Facebook Chat @Desktop is enables you to talk with your Facebook friends on your desktop without having to use your web browser. Note that it isn't the official Facebook Messenger for Windows and it isn't as polished but Facebook Chat @Desktop does pretty much the same thing.

Facebook Chat @Desktop doesn't exactly have the best name for a Facebook chat client and it's not as integrated with Facebook as the official app. However, the basics such as message notifications, multiple chat windows and friends lists are all there but there's no video support or even emoticons included.

Facebook Chat @Desktop is a free lightweight Facebook chat client although it's not as good as the official one.

Download Facebook Chat @Desktop 1.1.6 in Softonic

When you think about IM clients, the first names that come to your head are Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger and the likes. But have you ever heard of QQ Messenger?

With more than one billion registered accounts, QQ Messenger is now more than just a simple IM client: it's a whole social phenomenon that millions of people use on a daily basis, and an essential part of their lives.

The truth is that QQ Messenger is not that different from other IM clients you may have used. There are the typical contacts list – which you can organize by groups - support for voice and video chats, smileys, nudges, ability to send photos and share files (with support for pause/resume!), and other utilities we're used to finding in IM clients. There's one important difference however: in QQ Messenger you hardly find any ads!

Besides the traditional IM tools, QQ Messenger also includes some not-so-common features. You'll be able to capture an area of your screen or record a short video clip on the spot, and share both of them instantly with your contacts. Another area where QQ Messenger stands out is personalization. You can customize almost anything, from choosing a skin for the interface to selecting the font for your messages. The program also includes a wide selection of avatars and personal pictures to choose from, but if you don't like any of them, simply upload one from your hard drive. The only thing that didn't work for us was downloading more themes from the Web.

QQ Messenger is mainly a tool for chat, but it can also be used to help your friends or customers thanks to its integrated Remote assistance tool: a basic remote control app that grants you access to your friend's desktop and enables you to help them with any computer issue.

In general terms, QQ Messenger surprised us for various reasons: first, it features a nicely designed interface with cute buttons and icons, which is hard to find in IM clients; second, it has interesting extra features that make it a complete communication tool; and third, it's amazing how such a popular program with more than a billion users is still known by so few people over here!

On the downside, I have to admit that QQ Messenger was a bit unreliable when trying to add contacts - which, by the way, are identified with numbers, like good old ICQ. Not a very user-friendly method, I'd say. Other than that, QQ Messenger is a great IM cilent that is definitely worth trying out.

QQ Messenger, the most widely used IM client in China, has now an international version that may help it become even more popular!

Download QQ Messenger International 1.6 in Softonic

How it works

Google Voice and Video Chat enables you to hold video-conferences with family and friends right on Gmail's interface, just like regular text chats. Google Voice and Video Chat's video window appears on the right side and although you can't move it, there's always the option to pop it out and place it anywhere you like.

Sound and image quality

Google Voice and Video Chat has an astounding quality both in image and sound. Video streaming runs very smoothly and sound is just crisp and clear. Besides there are no complicated configuration settings required, so you'll probably be able to have it set up and running in two minutes.

Requirements

Being a Google Talk plug-in, you obviously need a Gmail account in order to use Google Voice and Video Chat. Also, your contacts need the plug-in in order to be able to use video chats with them. Besides those two basic requirements, we can't honestly think of any other con about it! Also bear in mind that if you want to start a Google + hangout, this is the plug-in you'll need.

Google Talk has finally added the one featured it lacked: high-quality, responsive video chats!

Download Google Voice and Video Chat 1.0.2.0 in Softonic

In IMVU, your personality is not represented by just a simple nickname: it's a fully three-dimensional, Sims-style 3D character you can customize in many ways: skin color, hair style, clothes, pets, actions and animations, etc.

As unique as it sounds, IMVU works just like any other IM client. You start by registering a user account on the program's website, picking your avatar and customizing his or her appearance. Then simply join the network and look for some interesting people to chat with, either on your personal space or in one of the public chat rooms.

Interactive chats

Besides just chatting, IMVU also lets you perform certain actions with your avatar. Just right-click on the character and you'll open a context menu with all the options, classified into several categories: movements, moods, expressions and more. IMVU also features a credits system that enables you to acquire new apparel for your avatar and customize the appearance of your hair, eyes and more.

