Believe it or not, there are still lots of people in the world who enjoy using instant messaging services. And we're not talking about modern iterations like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. We're referring to 1990s-style MSN Messenger-esque apps.

Of course, it's becoming harder to find good ones. Many of the old "big hitters" have stopped working. Since 2017, both Yahoo Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger have disappeared for good.

But, if you're an instant messaging fan, don't worry. There are still some online instant messaging services worth checking out if you like chatting with your friends and family.

1. mIRC

mirc

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) was one of the first widely adopted ways to chat online; it was the precursor to many of the modern instant messaging apps we use today.

Despite going live in 1988, IRC remains a surprisingly popular chat medium to this day. The most recent estimates available claim that around 500,000 people log in to the service every day across a network of thousands of servers.

To use the IRC protocol, you'll need an IRC client. The most well-known app is mIRC. It has been around since 1995 and was among the 10 most popular apps in the world during its zenith in 2003.

mIRC supports friend lists, file transfers, multi-server connections, IPv6, SSL encryption, proxy support, UTF-8 display, UPnP, customizable sounds, spoken messages, tray notifications, and message logging.

The app is only available on Windows.

2. ICQ

icq homepage

ICQ was arguably the first instant messaging site to offer real-time chat for individual user accounts that was focused on one-on-one conversations. It played a key role in helping to finally move people away from IRC.

Amazingly, despite dwindling user numbers (current estimates suggest around 11 million, compared to a high point of 100 million in 2001), the app is still going strong.

A facelift in April 2020 brought audio-to-text conversions, smart replies, 50-person video calls (with support for 500 listeners), push-to-talk, and groups of up to 25,000 users.

ICQ is available on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and via a web portal.

3. Pidgin

pidgin plugin list

Pidgin aggregates chat services from multiple third-party clients into a single easy-to-use interface.

It supports well-known services like Facebook, Slack, and Skype, as well as lots of more niche apps like Omegle, OkCupid, and ICQ. Interestingly, it also works with IRC.

Pidgin has an extensive library of plug-ins, many of which bring functionality to even more chat clients.

The free-to-use app is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux. There are no mobile versions available.

4. Miranda NG

miranda ng settings

Miranda NG (short for "New Generation") is a reincarnated version of the once-popular Miranda IM. It has been designed to be light on system resources and fast to run. The app is also open source, which will please security fanatics.

The online messenger itself is similar to Pidgin; it acts as a one-stop-shop for all your most-used chat services. At the time of writing, 15 apps/protocols are supported. They are:

  • Discord
  • Em-LAN
  • Facebook
  • Gadu-Gadu
  • ICQ
  • IRC
  • Jabber
  • Minecraft Dynmap
  • Omegle
  • Sametime
  • Skype
  • Steam
  • Tox
  • Twitter
  • VKontakte

Also like Pidgin, Miranda NG has a community-developed add-on library. However, rather than allowing you to add more chat services to the app, most of the addons available change the aesthetics or some element of the functionality.

For example, there is an add-on that introduces an app-wide Simpsons theme and another that adds more options to the app's main toolbar.

Miranda NG is only available on Windows.

5. Telegram

telegram windows desktop

Although old-style instant messaging sites and apps still have a place, it's also quite apparent that the world has moved on. Today, there is a new collection of chat apps vying for your attention.

The most popular and best-known is WhatsApp, but it has its shortcomings. Most notable is the requirement for you to connect WhatsApp to a phone; you cannot log in on the desktop version unless your phone is to hand.

Telegram does not work in the same way. Once you have performed the initial setup, you can log in without your phone and can use the app on many devices at the same time.

Some of the best Telegram features include bots, support for multiple phone numbers, secret chats, and proxy servers.

There is an official Telegram app for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. You can also use third-party Telegram apps for your desktop.

6. Adium

The Mac-only Adium is another versatile app that can connect to multiple online instant messenger services.

The app, which is both free and open source, supports Twitter, ICQ, IRC, Gadu-Gadu, and more.

Again, like Miranda NG and Pidgin, third-party plugins are available---although there is not as much choice as you'll find in the other two apps. Indeed, just five plugins are listed on the Adium site: Skype, Skype for Business, Telegram, Steam, and WhatsApp.

Where you'll find more variety, however, is in the list of "Xtras." There are several community-led projects, including new dock icons, contact list themes, message themes, sound sets, menu bar icons, status icons, and more.

7. 7 Cups

7cups homepage

7 Cups is a bit different from the other apps we've looked at.

Instead of being a fun online chat site to talk to friends and family, it is aimed at people who are suffering from emotional distress. It puts users in touch with someone who will listen to them, with listeners available 24/7.

All of the listeners are volunteers, and more than 300,000 people participate in the service. Some of them even specialize in advice for kids aged between 13 and 17. If you need better advice, you can pay $150/month for access to 180 professional therapists. Professional therapy is only available to adults.

Learn More About Chatting Online

In truth, the future is starting to look increasingly bleak for these types of chat services. While IRC retains a loyal following on Usenet, the rest appear to be in terminal decline.

The rise and rise of WhatsApp et al. shows no sign of relenting, forcing the owners of older online messaging services to pivot to mobile apps instead.

Still, while these online chat sites continue to operate, you should jump on and use them for a taste of the internet as it was 20 years ago.