Everybody knows that MSN Messenger on Mac is never as polished as it is on the PC. Still, that doesn't mean you should give up chat clients altogether, as the Mac offers excellent alternatives, like Adium X.

This messaging client is the perfect example of an excellent open source program. It's very regularly updated and has a strong and active community. Adium X works with almost all the IM services you'll find out there, including Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger.

The interface is simple yet colorful and multiple chats can be tabbed all into one window. If you want to engage in a private conversation with another user, Adium X support Off The Record (OTR) encrypted messaging.

As I said before, Adium X has generated an active community, which generates all sorts of extras for the client like icons, sounds, plugins or applescripts.

True, file transfer is a little flaky, and Adium X still doesn't offer voice or video chat, but it's very enjoyable to use and extremely flexible.

Adium X is a free and highly customizable IM client, that allows you to connect to almost any online chat service and engage in multiple conversations simultaneously.

Download Adium 1.5.6 in Softonic

Every now and then you need clean your Mac and get rid of cookies, logs or history. It'll ensure that your Mac isn't clogged with obsolete files and runs smoothly.

Mac Cleanse is a shareware program mainly focused on cleaning internet applications, like browsers. It provides a list of the applications you can clean, and clicking on a a name will open up a drop down menu of the elements you can check for deletion, such as cookies, downloads, or recent searches. The right side of the interface features an information panel with a description for the selected application, something which isn't really necessary.

We were a little confused by the way Mac Cleanse worked. The + and - buttons on the left won't let you add more applications to the cleanse list. Instead these let you create or remove custom selections of the applications in the list. The 'cleanse' button isn't very apparent either. You'll find it on the bottom right of the interface.

The good thing about Mac Cleanse though is that it lets you select and clean multiple applications quickly and safely, saving you lots of time.

Despite the slightly counterintuitive interface, Mac Cleanse is efficient at cleaning up multiple internet applications at once.

Download MacCleanse 3.3.1 in Softonic

I've never been a particularly big fan of Yahoo! products and so I tested Yahoo! Messenger with more than a little trepidation.

Whenever a product is specifically designed for Windows users and is then finally rolled out for Mac, the results can be less then impressive - and so it seems with Yahoo! Messenger. First the good points. The interface is fine. There's nothing that makes it stand out from other Instant Messenger interfaces but it's clean and not cluttered with ads or banners. My main problem is that I have hardly any Yahoo! contacts but fortunately, this latest version finally adds support for MSN contacts.

To add an MSN contact, you have to CMD-click on the main interface and select 'Add new contact'. I thought this could have been made clearer and it only allows the adding of contacts one-by-one - not entire accounts, which is a real pain if you've got lots of contacts. You can also add LCS and Lotus Sametime contacts, although who on Earth uses those nowadays I have no idea.

Overall, using Yahoo! Messenger is a frustrating experience. For instance, I was pleased to read it apparently iSight support (unlike the basic version of MSN Messenger for Mac) but to my dismay, it simply doesn't work. There's also a possibility to phone people as with Skype by purchasing Phone Out credit but I really don't see the point of this unless the rates and plans are more competitive than Skype, which they're not.

Yahoo! Messenger will only really appeal to Yahoo! die-hards that have a Yahoo! account and haven't yet discovered the pleasures of Adium.

Download Yahoo! Messenger 3.0.2.235554 in Softonic

MSN Messenger Patch is a small expansion pack for Microsoft Instant Messenger containing lots of new emoticons.

MSN Messenger Patch includes new types of smiley faces and all of the previously missing emoticons of the PC version are included with MSN Messenger patch for Mac. In addition, the developer has added some of their own designs. Note that this software is discontinued by the developer although Softonic still offers you the chance to download it here.

MSN Messenger Patch for Mac adds lots of great new emoticons to MSN Messenger for Mac.

Download MSN Messenger Patch 3.5.1 in Softonic

aMSN is an alternative to Messenger for Mac 7.0, with more features yet a more slimline interface.

Most importantly, it supports video although please be aware that in this latest release, due to a change by Microsoft in the way Messenger handles AV protocols, this latest release of aMSN does not support video or audio clips at the moment although the developers hope to resolve this soon. It should also be noted that the latest release of Microsoft Messenger for Mac does now support audio and video.

aMSN's chat client looks very similar to Microsoft's product yet differs on a number of points. aMSN's developers have delved into the preferences menu, adding extra little features like event alerts and sounds, conferencing support or autoaway messages. Like with MSN Messenger you'll be able to transfer files and organize all your contacts into groups on aMSN.

