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

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

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

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

Tired of the limited choice of smileys in your chat client? More iChat Smileys will provide you with 120 new emoticons to illustrate your online chats with friends.

Contrary to what the name suggests, this pack will not only allow you to add smileys to iChat, but also to other clients such as AdiumX, Proteus, Fire, Mercury and Skype. The pack is very easy to install and can be used right away. You'll see it offers all sorts of emotions, from happy to sad, ecstatic, disappointed and even original characters like a policeman, pig or a witch. There are also a few miscellaneous icons like a moon, sun or mobile phone.

I do get the feeling that some of them are a little outdated, or highly similar to the ones already present in MSN Messenger. Still, if you're a big fan of emoticons and can't really imagine a chat without them, then this pack will surely extend the choice already present in your chat client.

More iChat Smileys is a good set of 120 new emoticons for chat clients like AdiumX or Skype.

Download More iChat Smileys 3.1.1 in Softonic