IMVU is undeniably very original in certain aspects. But this originality sometimes makes it a bit confusing. For example, chats are hard to follow on IMVU's speech bubbles, so you'll eventually end up following the conversation in the text box – like any other IM client. Also, moving around the 3D space is difficult and sometimes frustrating, as it can get really slow depending on your internet connection.

IMVU is an original IM client that lets you meet people, chat and make friends in a highly detailed 3D environment.

Download IMVU 486.0 in Softonic

The built-in chat tool in Facebook has always been criticized for its poor appearance and usability. With fTalk you can forget about those problems and enjoy a good chat with your Facebook friends in a nicer, easier to use environmen - and you don’t even have to open your web browser!

fTalk features an interface similar to Windows Live Messenger, with the basic chat functionalities. It displays all your Facebook contacts in a list, lets you access their profile and photos and also includes a few emoticons, though their design is a bit weird. You can also change your Facebook status from within the program.

In any case, fTalk is a comfortable alternative to the built-in chat in Facebook that will make your conversations a lot easier.

With fTalk you can enjoy a good chat with your Facebook friends in a much nicer interface.

Download fTalk 4 in Softonic

Paltalk includes access to hundreds of chat rooms on a huge variety of topics, and has also support for audio and video chat. The number of chat rooms and video conferences you can join, however, depends on the plan you subscribe to, from the free Basic one with very limited features to the VIP plan for $29.95 a month.

The interface in Paltalk is very similar to that of other IM clients. You have a personal area on top of the window with your avatar and nickname, and then a list of contacts. The bottom part displays the list of available chat rooms. Paltalk can also be used as a standard client for other popular IM networks such as Messenger, Google Talk, AOL Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, ICQ and the Facebook chat – as long as you install the necessary plug-ins.

An original feature in Paltalk is the creation of an online chat profile that you can share with your family and friends so that they can IM you at any time from their web browser, without having to install anything.

In general terms Paltalk feels a bit overwhelming because there are ads all over the place and more often than not, you enter a room only to hear music or ranting from a user. The messages exchanged in Paltalk's chat rooms are often so jumbled up that it's hard to be able to follow a genuine conversation.

Paltalk is a desktop IM client with support for audio and video chats, and with lots of chat rooms to meet people from all around the world.

Download Paltalk 10.0 in Softonic

Twitter @ Desktop initial installation is a little abrasive. It automatically requires the Babylon Toolbar to complete installation, and will blackout options until you fully comply. This can easily be mistaken as a form of intrusive adware, although removing this secondary program wasn’t an issue. There were no obvious impacts to Windows or the Tweeting experience.

Twitter @ Desktop links into your Twitter account via your default web browser and requests authorization during each session. Twitter generates a pin upon this request which is then used to open the software.

Twitter @ Desktop is completely bare bones. There is no auto refresh or real time updates. Instead you will have to press the "latest tweets" button to reload the feed. Users’ handles will be on the left hand column along with their tweet on the right hand column. All other pertinent information is missing: this includes their profile picture, user name, time of posting, location, device information, or retweet source. This can make it difficult to follow long and intricate conversations.

The amount of tweets displayed in Twitter @ Desktop are rather short, totaling around the last 30 from people you follow. Even after hitting the refresh button it took too long to get the latest feed, requiring three or four presses to update correctly. This may be adequate for non-active Twitter users, but for those with a Facebook mentality Twitter @ Desktop doesn’t offer enough.

Twitter @ Desktop contains the absolute minimum interaction to gain an updated Twitter feed. If you constantly check Twitter you’ll want a more detiled application.

Download Twitter @ Desktop 1.1.5 in Softonic

If you're a frequent Skype user, you already know what a fantastic program Skype is. Along with instant messaging, Skype offers free video and audio calls to other PC users and low cost calls to mobile phones and landlines.

Messenger Plus! for Skype aims to improve your Skype experience through an easy to install and use sidebar on Skype's interface. Inconspicuous but easy to access on the left side of Skype's interface, Messenger Plus! for Skype is full of useful features such as a recorder for voice and video chats, animated icons and message history saving logs.

After installing Messenger Plus! for Skype, you'll need to authorize the add-on via the Skype notification that will appear the next time you log into your Skype account. Once done, the Messenger Plus! for Skype will appear on the left side of your Skype interface.

