A lightweight IM client which is open-source and supports Direct IM transfers, Buddy Alliasing, and many different protocols. Builds are avalible for Windows, Linux and Mac.

Pidgin
MSRP$0.00
Release date --
Brand--
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Pros & Cons11
Reviews21
Details
Buy It
Competitors7
Comments7
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
20 reviews
69
negative
mixed
positive
15 positive
2 mixed
3 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

show me!

Pros:
Do you agree?
•
Free
+17agreedisagree

•
Supports a lot of protocols
+15agreedisagree

•
Doesn't take a lot of resources
+15agreedisagree

•
Modular architecture means it can be extended easily
+10agreedisagree

•
UI is much cleaner than most commercial IM apps (no ads)
+5agreedisagree

•
Options available: "Show buddy when offline"
+2agreedisagree

•
available for all major operating systems
+2agreedisagree

•
extensive set of built-in plugins
+1agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
•
No video/audio chat
+15agreedisagree

•
Rough interface. Not as slick as more commercial programs
+10agreedisagree

•
Can't easily launch IRC chat
+2agreedisagree


21 people added to this review by submitting or voting on pros and cons. Add your say!
See individual votes »

Details

Submit a link

This report was started May 12, 2008 at 9:28 pm by dialupinternetuser
with the last edit occurring November 6, 2009 at 9:41 am by shadowtech
This page has been viewed 1166 times, with 173 edits by 24 contributors.
See the full report history »

Buy It

Competitors

Pidgin is ranked 4th among it's competitors.  See the top picks in Chat, VoIP »
Digsby

Digsby

MSRP  $0.00    Released  --
Pros
  • very stable and has everything that you want.
  • Allows multiple protocols such as MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, and other protocols.
  • Logging is done via XML instead of having to go through the application, and typically logging in.
Cons
  • Very processor intensive
  • Can't do conference chats.
ProSCORE
2 reviews
67
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Pidgin 0% vs. vote Digsby 100%
Windows Live Messenger

Windows Live Messenger

MSRP  $0.00    Released  --
Pros
  • customizable through third party tools such as apatch and Messenger Plus!
  • Free
  • lots of features
Cons
  • Not compatible with ICQ.
  • Mac version slow, buggy and outdated.
  • Requires registration with MSN.
ProSCORE
13 reviews
32
Vote! (12 votes)
vote Pidgin 50% vs. vote Windows Live Messenger 50%
Skype

Skype

MSRP  $0.00    Released  August, 2003
Pros
  • easy to use
  • clear audio quality
  • Available on Mac, Linux and Windows
Cons
  • can be a resource hog
  • High Quality Video requires a fairly powerful computer
  • causes MS Outlook 2003 to freeze occasionally
ProSCORE
6 reviews
72
Vote! (6 votes)
vote Pidgin 50% vs. vote Skype 50%
Google Talk

Google Talk

MSRP  $0.00    Released  --
Pros
  • Integrates with Gmail
  • Unlimited file transfers
  • Uses XMPP protocol so it compatible with many Third-Party applications
Cons
  • Currently NO message encryption
  • Official stand alone application does not support Group chat
  • Lackluster interface and design.
ProSCORE
13 reviews
82
Vote! (4 votes)
vote Pidgin 50% vs. vote Google Talk 50%
Kopete

Kopete

MSRP  --    Released  --

Kopete is an open source Instant Messaging program that uses the popular KDE package. Similar to other Open Source IM programs Kopete communicates with nearly all the major protocols, including AIM, MSN and Google Talk. With its plug-in architecture even more protocols can be supported. On top of the basic messaging abilities Kopete adds...

ProSCORE
0 reviews
N/A
Vote! (4 votes)
vote Pidgin 75% vs. vote Kopete 25%
Trillian

Trillian

MSRP  --    Released  --
Pros
  • Allows the use of multiple chat protocols with ONE universal app
  • Shared buddy lists from all contacts in one easily accesible space
  • Contact message history very useful (chat logs)
Cons
  • you are allways asked to go pro and pay
  • No Google talk (yet?)
  • No Skype compatibility
ProSCORE
5 reviews
64
Vote! (6 votes)
vote Pidgin 83% vs. vote Trillian 17%
Miranda IM

Miranda IM

MSRP  --    Released  --
Pros
  • freeware
ProSCORE
1 review
100
Vote! (4 votes)
vote Pidgin 100% vs. vote Miranda IM 0%

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Comments

1.  avatar digitalscrap.net said:

Cute logo for the app!
Jun 21, 2008 3:33pm
2.  avatar skeet said:

If your a windows user but want a app that looks like mac's Adium. Pidgin is your answer
Jul 10, 2008 12:38pm
3.  avatar stuuf said:

Why do so many people think the interface is "rougher" than commercial programs? Compared to the official AIM and Yahoo clients I find pidgin is a lot simpler to use and doesn't get in your way as much.
Oct 02, 2008 9:17pm
4.  avatar Erik said:

