Pidgin Alternatives for Windows

There are many alternatives to Pidgin for Windows if you are looking for a replacement. The best Windows 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 Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to Pidgin are Jami, Beeper, SeaMonkey and Trillian.

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Alternatives list

  1. Element icon

    Element

     833 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.

    346 Element alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    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.

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

    Matrix

     416 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.

    192 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

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

    Jitsi Desktop

     490 likes

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

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    Message window
     
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    3
    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

    Jitsi Desktop vs Pidgin Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    4

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

    Guest
    Negative
    1

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

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    it does not support Jabber/XMPP anymore

    • Jitsi Desktop is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Jitsi Desktop is a Video Calling Pidgin is an Instant Messenger
    • Jitsi Desktop is Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  5. Jami icon

    Jami

     249 likes

    Open source decentralized communication platform supporting secure end-to-end encrypted calls, messaging, group conferencing, file and media sharing, SIP compatibility, multi-device sync, and strong privacy, available across desktop and mobile systems.

    179 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.

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

    Beeper

     87 likes

    Brings together messaging from 14 networks into a single inbox, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, and more, with strong privacy via on-device connections, cross-platform availability, chat reminders, scheduling, and unified notifications for all devices.

    27 Beeper alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    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 Open SourcePidgin is Free and Open Source
    • Beeper is Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  8. SeaMonkey icon

    SeaMonkey

     249 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.

    190 SeaMonkey alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

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

    Trillian

     279 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.

    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.

    • Trillian is Freemium and ProprietaryPidgin is Free and Open Source
  10. Franz icon

    Franz

     119 likes

    Centralize multiple chat and messaging services in one customizable interface, organize workspaces, receive synchronized notifications, manage multiple accounts per service, and easily access popular platforms on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Privacy controls included.

    78 Franz alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    Psi XMPP Client

     88 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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    Gajim

     68 likes

    The goal of Gajim is to provide a full featured and easy to use XMPP client. Gajim works nicely with GNOME, but does not require it to run. It is released under the GNU General Public License.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Xfce
    Gajim screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Gajim vs Pidgin Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    3

    It's a Jabber client only, not a multi-protocol / multi-channel chat client. Similar to Pidgin on it's root purpose can only by another multi-protocol client. Gajim is not.

    Guest
    Positive
    -1

    Supports more XMPP features and has it already integrated in the base.

    Pidgin needs a lot of plugin to have a similar support for features.

    • Gajim is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Gajim is Decentralized and Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  13. Miranda NG icon

    Miranda NG

     49 likes

    Miranda New Generation is a successor of a popular multi-protocol instant messaging client for Windows - Miranda IM . Very light on system resources and extremely fast.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    Miranda NG screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Miranda NG vs Pidgin Comments
    Mister Hutchinson
    Positive
    0

    One of few Windows chat clients supporting multiple protocols and plugins, while also being open-source.

    • Miranda NG is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Miranda NG is CustomizablePidgin is not according to our users
  14. nheko icon

    nheko

     7 likes

    Matrix-focused desktop chat client supporting secure end-to-end encrypted messaging, voice and video calling, file sharing, emoji, room and community management, multi-theme interface, presence/status, notifications, profiles, and plugin integration for Unix.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Chat
     
12 of 57 Pidgin alternatives