Open Thread: What Instant Messenger Do You Use The Most?

I’m an AIM guy. In fact I use the very-very current AIM 7 Beta 3, which I’ve found works great so far. The service does what I want it to do and it’s a reliable network. But I have read on more than one occasion that Windows Live (formerly MSN) is the most-used IM on the planet – maybe.

The Big Question to you, the reader: What IM do you use the most?

I say “the most” because many of you use multiple services. If you do, which do you use most often? Post a comment below and let us know.

Also, which IM client do you use? Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, AIM, Pidgin, Kopete, etc.? Or do you not use a client at all and use the browser instead?

What’s available for IM now?

This, to the best of my knowledge, is a near-complete list of all the IM services available. It does not include SameTime or GroupWise because those are mainly used in-enterprise only, such as businesses, colleges and universities. Bonjour not listed because that’s usually meant for LAN-only use.

AIM
Windows Live
Yahoo
ICQ
Jabber / LiveJournal / Google Talk (all use Jabber)
MobileMe
MySpace
Facebook (can be used outside browser with Pidgin)
QQ (main site, Chinese only)
Gadu Gadu (Polish only)
Meebo (is a true IM, does have Meebo-to-Meebo chat)
Steam
Xfire
Skype

(If I missed any IM services, list what’s missing in a comment.)

What do you use? Post a comment below.

Bonus question (optional): What’s the worst IM you’ve ever used and why do you think it sucks?

Like what you read?

If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below:

http://simoncrabb.com Simon Crabb
MSN. Used to use AOL, ICQ and Yahoo too, but fallen back to MSN only.
Alex
Skype is missing from the list.

http://www.menga.net Rich Menga
Added in, thanks.

http://www.twitter.com/AndrewPearce Drew
How could you forget Skype? I use that and Windows Live Messenger.
Like Simon, I used to use ICQ back in the day (can still remember my UIN funnily enough) along w/ Yahoo Pager/Messenger and AOL. Now, I just stick w/ Skype and Live Mess.
http://kkomp.com Sharron Field
Windows Live Messenger mainly. I also use Yahoo and Google Talk at times.
I think AIM sucks: Used it once and hated it from the word go. Perhaps that was a long time ago and things have got better, but that’s my experience with it anyway.
Steve Stone
Trillian. I have friends and family, barely PC literate, some on MSN, some on AIM, some on Yahoo. Trillian covers them all without being buried by ads and annoying stuff.
Rich Hilton
I use Digsby, but i’m looking for something similar that’s more resource friendly. Any suggestions?

http://www.menga.net Rich Menga
On Windows, the lightest multi-protocol messenger you can use is Miranda. Otherwise the other choices use just as much resource.

http://www.nathanhunstad.com Doctor Gonzo
Pidgin is the client I use. As for protocol, I’ve got friends and family on MSN, AIM, and Google Talk. I used to have Yahoo, but nobody I know is on it anymore so I ditched it.
Rob
MSN is what I use the most. I log into MSN, AIM, and Yahoo through pidgin, but msn is definitely what I use the most per day.
http://patscompservices.blogspot.com PatrickDickey
Typically, I use Skype as my main IM (even though it’s more a VoIP client, it does have IM capabilities) and Windows Live. I’ve been using Yahoo and AIM only when my contacts who I frequently talk with can’t get on Skype or WLM.
I use Facebook and Myspace only when I’m checking out my pages– although my Myspace is tied into Skype (or is supposed to be).
I really can’t say what the worst client that I’ve used was. They all have their own little annoyances. Windows Live has the Get Started that pops up occasionally. They all have their “Inside …. (Inside Yahoo, Windows Live Today, AIM’s homepage)” that annoys me. I’m not one of the people who use IM as my hub to get everything accomplished.
Have a great day:)
Patrick.

http://www.twitter.com/AndrewPearce Drew
Do a Google search – you cant get rid of ads and the ‘Today’ pop-up easily

Brian
None. Once the novelty wore off I stopped using them. I prefer the more permanent record and flexibility of email. Email is really just about as fast. If speed was the issue–I’ll just pick up the phone and call. I just don’t see how IM adds any value above email and a telephone. And if you just need to bang off a quick message–text messaging works just about as well.
http://howto-ubuntu.com eli
I mainly do all of my messaging from Gmail’s web interface. A little with skype every blue moon. Pidgin once or twice maybe.
Traceur1993
I don’t use messengers that much but when I do it’s Windows Live Messenger.
Next popular for me would be google talk, then yahoo.
Kevin
I use Windows Live Messenger for my IM’ing needs
zip
Google Talk !!!!!!!!!!!
Force Flow
I have accounts for AIM, MSN, Y!, Skype, facebook, steam, xfire, and at one point, I had ICQ.
I use digsby instead of pidgin for AIM, MSN, Y!, and facebook. Steam is by itself with the native client, and I’ve pretty much migrated completely over from xfire to steam (in 2004, steam was still kinda broken as an IM client & friends list). Skype is on its own too with the native client, though there are plans in place with digsby to include skype (IM chat-only) in coming versions.
Pidgin is a pretty good tool, but the main reason I use digsby is because it is more customizable in some areas that were lacking in pidgin (especially the friends/buddy list), it’s light weight, has a minimal UI, and doesn’t feel half-finished and glitchy like pidgin did when I last tried it (maybe 8 months ago)
JokrzWyld
I very seldom use messaging.
When I did it was with the one that came with XP. (I can’t even remember the name.)
Now that I no longer use Windows, if I was to use a client it would be Pidgin.
Cheers.
N.
Kelly
I use Adium on my Mac; Windows Live Messenger on my Windows.
Jase
I use MSN/Windows Live Messenger mostly, I also use mIRC quite a bit as well, although not as heavily as I once did. ICQ fell by the wayside, but I used that at one stage too.
http://www.techronos.com Justin
Pidgin and GTalk occasionally. Probably only sign on once every other week, so I’m not interested in a lot of advanced features.
Warren
I used to use aim until i came to linux and realized that the latest aim available for linux is 1.3… not too current. Ubuntu’s default is Pidgin, which has replaced my need for aim admirably
DravenX
I’m a gamer. I always have xfire connected when I’m back home. I used AIM, ICQ, MSN & Yahoo. I use xfire the most and yahoo next. Once in a while I will connect to AIM and MSN but I haven’t been on ICQ in years.
I use xfire for games as stated above and use most often. I only use Yahoo when I’m away from home on TDY’s or deployments so I can talk to my wife. I have Skype as well but Yahoo looks better IMO.
http://www.darknet-fusion.co.cc Vertimyst
Windows Live Messenger and Pidgin (with Yahoo, AIM, Jabber, Gtalk) in Windows, either Kopete or Pidgin in Linux, and Adium in OSX.
Adium’s my favorite client, I like Pidgin, but I need the features exclusive to WLM as well (video, voice, etc.). I know Trillian has those, but I hate that client. Too bloated, both in appearance and size, IMO.
Anyone know of a client like this, with a clean interface similar to Pidgin and Adium, and voice and video support? Preferrably cross-platform (mainly Win/Linux, but OSX would be nice too). I doubt there’s such an app, though… :/
B-O
Trillian, because of the wide support for different IM:s. I prefer it to Pidgin mostly because file-transfers are faster. By the way, I think Trillian is missing from the list!