Quick question: How do you easily launch the IRC chat window once it's closed? When I first setup the IRC channel, a conversation with "Freenode-Connect" pops up, but once I close it, the only way to re-open it is to disable and then re-enable the IRC account.
Oct 15, 2008 11:44am
5.  avatar Manzabar said:

@Erik: In Pidgin, use the "Join a Chat" option under the Buddies menu.
Oct 15, 2008 3:27pm
6.  avatar Erik said:

Kudos, Manzabar. Just missed you in the chat channel.
Oct 15, 2008 3:32pm
7.  avatar Manzabar said:

@stuff: Most likely people are using it under Windows and while it works, it tends to look terrible under Windows. Sure there are ways to fix it, but they're not built-in and/or extremely easy.
Oct 15, 2008 3:33pm
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Reviews

Sort by: Most helpful  •  Newest  •  Most positive

shadowtech

avatar
November 6, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
89
negative
mixed
positive
8 pros
1 con
have ithave it
love itlove it

Pros

  • Free
  • Supports a lot of protocols
  • Doesn't take a lot of resources
  • Modular architecture means it can be extended easily
  • UI is much cleaner than most commercial IM apps (no ads)
  • Options available: "Show buddy when offline"
  • available for all major operating systems
  • extensive set of built-in plugins

Cons

  • No video/audio chat

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Yale

avatar
November 6, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
71
negative
mixed
positive
5 pros
2 cons
love itlove it
have ithave it

Pros

  • Free
  • Supports a lot of protocols
  • Doesn't take a lot of resources
  • Modular architecture means it can be extended easily
  • available for all major operating systems

Cons

  • No video/audio chat
  • Rough interface. Not as slick as more commercial programs

Competitors

Yale prefers Google Talk over Pidgin
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

fractalhorizon

avatar
January 4, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
71
negative
mixed
positive
5 pros
2 cons
have ithave it

Pros

  • Free
  • Supports a lot of protocols
  • Doesn't take a lot of resources
  • Modular architecture means it can be extended easily
  • UI is much cleaner than most commercial IM apps (no ads)

Cons

  • No video/audio chat
  • Can't easily launch IRC chat

Competitors

fractalhorizon prefers Pidgin over Windows Live Messenger
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Saxtus

avatar
November 26, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
71
negative
mixed
positive
5 pros
2 cons

Pros

  • Free
  • Supports a lot of protocols
  • Doesn't take a lot of resources
  • Modular architecture means it can be extended easily
  • UI is much cleaner than most commercial IM apps (no ads)

Cons

  • No video/audio chat
  • Rough interface. Not as slick as more commercial programs

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Erik

avatar
October 15, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
50
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
3 cons
have ithave it

Pros

  • Free
  • Supports a lot of protocols
  • Doesn't take a lot of resources

Cons

  • No video/audio chat
  • Rough interface. Not as slick as more commercial programs
  • Can't easily launch IRC chat

Comments

"Quick question: How do you easily launch the IRC chat window once it's closed? When I first setup the IRC channel, a conversation with "Freenode-Connect" pops up, but once I close it, the only way to re-open it is to disable and then re-enable the IRC account."
"Kudos, Manzabar. Just missed you in the chat channel."

Competitors

Erik prefers Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk over Pidgin
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

yaminb

avatar
June 3, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
67
negative
mixed
positive
4 pros
2 cons

Pros

  • Free
  • Supports a lot of protocols
  • Doesn't take a lot of resources
  • Modular architecture means it can be extended easily

Cons

  • No video/audio chat
  • Rough interface. Not as slick as more commercial programs

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

dialupinternetuser

avatar
June 2, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
67
negative
mixed
positive
4 pros
2 cons
have ithave it

Pros

  • Free
  • Supports a lot of protocols
  • Doesn't take a lot of resources
  • Modular architecture means it can be extended easily

Cons

  • No video/audio chat
  • Rough interface. Not as slick as more commercial programs

Competitors

dialupinternetuser prefers Skype over Pidgin
dialupinternetuser prefers Pidgin over Google Talk, Windows Live Messenger, Trillian, Miranda IM, Kopete
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Plasmarobo

avatar
May 18, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
67
negative
mixed
positive
4 pros
2 cons

Pros

  • Free
  • Supports a lot of protocols
  • Doesn't take a lot of resources
  • Modular architecture means it can be extended easily

Cons

  • No video/audio chat
  • Rough interface. Not as slick as more commercial programs

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Omar

avatar
May 13, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
67
negative
mixed
positive
4 pros
2 cons

Pros

  • Free
  • Supports a lot of protocols
  • Doesn't take a lot of resources
  • Modular architecture means it can be extended easily

Cons

  • No video/audio chat
  • Rough interface. Not as slick as more commercial programs

Competitors

Omar prefers Windows Live Messenger over Pidgin
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

kslkguard

avatar
November 5, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
80
negative
mixed
positive
4 pros
1 con
have ithave it

Pros

  • Free
  • Supports a lot of protocols
  • UI is much cleaner than most commercial IM apps (no ads)
  • Options available: "Show buddy when offline"

Cons

  • No video/audio chat

Competitors

kslkguard prefers Pidgin over Windows Live Messenger, Trillian
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No
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