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AIM Alternatives

AIM Alternatives

AIM

AOL Instant Messenger is an instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time.HistoryAOL Instant Messenger was released by America Online (AOL) in May 1997. Stand-alone official AIM client software includes advertisements and is available for Microsoft Windows, Windows Mobile, Mac OS, Mac OS X, Android, iOS, BlackBerry OS. The software, maintained by AOL, Inc., at one time had the largest share of the instant messaging market in North America, especially in the United States (with 52% of the total reported as of 2006). This does not include other instant messaging software related to or developed by AOL, such as ICQ and iChat.DownfallAs of June 2011, one reported market share had collapsed to 0.73%. However, this number only reflects installed IM applications, and not active users.ProtocolThe standard protocol that AIM clients use to communicate is called Open System for CommunicAtion in Realtime (OSCAR). Most AOL-produced versions of AIM and popular third party AIM clients use this protocol. However, AOL also created a simpler protocol called TOC that lacks many of OSCAR's features but is sometimes used for clients that only require basic chat functionality. The TOC/TOC2 protocol specifications were made available by AOL, while OSCAR is a closed protocol that third parties have had to reverse-engineer.

Best AIM Alternatives for Windows

Are you looking for alternatives to AIM? Please see our top picks. In this article, we provide the list of some AIM alternatives that will work on Windows and other platforms.

Skype

Skype

FreemiumMacWindowsLinuxWebAndroidiPhoneBlackberryChrome OSWindows SAndroid TabletBSDWindows PhoneiPadAndroid WearPortableApps.com

An instant messaging app that provides online text message and video chat services.

Features:

  • Share your screen
  • Video calling
  • Voice Call
  • Video calling
  • Exchange Integration
  • Microsoft Office integration
  • Video chat
  • Video Conferencing
  • Chat
  • Group Messaging
  • IFTTT integration
  • Messaging
  • Video calling
  • Video chat
  • Voice chat
  • Voice messages
Pidgin

Pidgin

FreeOpen SourceMacWindowsLinuxBSDPortableApps.comXfce

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. It has built-in...

Features:

  • Support for Multiple protocols
  • Support for Multiple protocols
  • Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
  • IRC
  • Plugins
  • Supports XMPP
  • Chat
  • Messaging
  • Multiple languages
  • Multiple Account support
  • Multiple chat protocols
  • Portable
  • Video calling
  • Voice Call
  • Xmpp
Telegram

Telegram

FreeMacWindowsLinuxWebWindows MobileAndroidiPhoneBlackberryAndroid TabletBSDWindows PhoneiPadApple WatchAndroid WearPortableApps.comHaikuFreeBSD

Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free. It is like SMS, but more powerful.

Features:

  • Stickers
  • Chat Bot
  • Lightweight
  • Cloud sync
  • Encrypted chat
  • End-to-End Encryption
  • Channels
  • Integrated File Sharing
  • Secret chats
  • Ad-free
  • Bots
  • Night mode/Dark Theme
  • Privacy focused
  • Large File Transfer
  • Animated stickers
  • Group chat
  • Multi Device Support
  • Persistent History
  • Public groups chat
  • Security & Privacy
  • Security focused
  • Voice Call
  • Auto-delete
  • Chat
  • Cloud based
  • Custom Backgrounds
  • Custom themes
  • Customizable Themes
  • Data-encryption
  • Encrypted calls
  • Instant view
  • Portable
  • Private Chat
  • Switching between platform
  • Sync across Devices
  • Anonymous groups
  • Anonymous Secure Filesharing
  • Built-in Photo editor
  • Chat history
  • Chat organizer
  • Sync Contacts
  • Encrypted VoIP calls
  • Encryption
  • File transfer
  • Folders
  • Free Speech
  • GPS Location Tracking
  • IFTTT integration
  • In-Game Overlay
  • Integrated File Sharing
  • Messages in cloud
  • Messaging
  • Multiple languages
  • Multiple Account support
  • Works Offline
  • Based on phone number
  • Photo Sharing
  • Private messaging
  • Progressive Web App
  • Push to talk
  • Scheduled messages
  • Search by tags
  • Self destructing messages
  • Share Videos
  • Support for Themes
  • Two factor authentication
  • Voice chat
  • Voice messages
Hangouts

Hangouts

FreeWindowsWebAndroidiPhoneChrome OSAndroid TabletiPadChromeAndroid Wear

Hangouts is a messaging app that lets you send and receive messages, photos and more, and even start free video and voice calls – one to one or with a group! ...

Features:

  • Video calling
  • Share your screen
  • Gmail integration
  • Group chat
  • Multi Device Support
  • Sms from PC
  • Video Conferencing
  • Multi-platform support
  • Share your screen
  • SMS Messaging
  • Supports archiving conversations
  • Video chat
  • Voice Call
  • Voice messages
  • WebRTC
WhatsApp

WhatsApp

FreeMacWindowsLinuxWebAndroidiPhoneAndroid WearKaiOS

With WhatsApp, you'll get fast, simple, secure messaging and calling, available on phones all over the world.