The big draw of aMSN however is webcam and audio clips support. You had to be a corporate user of MSN Messenger for Mac 7.0 to use webcams but aMSN allows you to do so for free. Starting a webcam is easy (simply by clicking on the webcam button in a chat dialog) although there is no real time audio yet. However, you can record audio clips to send to contacts. Read more about this feature on our OnSoftware blog here.

One of the biggest pet peeves of users with aMSN is the interface. It simply doesn't compare with more sleeker, more recent IM clients. In the developer's defense though you can download all sorts of skins from the program's website. Similarly it offers up a range of plugins, to customize your client to your liking. Chat addicts will also appreciate the animated emoticons on hand.

In a few words, aMSN is a good alternative to MSN for users looking to add more plugins, skins and delve into the preferences menu.

Download aMSN 0.98.9 in Softonic

Now that Messenger 8.0 supports video and audio webchats, not many users will see the need to use version 7.

However, if neither of these are particularly important to you then version 7 might still be useful to you. Of course, whichever version you choose, you still have to sign in using your Hotmail or Windows Live account. Once installed, the first thing you'll see is that Microsoft Messenger 7 offers a slightly updated interface to version 6.

Messenger 7 offers Bonjour support, so you can detect and connect with users on the same local network as you. Features like sending files, displaying a picture or emoticons are unchanged. You can change your display name and add a personal message just by clicking on them.

One new feature is that you can give nicknames to your friends. Just click on their display name and start typing. We also liked the search feature, which is really handy to quickly find a contact or email address.

It's obvious that this upgrade is aimed at corporate users as they get the most significant updates though. The highly touted audio and video feature, with which you can have video conferences with your contacts, is only available to them.

The same goes with detailed presence information, as you'll need a version of Office Communications Server 2007 to use it.

Corporate users will love the new features in Messenger for Mac 7, like Bonjour Support, detailed presence information and especially audio and video. General users will find barely anything different from version 6 and should download Microsoft Messenger 8.0.

Download Messenger for Mac 7.0.3 in Softonic

If you're not impressed with Adium and you don't like chat clients such as Skype or MSN Messenger then you should take a look at Colloquy.

Colloquy is an advanced IRC, SILC & ICB client which aims to combine the best of all these messenger clients in what is a very elegant and refined interface. It supports everything you'd expect a decent client to do including AppleScript, file transfers, emoticons although unfortunately, it doesn't support either audio or video chats.

Probably the best part of the client is that fact that it can be upgraded with lots of cool plugins. These include such things as Transbot which translates to and from any language supported by Google's translation engine and Grab URL takes a URL in a chat room and attempts to replace its text with the page's title.

In all Colloquy is very interested and elegant chat client that would score much higher if it supported audio and video but as it is, it's a great chat only client.

Download Colloquy 2.3 4129 in Softonic

QQ Messenger may not sound familiar, but it's the most popular IM client in China.

When you think about IM clients, the first names that come to your head are MSN Messenger, Adium and the likes. But have you ever heard of QQ for Mac?

With more than one billion registered accounts, QQ for Mac 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.

What you can do

The truth is that QQ for Mac 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 for Mac you hardly find any ads!

Besides the traditional IM tools, QQ for Mac 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 for Mac 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.

Remote control

QQ for Mac 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 for Mac 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, QQ for Mac is 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, we'd say. Other than that, QQ Messenger is a great IM cilent that is definitely worth trying out.

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

Download QQ for Mac International 1.1 in Softonic

Nimbuzz can log you in directly to MSN, ICQ or Yahoo! and allows you to chat, send files to other users or start conferencing with friends. Social networks like Facebook , MySpace or Twitter are also supported by the client .

After installing Nimbuzz, you need to create a new account or log onto a pre-existing one. With the help of the setup wizard, your login information for service providers such as Skype, Google Talk, MSN, ICQ, Jabber orAIM. You'll quickly be notified whether your login has been successful or not.

Nimbuzz imports contacts from the respective messenger services. You can then send messages, photos or files to one or more friends through the Nimbuzz menu as well as make phone calls. However, this feature is one of the most unreliable, and you may find it difficult to establish a connection.

Nimbuzz is an interesting free chat client for Mac but is still a little rough around the edges.

Download Nimbuzz 1.2.0 in Softonic

I use Adiumfor Instant Messaging on my Mac simply because its flexible, powerful and ridiculously easy to use.

However, Trillian is another option for those seeking to connect over multiple networks. Trillian has been available on Windows for quite some time now, but the developers have now released it for Mac. Firstly, note that it only works on Intel-based Mac, Mac OS X 10.6 or later so PPC users or those on older OS X versions are out of luck - at least for now. You also need to sign up for a Trillian Astra Account which is quite lengthy and annoying.

