Popular: Data updated October 27, 2026

Categories

Internet1,356
Communication321
Audio & video898
Graphics & design539
Office & productivity1,124
Developer tools3,134
AI tools529
Security & privacy385
System tools3,114
Games523
Education & science239
Network & IT284

Pidgin alternatives

Pidgin is a universal chat client, allowing you to consolidate all your different messaging apps into a single tool.

Pidgin IM Chat & messaging #10 Chat & messaging

12 Windows apps in the same category as Pidgin, ranked by what they have in common and by popularity.

  • Signal

    Signal is an encrypted communications application.

    Open source 8.32.0 3.4M ↓ ★ 16.6K chat, admin, network
  • Telegram Desktop

    A cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging app with a focus on security and speed.

    Open source 7.3.3 1M ↓ ★ 33.3K chat, messenger, network
  • Discord

    Your Place to Talk and Hang Out

    Proprietary 1.0.9266 882.4K ↓ chat, admin, talk
  • Slack

    Slack brings the team together, wherever you are.

    Proprietary 4.52.182 9.8M ↓ chat, network, instantmessaging
  • Rocket.Chat

    Rocket.Chat is the leading open source team chat software solution. Free, unlimited and completely customizable with on-premises and SaaS cloud hosting.

    Open source 4.18.5 973K ↓ ★ 1.7K chat, admin, network
  • Viber

    Free and secure calls and messages to anyone, anywhere.

    Proprietary 29.1.0.0 259.3K ↓ chat, admin, network
  • Session

    Onion routing based messenger

    Open source 1.18.3 17.3K ↓ ★ 596 chat, messenger, admin
  • Zulip

    Desktop client for Zulip, an open source team chat application.

    Open source 5.13.2 97.4K ↓ ★ 992 chat, network, instantmessaging
  • Caprine

    Caprine is an elegant Facebook Messenger desktop app

    Open source 2.61.0 18.1K ↓ ★ 7.4K chat, facebook, messenger
  • mIRC

    IRC (Internet Relay Chat) client

    Proprietary 7.83 36.5K ↓ chat, irc, admin
  • Gajim

    Fully-featured XMPP client.

    Open source 2.4.7 36.8K ↓ chat, jabber, messenger
  • Ferdium

    Messaging app for WhatsApp, Slack, Telegram, HipChat, Hangouts and many many more.

    Open source 7.2.3 44.8K ↓ ★ 4.7K network, instantmessaging

Comparison

AppLicenceVersionUpdatedGitHub starsChocolatey downloads
Pidgin Open source 2.14.14 January 23, 2025 — 175.4K
Signal Open source 8.32.0 October 20, 2026 16.6K 3.4M
Telegram Desktop Open source 7.3.3 October 22, 2026 33.3K 1M
Discord Proprietary 1.0.9266 October 26, 2026 — 882.4K
Slack Proprietary 4.52.182 October 20, 2026 — 9.8M
Rocket.Chat Open source 4.18.5 October 23, 2026 1.7K 973K
Viber Proprietary 29.1.0.0 October 14, 2026 — 259.3K
Session Open source 1.18.3 October 26, 2026 596 17.3K
Zulip Open source 5.13.2 September 27, 2026 992 97.4K
Caprine Open source 2.61.0 January 13, 2026 7.4K 18.1K
mIRC Proprietary 7.83 November 22, 2025 — 36.5K
Gajim Open source 2.4.7 June 30, 2026 — 36.8K
Ferdium Open source 7.2.3 September 8, 2026 4.7K 44.8K