How-To Geek
Ask the Readers: What Instant Messenger Client Do You Use?
If you are online chances are that you keep an instant messenger running while working or browsing. This week we want to know which instant messenger client you use.
Instant messengers come in a large variety based on either open source work or from a tie-in with a particular company like Microsoft or Google. Your online activities will definitely have an affect on which instant messenger you choose. Some people only need a messenger for chatting with coworkers or friends while others want built-in social integration for their messenger. Location can also have an impact on which instant messenger you use based on the online services that are popular in that area. The great thing is that it is easy to find an instant messenger that works for you.
Which instant messenger do you use? Do you only use one or multiple instant messengers depending on whether you are at work or home? Let us know in the comments!
Update: Adium has been added to the poll.
Got Feedback? Join the discussion at discuss.howtogeek.com
Comments (61)
Akemi Iwaya (Asian Angel) is our very own Firefox Fangirl who enjoys working with multiple browsers and loves 'old school' role-playing games. Visit her on Twitter and Google+.
- Published 08/18/10
I use Meebo.com. It’s so great! I can connect to ALL of my accounts in one place – including Facebook! Now instead of running several different programs and web pages, I go to one web page and have them all there.
All chat is blocked at work :(
I haven’t used any form of instant messaging in about 3 years. All of my communication is through face-to-face, phone, email, Twitter, and Facebook.
Adium… like, I guess, many Mac users…
too bad it was not included in the list
Plus.im :-)
I use gTalk through Trillian.
Pidgin, Adium, and Kopete.
I use emesene on my PC and IM+ on my iPod Touch.
Digsby @ work to support MSN (work), AIM (personal), and gChat (personal)
Trillian @ home for AIM
Skype. But only because everyone at work uses it too. Other than work I don’t IM at all. Face-to-face, phone, email, texting, Facebook is enough for my communications needs.
How about adding “none” to the poll?
What a Windows-centric list! ICQ, really?!? Has anyone used ICQ since the 90s? Where’s Empathy, Kopete, Adium… even Facebook?
I usually use Pidgin, but actually have been using the new Windows Live Messenger Wave 4 more lately. If it added Gtalk support, I would switch over … the Facebook integration is already great.
@David Levine – Just curious, but do you use Facebook chat inside Facebook? That has definitely taken over most of my personal online communications over the last year..
I use aMSN on Linux and fring on movil
I’m with Mike; “None” should have been included in the poll. I don’t use IM. I resent its intrusion. If I’m busy with something, I’m not going to interrupt what I’m doing to answer one. For the same reason, I will not interrupt someone by sending an IM. If someone wants to contact me, there is email and, if it is urgent, telephone.
I have always used Windows Live Messenger, but with the thing they are removing from the actual stable version, I doubt if i’m going to change to the new one. Also because I like the actual version, but anyways, Microsoft’s decission.
Pidgin on the PC, Adium on the Mac.
Yahoo Messenger on all iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro, and PC Laptop.
What about iChat? Does that fall under AIM?
AIM via Meebo.
Adium, wot? Pidgin on my linuxboxes, but it feels a poor-man’s Adium.
What about Skype?
JUST yaHoo MESSENGER
Windows Live!
The Windows Live Messenger beta client, but mainly chat on the Facebook IM network.
Perhaps there needs to be distinction between client, and what network of friends you chat with.
You are comparing apples to oranges…..
I’m sorry mutli service appz like digsby & trillian cannot be compared to gtalk or aim they can only be compared to each other… multi service vs. multi service…. single service vs. single service.
So please fix your poll to make it into 2 separate polls!
Digsby for desktop
Trillian.im for web
Miranda IM!
I have a windows live account and I originally use windows live then moved onto but I use a service that no one has mentioned its called Raptr is connects with all of them + all of the gaming services such as Xbox Live and PSN
eBuddy
I used digsby, but then switched to pidgin because digsby misses individual buddy notifications, thats one of the most important things to me, I use chat for work issues and I have to know when the other person is online, rather than checking it up all the time. Otherwise its very distracting.
I use Skype, Google Talk, Windows Live, and AIM.
What is instant messaging? Is that, like, texting for the computer? ;-)
I only made this trip to vote NONE.
Yup. None for me too. My gmail is virtually instant and I can respond as quickly – or as not-ly – as I want.
ICQ but just because my girlfriend has it, I’ve thought of switching to Miranda or Pidgin.
pidgin for me :)
QQ!
It’s almost a culture in China.
10000000Active Users.
Whut da fuck? I cant believe NOONE mentioned QIP so far!
Used ICQ for a week when I first stumbled over it, and instantly changed to QIP.
Guys!!!,
What are you talking about? Yahoo messenger is like the BEST AND ONLY IM you ever need to use. ever. dot.
Why you guys use anything else? Just try yahoo messenger once and you will fall in love. to send a message all you need to do is double click on a person’s name and type whatever and hit enter. Thats all.! How can it be easier?
I’ll vote for a NONE .
Digsby is spyware, be warned
Why leave out Skype? There are 17 million online with it right now, according to my Skype symbol.
shocked that nimbuzz isnt there!!!
+ 1 for yaho messenger. The best and only one any one needs to used. theoldfarter says skype. but that;s like soooooooooooooo complex. In yahoo just type a smiley it will come in skype i saw no button for smiley!!!!!!! everything else is very very complex. Any one out there, and deciding, just listen to me. I’ve over 10 years in software. I am a admininstrator. I say yahoo is best. Don’t listen to other guys.
Anyone still use carrier pigoen? Am I the only one left? Answer me please! I never get Answers! Whaaaaaa!
GMAIL is the best, cuz like it has video calling feature, chat ever other sutff.
I used to love Pidgin to bits, but somehow 2.7 stopped working with our office proxy, no matter what I did to it. I switched to Digsby and put up with its bloat until Trillian 5 beta came. Happily running Trillian 5 and loving it.
At first is Yahoo Messenger (2 years ago), later is Window Live Messenger (at work), now is Skype (at work) and Meebo (at home)
Trillian Astra – does exactly what I need, doesn’t get in my face too much. :)
Guys, no digsby is not bloated, and its not spyware. It just is not free and uses slightly different methods of earning money. If digsby is spyware, please stop using google, because google does much more than digsby. Digsby even tells you before updates, does google do that?
why should google tell my what they updated on the searchengine?
I use pidgin
20 million on Skype now – should have been on the list!
Primary yahoo, backup windows messenger
Trillian and digsby are SPYWARE! don’t use it. USE ONLY YAHOO. YOU DON’T NEED ANYTHING ELSE.
I never used to use IM’s at all but now that the new Live Messenger integrates social networks, I have been using it a little. But to be honest, I don’t like people knowing I’m online. It’s always the people I don’t want to talk to that seem to want to talk! LOL
qutim the best for linux
bbm.
Windows live and Facebook chat
Just use Yahoo. Everything else is spyware and will try to use your unused processor speed for their benifit. And THAT WILL SLOW YOUR SYSTEM DOWN. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE MY BROTHER IS A GENIUS IN COMPUTERS AND HE TOLD ME..
Other = None