Once you've got through the registration however, the biggest problem you will have is adding a new IM network. It should be as easy as clicking the "+" symbol in the client window but its not - this only allows you to add a new contact or a new group. As a result, I found it impossible to add any of my favorite IM networks such as MSN and Google Chat. Try to access the Help file and you get the message "Help is not available for Trillian".

Apart from that, the interface of Trillian is at least very simple. However, there is no support for video or audio and I can't see any reason why anyone would really want to change from Adium to this - not at this Alpha stage anyway.

Download Trillian 1.1.0.6 in Softonic

One of the biggest complaints Microsoft Messenger for Mac 7.0 users had is that webcams and audio are only supported in the corporate edition.

That's all changed however with the release of Microsoft Messenger 8.0 which finally supports webcams and audio. There are no other major changes to the interface other than the addition of a video lens to start a chat and a microphone to start an audio chat. You may have to open a port on your router to conduct web conferencing however, details of which can be found on the Microsoft website.

You'll obviously need to sign-in using your Windows Live account or sign-up for one if you haven't got one. Microsoft Messenger for Mac still offers Bonjour support and features like sending files, displaying a picture or emoticons are unchanged. However, you can't drag and drop to send files yet and user profile pictures don't show up at all for some reason. It doesn't seem possible to change your own profile picture either.

You can however still change your display name and add a personal message just by clicking on them and give nicknames to your contacts. Just click on their display name and start typing. The search feature is really handy to quickly find a contact or email address.

If you've been frustrated by Microsoft Messenger for Mac's lack of support for webcams and audio, you'll be delighted by this latest release.

Download Microsoft Messenger 8.0.1 in Softonic

Simply choose the IM protocol that you'd like to connect to including SIP, Google Talk, XMPP/Jabber, MSN or Windows Live Messenger, AIM, Bonjour, ICQ, Yahoo Messenger and Facebook chat. In the main window, you'll find all your personal contacts.

In the Jitsi chat window, you can exchange IM messages or initiate video or audio chats including group chats. There are a limited number of emoticons and the Jitsi keeps a history of your chats. Although the interface isn't quite as intuitive as Adium. However, the fact that you can initiate audio and video chats gives it a serious advantage.

Note that this download link takes you to the nightly build page because Jitsi is being updated so regularly, that you can choose the latest version more easily.

Jitsi might not be quite as slick as other IM clients but wide support of IM protocols plus audio and video chatting makes it a very interesting option.

Download Jitsi 1.0 Beta 1 in Softonic

Mercury Messenger, previously known as MM or dMSN, is a free alternative to MSN Messenger offering almost all the same features.

Mercury Messenger is a Java based IM client which allows you to connect to your Windows Live or Hotmail account and chat with your contacts. Despite being based on Java, Mercury Messenger is remarkably lightweight, easy to use and allows you to do pretty much most things you can with the standalone client. This includes organizing contacts by groups, use emoticons, send files and activate your webcam during chats.

The interface itself is similar to that of MSN Messenger albeit a bit more basic. Some elements are placed a little clumsily here and there, making Mercury Messenger slightly unintuitive to use but luckily, the interface is interchangeable so if you find a good skin on the developer website, you can use that instead.

Perhaps the most unique feature about Mercury Messenger is the RSS support. Mercury allows you to add and preview RSS feeds. This sounds a bit weird for an IM client and the result is a bit awkward, akin to feed reading on a mobile device. Mercury Messenger also has a tabbed interface which allows you to open and work with multiple accounts although having too many open simply ends up confusing.

Although missing the most recent features of MSN Messengers and despite a weaker interface, Mercury Messenger is a good alternative with RSS and multiple account support.

Download Mercury Messenger 2.0 RC7 in Softonic

Remember how messenger used to be so popular only a few years back? Now it seems most people prefer to chat with friends on social networks like Facebook. Not only can you much more things, but most of them also include a built chat tool, that replaces the need for an IM client.

Gabtastik is a site specific browser (SSB) built so you can use these online chat services in a separate window. To translate: Gabtastik lets you use online chat services just like if they were separate applications.

The interface is clean and Gabtastik lets you open up multiple chats in multiple tabs. So far it only works with Google Talk, Facebook Chat and meebo. If you use an iPhone you'll probably be interested in learning that it also handles the Hahlo iPhone Twitter webapp.

Gabtastik uses very little RAM and its nice having all these online chat services in a separate window, instead of hidden away between various tabs of your browser. Obviously it's only limited to certain services, but if you use meebo, you'll have access to many more like MSN or ICQ.

Gabtastik lets you use online chat services in your very own browser window.

Download Gabtastik 0.4.2 in Softonic

People tend to stick to the more known messaging clients when there are so many excellent open source alternatives out there like Psi.