To record a call or a video, press the record button bar on the Messenger Plus! for Skype sidebar. You can stop recording at any time and open the folder with the recordings to access them. Everything is recorded with respectably high quality.

Messenger Plus! for Skype also includes animated emoticons, some of which are quite amusing. You can superimpose them on your video chat without any noticeable effect on the quality or speed of the call. Note that the person with whom you're speaking will only be able to see these animations if they also have Messenger Plus! for Skype installed though.

Without a doubt, Messenger Plus! for Skype is a fantastic add-on that'll enhance your Skype experience considerably.

Download Messenger Plus! for Skype 6.00.0.773 in Softonic

The instant messaging list on AIM has space for 500 friends and enables you to organize your chats and status messages easily. It also allows you to send bigger files than most IM services. AIM's video conferencing function is however much more hassle and it's not immediately obviously how to start a conference until you scroll through the menus. AIM also features it's own e-mail service although obviously, you need to sign up for an AOL account to use it which can turn into a long drawn out affair in itself.

There's no real advantage of using AOL's IM mail compared to others apart from the fact that it does feature a handy "unsend" function if you've sent an e-mail in error. Of course, there's the obligatory SMS function although this is limited to US users and if your phone supports it, you can also use AOL messenger on the move.

AIM is a bit of a disappointing effort from one of the originators of Instant Messaging but still has a few redeeming features that make it worth a try.

Download AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) 1.0.1.2 in Softonic

As well as MySpace, you can use Skype, although you have to imort contacts from Skype, and you 'call' using your MySpace name. The app itself is quite attractive, and has a range of skins for you to choose. Like Live Messenger, there are emoticons and actions to use in conversation. Not that these are louder in style than you'll see on Messenger. Accessing your Myspace inbox or homepage is a click away, although they open in your browser. You can also access music your friends are listening to, and a MySpaceIM ChatRoom.

With Skype contacts added, MySpaceIM can look cluttered, but Skype itself works fine within the program. Like MySpace itself, the IM is brash and in your face, and so tends to attract younger users more. If you can live with that style, MySpace is a perfectly functioning messenger.

If you spend a lot of time on MySpace, this IM client is the perfect way to chat and keep up with your friends.

Download MySpaceIM 1.0.789.0 in Softonic

The content in Iminent is almost endless: besides the classic emoticons, you’ll also get avatars, winks, short videos and all sorts of animations. These are all for free, provided you put up with having banners all over the program’s interface.

Another interesting feature in Iminent is the ability to create your own animated avatars and emoticons, and also create a list with your favorite animations.

Iminent is nicely built-in to your IM client. Bear in mind though that your friends will also need to have this plug-in installed in order to see some of the animations included.

Bring more emoticons, winks, avatars and animations to Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger with Iminent.

Download Iminent 5.43.11 in Softonic

If you don't, then you need Digsby, a revolutionary all-in-one IM client with which you can handle all your online contacts under the same interface, even if they belong to different networks. OK, this is probably not that revolutionary, but the real surprise comes when you realize you can also add your email accounts, no matter if they're online or POP3 based, and also your personal profiles in Facebook and MySpace. The result is that Digsby enables you to control pretty much every aspect of your online social life in a very easy way.

After installing the program, you can start adding as many accounts as you want in order to handle them from Digsby. This includes AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, Google Talk, ICQ, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail, Facebook, MySpace and more. Despite the amount of supported services, they're presented in a very clear, uncluttered interface and organized in tabs. You'll be able to chat with your buddies via IM and also check and organize your email without even having to open your browser. Everything worked fine except for Facebook, which kept on showing a "Connecting…" message though the widget was up and working on my Facebook profile. My ICQ account didn't seem to respond either, but I guess it's got something to do with the fact that Digsby is still in beta stage.

Digsby saves chat history, supports file transfer and features an extended settings menu from which you can tweak the program's appearance and performance. The only drawback I found, besides the Facebook connectivity issue, was the lack of speed when starting the program and logging in. But then again, it's well worth it.

With Digsby you'll be able to manage all your online accounts for email, IM and social networks under a single interface, making it much easier and faster for you to stay in touch with your friends.

Download Digsby Beta Build 90 in Softonic