What is the best alternate to Pidgin under Linux?

linux pidgin jabber

12,601

Solution 1

For KDE users, Kopete is an excellent alternative. [Empathy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathy_(software)) is also quite good and seems to be improving at a fast clip. [Psi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psi_(instant_messaging_client)) natively supports only XMPP, but can connect to other major networks via gateways.

Solution 2

Empathy has been getting alot of attention recently. Works on about as many networks as pidgin, but it lacks several of the plugins.

Solution 3

Kopete, Psi and Gossip are 3 good options for you. Empathy is new, if you've time for testing it out you can try that as well. Other options :(irssi,Bitbee), it depends your needs though.

Solution 4

As I've said elsewhere, I use a combination of irssi and BitlBee for my instant messaging needs.

It isn't flashy like a desktop IM client.

Quadpoint has lots of different articles about using Irssi here.

Solution 5

I know you want alternatives, the best is probably empathy, but i wouldn't switch away until you've updated to the latest version (which has working XMPP Video and audio in ubuntu) I think an update will fix your problems, if not: Empathy Kopete Psi Coccinella Jabbin Gajim I think this might work too emesene

View more solutions

12,601

jldupont

Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

jldupont almost 2 years

Pidgin (2.5.5) keeps crashing on me (Ubuntu 9.04). What is the best alternative to it that supports XMPP/Jabber as well as MSN & Yahoo?
- Captain Segfault almost 15 years
  
  Pidgin, the g isn't capitalized.
- mwalling almost 15 years
  
  Pidgin is up to 2.6.2, which I know fixed at least one crash condition.
- jldupont almost 15 years
  
  @mwalling: thanks for the info: it seems that the Ubuntu repos do not have it (2.6.2) yet.
- user1686 almost 15 years
  
  But there are Pidgin's own repos, instructions at pidgin.im/download/ubuntu
- jldupont almost 15 years
  
  @grawity: Thanks! I should have guessed and not only rely on Ubuntu aptitude.
- Doug Harris over 14 years
  
  10 more crash bugs closed in 2.6.4 developer.pidgin.im/…
jldupont almost 15 years

Kopete is more lenient than Empathy when it comes to communicating with chat bots (ones that don't implement the IQ disco protocols).
jldupont almost 15 years

Links would have been nice: googling for 'Gossip' is sort of time intensive-ish.
Mahesh almost 15 years

Links to Gossip,Empathy,Bitbee are now added :)
jldupont almost 15 years

Gossip is Windows only it seems.......
Mahesh almost 15 years

There is linux version as well. It is in repository of ubuntu.