open Source
  10. Franz icon

    Franz

     120 likes

    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.

    71 Franz alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Franz screenshot 1
     
  11. Psi XMPP Client icon

    Psi XMPP Client

     92 likes

    Feature-rich XMPP client for advanced users offering strong customization options, secure encrypted messaging (TLS, OpenPGP, OTR, OMEMO), file transfers, audio/video calls, support for animated emoticons, modern themes, group messaging, and multi-platform compatibility.

    45 Psi XMPP Client alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    Psi XMPP Client screenshot 1
     
  12. Empathy icon

    Empathy

     157 likes

    Empathy is a messaging program which supports text, voice, video chat, and file transfers over many different protocols. You can tell it about your accounts on all those services and do all your chatting within one application.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    Empathy screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Empathy vs Pidgin Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Both free and open source and works in Linux Support many protocols

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Empathy is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
  14. Dino icon

    Dino

     23 likes

    Dino is a modern open-source chat client for the desktop. It focuses on providing a clean and reliable Jabber/XMPP experience while having your privacy in mind. Using GTK+/Vala.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    Dino screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Dino vs Pidgin Comments
    riveravaldez
    Positive
    0

    Simple and modern interface, secure protocols be default (OMEMO, OpenPGP), available in many distros and through Flatpak/Flathub, audio and video call.

    • Dino is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Dino is Privacy focused and LightweightPidgin is not according to our users
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