Pidgin (formerly named Gaim) is a free and open-source multi-platform instant messaging client, based on a library named libpurple that has support for many instant messaging protocols, allowing the user to simultaneously log in to various services from a single application, with a single interface for both popular and obsolete protocols (from AIM to Discord), thus avoiding the hassle of having to deal with new software for each device and protocol.
In 2007, the number of Pidgin users was estimated to be over three million.
Pidgin is widely usedfor its Off-the-Record Messaging (OTR) plugin, which offers end-to-end encryption.
The program was originally written by Mark Spencer, an Auburn University sophomore, as an emulation of AOL's IM program AOL Instant Messenger on Linux using the GTK+ toolkit. The earliest archived release was on December 31, 1998. It was named GAIM (GTK+ AOL Instant Messenger) accordingly. The emulation was not based on reverse engineering, but instead relied on information about the protocol that AOL had published on the web. Development was assisted by some of AOL's technical staff. Support for other IM protocols was added soon thereafter.
From the Wikipedia article “Pidgin (software)”, CC BY-SA 4.0
What is Pidgin?
Pidgin by Pidgin IM (developed by Mark Spencer) is open-source Windows software in the chat & messaging category. It ranks 10th by popularity among chat & messaging in this catalogue. The first release dates back to 1998. It is written in C. Besides Windows, it is available for Linux, BSD, macOS, Solaris and Unix-like operating system.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) installers for 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 32.4 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 2.14.14, released on January 23, 2025. The version history goes back to March 30, 2021: 12 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 3.1 releases a year. The last update is more than a year old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 175,423 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 36 of our languages. Similar programs include Signal, Telegram Desktop and Discord.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Also runs on Linux, BSD and macOS
- Mature project (since 1998)
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- 32-bit only
- Installation needs administrator rights
- No update for more than a year
In short: Pidgin is an open-source chat & messaging tool for 32-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is Pidgin safe to download?
- The file is served by sourceforge.net; check that it is the publisher’s official mirror
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
7551389982BD9A85991DF7436CA1776E68BDC057374C03E8018173E95162BC84· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 12 versions ›12 versions over 4 years · about 3.1 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.14.14Latest | January 23, 2025 | 32.4 MB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.14.13 | April 25, 2024 | 32.3 MB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.14.12 | January 19, 2023 | 35.0 MB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.14.10 | July 19, 2022 | 35.1 MB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.14.9 | April 28, 2022 | 35.1 MB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.14.8 | November 30, 2021 | 35.1 MB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.14.7 | September 22, 2021 | 35.1 MB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.14.6 | July 9, 2021 | 35.1 MB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Pidgin.Pidgin -echoco install pidgin -yscoop install extras/pidgindownload /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
flatpak install flathub im.pidgin.PidginInformation
- Publisher
- Pidgin IM
- Developer
- Mark Spencer and Sean Egan
- Category
- Chat & messaging
- Licence
- GPL-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- keep.imfreedom.org
- Written in
- C
- Content rating
- 15+
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Other platforms
- Linux, BSD, macOS, Solaris, Unix-like operating system
- Version
- 2.14.14
- Released
- January 23, 2025
- First release
- 1998
- Added to the catalogue
- March 30, 2021
- Versions listed
- 12
- Updates / year
- 3.1
- Chocolatey downloads
- 175,423
- Website
- pidgin.im
- winget ID
- Pidgin.Pidgin
- Chocolatey package
- pidgin
- Scoop package
- extras/pidgin
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Pidgin
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Frequently asked questions
Is Pidgin free?
Yes. Pidgin is open-source software under the GPL-2.0 licence.
Is Pidgin safe to download?
The download comes from sourceforge.net; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Pidgin with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Pidgin be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Pidgin run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Pidgin?
The versions page lists all 12 versions with links to their official installer files, back to March 30, 2021.
What are alternatives to Pidgin?
Signal, Telegram Desktop, Discord, Slack and Rocket.Chat. The alternatives page compares them.
