Vacuum-IM Alternatives
Vacuum-IM is described as 'Crossplatform Jabber client. The core program is just a plugin loader - all functionality is made available via plugins'. There are more than 10 alternatives to Vacuum-IM for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Linux, Windows, BSD and Android. The most liked alternative is Jitsi, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Vacuum-IM are Pidgin (Free, Open Source), Gajim (Free, Open Source), Empathy (Free, Open Source) and YakYak (Free, Open Source).
- Jitsi (previously SIP Communicator) is an audio/video and chat communicator with full encryption that supports protocols such as SIP, XMPP/Jabber, ICQ/AIM, Windows Live, Yahoo!
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- iPad
- Pidgin is an easy to use, multi-protocol chat client client used by millions. Connect to AIM, MSN, Yahoo, XMPP, and more chat networks all at once.
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- PortableApps.com
- Xfce
- 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.
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Xfce
- Empathy is a messaging program which supports text, voice, video chat, and file transfers over many different protocols.
Discontinued
Empathy is currently unmaintained. Last version, 3.25, released in August 2017, can be still downloaded from the official website.
- Free • Open Source
- Linux
- BSD
- Walkie is a better way to communicate for distributed teams that don't want to spend all day in dry text channels.
- Astian Spika is an instant messaging service focused on speed, security and productivity. With great differences such as integration with Astian Cloud, support for video calls, calls among other features.
- Free • Open Source
- Online
- Android
- Android Tablet
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Lightweight & powerful XMPP client for macOS.