This client was built to connect to multiple Jabber accounts and more known IM accounts like Yahoo or MSN. It's simple to set up, thanks to startup tips and guides found in the forum and wiki.

This last point is one of the main strengths of Psi. The open source project benefits from a strong community which has really helped make it a solid messaging client over the years. One of the examples of that is all the localized version of Psi that are available.

Psi is easy to use, yet discreet and features lots of iconsets and emoticons. You can also fully customize the interface and add your own icons. You can work with hotkeys and create command lines to insert in your chats, however more technical users will probably feel more comfortable working with these.

Users worried about their security or working with Psi in a public environment will be glad to know that it features SSL encryption and lets you use OpenPGP to send encrypted messages.

Psi is a real pleasure to use and is loaded with features, from security to customization and not forgetting multiple IM and Jabber compatibility. If you're looking for a good alternative messaging client, this is the one to choose.

Download Psi 0.14 in Softonic

MSN Messenger was the original incarnation of the now named Messenger for Mac and it's now been superseded by it. However, if you still have Mac OSX 10.2.8 to 10.3.9 (although Microsoft recommend 10.3.3 or later) this is the only version of MSN for Mac that will work for you.

Firstly, like the latest version of Messenger for Mac, you should know that it doesn't work with webcams. This seems criminal I know, but Microsoft has seen fit only to allow those willing to upgrade to the corporate edition to use a webcam with it. However, the rest of it is pretty much as you'd expect. It is fitted with all the basic functions you'd want from Messenger and the application lets you organize your contacts into different groups, set your status, and use emoticons, etc. New conversations open up in a new window, which you can be moved around anywhere on the screen.

While it's fairly easy to check your Hotmail account thanks to the Mail button at the top of the interface, sending files and images to other users can be a bit slow. MSN Messenger is sufficient as a basic IM client, but we'd recommend upgrading your version of OS X and updating to the latest version of Messenger for Mac. Not only is it more secure, but it will also offer more features and a sleeker interface.

MSN Messenger is a decent if basic IM client for anyone with a Mac OS under 10.3.9 but the lack of webcam function is a major drawback

Download MSN Messenger 4.0.1 in Softonic

Are you one of those people that likes to share what you're listening to in iTunes with other users?

Personally I'm not because frankly, I'd be embarrassed if anyone other than my mum knew I was listening to Cliff Richard. If you've got a much cooler music collection though, then you might find In The Mood a great way of transmitting what you're listening to in iTunes to several applications at once. These are namely, Adium, Skype and iChat.

When you install In The Mood, you'll receive an API access message from each application warning you that In The Mood wants to access them. Just click 'OK', and In The Mood will immediately start transmitting your currently-playing iTunes track to each app. You can also pre-configure nine other customized status messages that you can switch between at any time if you'd rather not display what you're listening to.

In The Mood is easy to configure and can even transmit the iTunes track you are listening to to sites such as Blip.fm, FriendFeed and Jaiku. It's a nice idea although I'm surprised that a client such as MSN Messenger has been left out. I guess the developer assumes that most savvy Mac users will use Adium to log onto it.

In The Mood is a great application for music lovers who want to share what they're listening to with Skype, Adium and iChat users.

Download In the Mood 0.8.3 in Softonic

Adium is already a popular instant messaging application for Mac offering as it does access to multiple protocols and accounts. You can use it to connect to AIM, MSN, Yahoo!

, Google Talk, Jabber and other chat services all at the same time, meaning you only need one chat program open for all your different accounts.

Simply connect your portable device and run the program directly from it: all your profile and account info are stored on your device, meaning there's no need to set-up your client on each new machine you use.

Download Portable Adium 1.3.2 r40 in Softonic

Qnext uses Peer to Peer (P2P) technology to enable you to share and communicate with friends and contacts from one single platform.

It's designed for those that have multiple Instant Messenger (IM) accounts and don't want to have to switch between each one or those, using several different applications to share and exchange data. Once you've installed Qnext, you need to sign-up for an account. This takes a minute or so depending on how much private data you want to divulge.

Once logged-in, you're presented with the main interface where you can choose to import contacts from IM accounts such as MSN, Jabber and Yahoo. You can change your status within Qnext so that it applies to all of your IM clients in one go. Qnext was strictly for paying subscribers only in version 2 but this version is completely free but you have to tolerate a certain amount of advertising along the top banner.

It has to be said that Qnext isn't the easiest program to get to grips with however. There are no setup wizards to show you how to import photos and files, let alone share them. In addition, the interface has a distinctly Windows feel about it.

Qnext is a nice idea but it's not the most straightforward sharing client to get to grips with and the interface could do with a lot of work.

Download Qnext 3.0.7 in Softonic