Google Duo is the new, simple video calling app that brings you face-to-face with all the people that matter most.
Use Hangouts to keep in touch. Message contacts, start free video or voice calls, and hop on a conversation with one person or a group.
• Include all your contacts with group chats for up to 150 people.
• Say more with status messages, photos, videos, maps, emoji, stickers, and animated GIFs.
• Turn any conversation into a free group video call with up to 10 contacts.
• Call any phone number in the world (and all calls to other Hangouts users are free!).
• Connect your Google Voice account for phone calling, SMS texting, and voicemail integration.
• Keep in touch with contacts across Android, iOS, and the web, and sync chats across all your devices.
• Message contacts anytime, even if they’re offline.
Notes: Mobile carrier and ISP charges may apply. Calls to Hangouts users are free, but other calls might be charged. View our calling rates at https://www.google.com/hangouts/rates
• Include all your contacts with group chats for up to 150 people.
• Say more with status messages, photos, videos, maps, emoji, stickers, and animated GIFs.
• Turn any conversation into a free group video call with up to 10 contacts.
• Call any phone number in the world (and all calls to other Hangouts users are free!).
• Connect your Google Voice account for phone calling, SMS texting, and voicemail integration.
• Keep in touch with contacts across Android, iOS, and the web, and sync chats across all your devices.
• Message contacts anytime, even if they’re offline.
Notes: Mobile carrier and ISP charges may apply. Calls to Hangouts users are free, but other calls might be charged. View our calling rates at https://www.google.com/hangouts/rates
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More than anything, Franz is simply convenient. With all your chat powered by one app, you can safely close it when you want some distraction-free work time, knowing you won’t be disturbed.
The free version of Franz is good enough for most users, but if you want to use a VPN with Franz, then you’ll have to pay for the pro version.
Download: Franz for Windows | Mac | Linux (Free)
2. Manageyum (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Add any chat app you want.
Like Franz, Manageyum puts all your messengers into one window. Like Franz, Manageyum also lets you use multiple accounts simultaneously. But unlike Franz, Manageyum lets you use any alternate messenger service with it.
Yes, the pre-loaded chat and messenger services will work better. But if you use something that isn’t supported, insert a link and Manageyum will turn it into a simple app like a browser tab. After you set it up the first time, Manageyum will remember preferences for that app.
While it’s not a deal-breaker, this is a feature you might miss on Franz, so it’s good to know that there’s an alternative.
Download: Manageyum for Windows | Mac | Linux (Free)
3. Caprine (Mac)
Gorgeous Facebook Messenger app with privacy controls.
Caprine is a beautiful and lightweight app for Mac users who want to chat on Facebook Messenger. It only supports that service and no other, but it adds more to Messenger.
The app’s focus on design makes it seem more synchronous with how the rest of Mac apps feels. It has a responsive design that adjusts to window size, multiple themes, and it will give you easy notifications too.
Caprine also lets you control your privacy on MessengerHow to Appear Offline on Facebook Chat and MessengerHow to Appear Offline on Facebook Chat and MessengerSometimes you need to go invisible on social media. In this article, we explain how to appear offline on Facebook.Read More by not showing the recipient when you are typing or whether you have seen their messages.
Apart from Caprine, there are a few other unofficial Messenger apps7 Best Facebook Messenger Apps for Desktop and Mobile7 Best Facebook Messenger Apps for Desktop and MobileLike Facebook Messenger, but want more flexibility? Don't worry, third party developers have your back. Here are the best Facebook Messenger apps you can get, apart from the official one.Read More that you might want to check out.
Download: Caprine for Mac (Free)
4. YakYak (Windows, Mac, Linux)
The Hangouts desktop client that Google should have made.
A lot of us who grew up using Google Talk are amazed at how Google dropped the ball with Hangouts. Google redeemed itself a little with the new Hangouts web appGoogle Finally Made a Hangouts Web App & It's Worth ItGoogle Finally Made a Hangouts Web App & It's Worth ItFor the longest time, Hangouts on desktop was a nightmare. Now, it has got a major update on the web in the form of an all new dedicated web app.Read More, but it’s still not perfect. Leave it to a third party developer to figure that out.
YakYak is a clean and simple version of Google Hangouts that works as a standalone client. It looks and feels a little like WhatsApp WebUse WhatsApp Web on Your PC: The Ultimate GuideUse WhatsApp Web on Your PC: The Ultimate GuideWhatsApp Web is a quick and easy way to use WhatsApp messages on your computer. We show you how to use WhatsApp Web on your PC.Read More, without making you miss any feature. You can take conversations off the record, you can add contacts; everything just works.