Features:

  • End-to-End Encryption
  • Custom Backgrounds
  • Forums
  • Group chat
  • Mobile friendly
  • Stickers
  • Chat
  • Encrypted chat
  • Integrated File Sharing
  • Messaging
  • Based on phone number
  • Video calling
  • Voice chat
  • Voice messages
Discord

Discord

FreemiumMacWindowsLinuxWebAndroidiPhoneChrome OSBSDiPadElectron / Atom ShellFreeBSD

All-in-one voice, video and text chat for gamers that’s free, secure, and works on both your desktop and phone.

Features:

  • Voice Call
  • Ad-free
  • Chat Bot
  • Group chat
  • Share your screen
  • Text chat
  • Video calling
  • Voice chat
  • Push to talk
  • Video chat
  • Multi Channel
  • Public groups chat
  • Bots
  • Custom roles
  • Direct Messaging
  • Encrypted chat
  • Group Voice Chat
  • Low Latency
  • Multiple Servers
  • Reactions
  • Share content
  • Social & Communications
  • Text to Speech
  • Voice channels
  • Camera capturing
  • Channel manager
  • Community based
  • Custom Smileys
  • Dedicated Server Hosting
  • Development API
  • Electron based
  • Gaming-focused
  • Gui
  • Group Messaging
  • In-app server browser
  • In-Game Overlay
  • Integrated Chat
  • Integrated File Sharing
  • Interface Overlay
  • Lightweight
  • Low bandwidth usage
  • Low memory usage
  • Multi-platform support
  • Night mode/Dark Theme
  • Noise Reduction
  • Permission system
  • Persistent Chat
  • Photo Sharing
  • Positional audio
  • Responsive design
  • Role-based security access
  • Share your screen
  • Single Sign-On
  • Team Collaboration
  • Voice chat
  • Webcam overlays
  • Youtube Gaming Integration
Signal

Signal

FreeOpen SourceMacWindowsLinuxAndroidiPhoneAndroid TabletiPadChromeUbuntu Touch

TextSecure and RedPhone have been merged to create Signal! Using Signal, you can communicate instantly while avoiding SMS fees, create groups so that you can chat in...

Features:

  • End-to-End Encryption
  • Encrypted chat
  • Security focused
  • Privacy-friendly
  • Encrypted Connection
  • Security & Privacy
  • Self destructing messages
  • Video calling
  • Ad-free
  • Client side encryption
  • Electron based
  • Encrypted calls
  • Encrypted VoIP calls
  • Forward Secrecy
  • Night mode/Dark Theme
  • Privacy focused
  • SMS Messaging
  • Video calling
  • Voice Call
  • Chat
  • Color coding
  • Group chat
  • Group Messaging
  • Integrated File Sharing
  • Mobile friendly
  • Works Offline
  • Protected by Password
  • Based on phone number
  • Private messaging
  • File Sending
  • Voice chat
  • Voice messages
Jitsi

Jitsi

FreeOpen SourceMacWindowsLinuxWebAndroidiPhoneAndroid TabletBSDiPad

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...

Features:

  • SIP
  • Video Conferencing
  • Security & Privacy
  • Privacy-friendly
  • Browser based
  • Chat
  • Cross-platform
  • Desktop Sharing
  • File sharing
  • Group chat
  • iPhone/iPod sync
  • Live Meeting
  • Support for Multiple protocols
  • Multiple Account support
  • No download
  • No installation required
  • No Login Required
  • OTR
  • Plugins
  • Privacy focused
  • Share your screen
  • SIP
  • Softphone
  • Unlimited users
  • Video calling
  • Video chat
  • Video Conferencing
  • Voice chat
  • WebRTC
  • Xmpp
Zulip

Zulip

Free PersonalOpen SourceMacWindowsLinuxWebAndroidiPhoneAndroid TabletBSDiPadSelf-Hosted

Zulip is a group chat app in which messages are threaded by topic, helping you have long-running, organized conversations. Zulip's threading makes it easy for people...

Features:

  • Threaded Conversations
  • Group collaboration
  • Chat Bot
  • Chat organizer
  • Community based
  • GitHub integration
  • Group chat
  • Integrated File Sharing
  • Live topics
  • MarkDown support
  • Secure Chat
  • Self-hosted in intranet or private cloud
  • Team Collaboration
  • Todos
Franz

Franz

FreemiumMacWindowsLinux

Franz is a free messaging app / former Emperor of Austria and combines chat & messaging services into one application. Franz currently supports Slack, WhatsApp...

Features:

  • Support for Multiple protocols
  • Unified messaging
  • Whatsapp integration
  • Gitter integration
  • Gmail integration
  • iPhone/iPod sync
  • Lightweight wrapper
  • Multi-messenger
  • Multiple Account support
  • Slack client
  • Slack integration
  • Web application wrapper

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