Free Chat Services

Yahoo! Messenger - Yahoo!'s instant messaging application is one of the most widely used programs of its type and allows you to chat in real-time with users of the same program. Functions here include the ability to see when your "buddies" are online, send and receive files from other users, host private or public "conferences", voice chat, change font properties and much more.

Chatzy - Chatzy is a new free and simple chat service with no installation procedure. You can create your own chat room and invite people to join you instantly by e-mail. Chatzy is different and possibly the simplest chat site available on the Internet.

Gaim - An open-source instant messaging client, which allows you to simultaneously chat with users of the following networks and programs: AIM, ICQ, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, IRC, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, SILC, GroupWise Messenger and Zephyr. Gaim is compatible with Microsoft Windows, Linux, BSD and MacOS X. The program can be customized to your preferences.

MSN Messenger - The freeware messenger program from Microsoft Network has many functions in a small application. You can voice chat to anyone in the world (provided they have a copy of the program), share files, send pictures and have a text chats. If you use emoticons, MSN Messenger will automatically insert pictures to represent these.

Trillian - If you've ever had numerous messaging programs installed on your computer at once it can be extremely irritating when switching from one to another. Trillian solves this slight problem by providing a clever integrated program that can communicate directly with AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN, ICQ and IRC.

ICQ - ICQ is a popular and legendry 4MB application that allows you to chat in real-time with other ICQ users and post instant text messages to them. Once registered, you'll receive a personal ID number that you can give to your friends, family and other ICQ buddies.

mIRC - A popular client that utilizes IRC (Internet Relay Chat) and allows users of the service to communicate in real-time with people from all over the globe. Using mIRC, you can exchange text messages in an instant while being connected over a "chat network".

MyJabber - MyJabber is your gateway to the world of dependable, easy-to-use instant messaging and group conferencing. Being lightweight, configurable and very user friendly, MyJabber has quickly become a program of choice for users of AIM, Yahoo! and MSN Messenger. Additionally, MyJabber hosts its own private user chat rooms. The program is also fully customizable with sounds, etc.

AOL Instant Messenger - This was the Internet's first major instant messaging service. Now everyone online can access it, not just AOL subscribers. Using AIM, you can send and receive files, messages and even chat in real-time. Features in the current version include the ability to play games online, receive text messages, share photos and host live conversations via voice chat.

Odigo - Odigo's instant messenger loads up dynamic buddy lists from ICQ, MSN, Yahoo! and AIM, then allows you to communicate with users of each program. We've found Odigo to be somewhat reliable and we particularly like the wide range of features it has: voice chat, multi-user conferencing, message archives, offline modes, content channels, people finder directory and popular pages.

On Chat - On Chat is a graphical chat community. Like traditional chat, you meet people and make friends, join a discussion or begin your own. But that's where the similarities stop. Graphical chat adds a new dimension to traditional chat in that the experience is much more visual.  Here, chat rooms are pictures, not text. A small graphic, called an avatar, represents each user in the room.

Talk City - Talk City believes that the ability to form truly global communities around businesses, ideas, interests, brands, and hobbies will be one of the signature developments of the early 21st century. They offer a large selection of chat rooms from general chat to music and entertainment. Make sure you have read their code of conduct before entering one of the many chat rooms here.

Excite Super Chat - Here is another good set of chat rooms. Excite Chat has a few extras thrown in as well (similar to Yahoo!), such as voice chat, as an alternative to traditional text-based chat. Another excellent feature is their "graphic chat" rooms.  Here, you pick a character and use them to represent yourself. Upon registering, you'll benefit from access to all of Excite's services.

Lycos Chat - Lycos is a very popular free chat provider and allows visitors to choose between either HTML, Java or Java Light scripting when viewing the rooms. All the rooms here are free to enter and allow for font modifications and emoticons. Although they have recently suspended their "special event" chat rooms, we've been re-assured that at some point in the future, they will return.

Jabber Instant Messenger - A fantastic instant messaging program that allows you to communicate with MSN, Yahoo! and ICQ users at the same time, and even add them to your buddy/friends lists. The program is extremely easy-to-use and resembles a cross-breed of similar messaging applications. It includes sound effects, file transfer, text formatting, offline modes, etc.

Moove Experience chat in a 3D house-environment when you download this great chat client called "moove". Basically, it follows the rule of traditional IRC but offers graphical images of people mimicking what you state in text. For example, if you specify to shake hands with your chat buddy, the virtual character will do the same on the screen.

Yahoo! Chat- Despite its long-winded registration process, Yahoo! Chat is not just another group of chat rooms, it's an entire community of people who share common interests and hobbies. There are literally thousands of rooms where you can chat to people all across the world and talk about anything under the sun.