YakYak also adds new features, like marking any contact as a favorite so they will be pinned to the top of the contacts list. You can also change color themes, or opt for a night mode.
Overall, it feels like the desktop client for Hangouts that Google should have made, but never did.
Download: YakYak for Windows | Mac | Linux DEB | Linux RPM (Free)
5. Station (Windows, Mac)
A chat client made for the workplace.
When you are ready to work, is your browser window filled with tabs for Gmail, Google Drive, Slack, and more? Then you should check out Station, the browser and chat app made for the workplace.
Each of the “apps” show up in a vertical bar on the left. Click any, and you can see all the tabs for that app. Click any to open it in a focussed, no-tab window. It’s essentially tab management in a browser, but using it for a while makes you realize how cool it is.
Station supports a wide variety of apps, both for productivity and messaging, so you will probably find any service you use. There’s also a handy one-click button to stop all notificationsHow To Turn Off Distracting Tech Notifications Almost AnywhereHow To Turn Off Distracting Tech Notifications Almost AnywhereThese days, we're constantly barraged with email updates, system alerts, and annoying texts from hypothetical neighbors named Brad about how he got his pet chinchilla stuck in the dryer vent again. But for some reason,...Read More when you need to focus to get more work done.
Station might be overkill as a universal chat app alone. But if you’re looking for something more than just universal chat, try it out.
Download: Station for Windows | Mac (Free)
6. All In One Messenger (Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS)
A Chrome-based all-in-one chat messenger app.
You can open a separate Chrome window with the web app for every messenger you use. Or you can do it with All In One Messenger, a Chrome-based app dedicated to bringing chat apps together.
The only major difference between All In One and a Chrome window is that you get to sign into multiple accounts of a messenger. Other than that, the only thing that changes is the look and feel. That said, All In One looks quite inviting with its big, bold tabs on top.
It’s also the only such client that works as a useful Chrome app (check out these other unusually useful Chrome apps), which means you can install it on any computer, even a Chromebook. Of course, you’ll need to have installed Google Chrome beforehand.
Download: All In One Messenger for Chrome (Free)
7. Pidgin
For everything else, there’s Pidgin.
Not every must-have software has to be newly made. Pidgin has been around for years, but that doesn’t make it any less awesome today. While Franz concentrates on the new wave of chat apps, Pidgin handles almost every other IM serviceCombine All Your IM Accounts In One Application With Pidgin [Windows & Linux]Combine All Your IM Accounts In One Application With Pidgin [Windows & Linux]Pidgin is a free instant-messaging client that combines all your IM accounts in one simple application. Instead of running several different IM clients that display ads and eat up memory, just use Pidgin. All your...Read More you can think of.
Given its many years and open-source nature, Pidgin supports a wide variety of chat networks, along with third-party plugins to enable many more. For example, there isn’t an official WhatsApp plugin, but you can get WhatsApp on Pidgin using third-party plugins.
Here’s a brief list of protocols that Pidgin supports:
- AIM
- Bonjour
- Gadu-Gadu
- Google Talk
- Groupwise
- ICQ
- IRC
- MSN
- MXit
- MySpaceIM
- SILC
- SIMPLE
- Sametime
- XMPP
- Yahoo!
- Zephyr
Pidgin is especially great at handling old-school web IMs like IRC or ICQ, and anything which uses the XMPP protocol.
Note: Pidgin officially has apps for Windows and Linux, but Mac users can get a Pidgin port called Adium and use it in the same way.
Download: Pidgin for Windows | Linux (Free)
Download: Adium for Mac (Free)
Download: Adium for Mac (Free)
Protect Your Privacy When You Chat Online
Hopefully, you use one of these WhatsApp alternatives that protect your privacy. But not all messaging apps are that particular about your privacy. In fact Facebook Messenger is infamous for its privacy violations.
The bottom line is, when you are using any of these chat clients, or the official messaging service itself, you are putting your personal data online. And that comes with its own risks. Before you dive in, read our guide to protecting your online privacy and securityThe Complete Guide to Improving Your Online Security and Defending Your PrivacyThe Complete Guide to Improving Your Online Security and Defending Your PrivacyEveryone wants your data, reputable companies and criminals alike. If you want to build up your defenses and protect yourself online, let us guide you through how to improve your security and safeguard your privacy.Read More.
Explore more about: Chat Client, Instant Messaging, Online Chat, Pidgin.
- Why not mention rambox? It's imo a better alternative to Franz.
- this article is too much help full for me as i'm noob in linux, searching just an awesome article like this and finally found here!