Free Chat Programs

• Paltalk - This seriously cool free audio chat program lets you make unlimited free calls worldwide. Paltalk offers the best sound quality of any free telephony program we've tried. There's a good FAQ here to help you get started. (Requires Windows 98, 95 or NT, a sound card, a microphone and speakers).
  • New version offers text chat, as well as group voice chat. Users may now create their own groups; join existing groups or create private groups.
• ChatMail - Here's a handy server-based freeware chat application that allows you to chat, as well as and leave messages for others. It will also notify you when your friends connect to the Net. ChatMail can be used like a news server, displaying public messages. It lets you interact with others (while keep your identity private). It works through firewalls, too. 373 kilobytes. (For Windows 98/95).
  
• ChatBUDDY - Are you concerned about your privacy when you are chatting on ICQ or IRC? ChatBUDDY is a freeware encryption tool that will secure your communications, using Blowfish (a powerful, free encryption algorithm). ChatBUDDY also offers handy features such as password protection and session key management. 217 kilobytes. (For Windows 98/95).
• Pagoo - Has it become impossible for your friends to contact you by phone because you're always online? Then check out Pagoo, an innovative way to communicate between you and your friends. Pagoo is a free unique service that delivers phone calls to the user's desktop while they are online. Your callers can leave you a voice mail or a numeric message just like a pager. (For Windows). (No longer free, but a 30-day free, no obligation trial is available).
• Net CB - Now we've seen everything. This free, ad-supported program lets you talk on citizens band radio over the Net. This 2.5 meg program requires Win 95/98/NT, a sound card and a microphone. (If you don't have a mike, you can just listen in).
  
• PeopleLink - This excellent free software service enables you to communicate instantly with others online. PeopleLink gives you "interactive messaging", a new medium that combines the best features of E-mail (ease-of-use, safety and selectivity) with the one major advantage of chat, interactivity. (For Windows and Macs).
  
• AbbottChat: chat program - (No longer freeware, but a time-limited free demo is available). Here's a cool chat program for PCs and Macs that informs you when your friends are online and allows you to send "alerts" (instant messages that you can send to selected folks or your entire list). AbbottChat supports private chat, instant messaging and file transfers. It's fast and requires no cumbersome log-on or registration.(For Win 95/98/NT and PowerMac with Sys 7.5 or later). The file is 866 kilobytes.
  
• XiRCON free chat client - This is a new free beta program that is highly configurable and easy to use. Many features, including an excellent interface and the ability to instantly minimize itself to the Windows tray. It also automatically remembers your favorite servers, channels and chat buddies. Also supports connection to many servers at once, without launching a separate copy of the program. Screenshot here.
  
• MultiChat - This site offering free Java-based chat room software for Web sites. Easy to set up. You can link your site's chat room to thousands of others. Nice interface and very speedy.
  
• Microsoft NetMeeting - With this cool program, you can hold "virtual meetings." NetMeeting offers various tools to communicate and collaborate with others on the Web. It lets you hold voice and video conferences, share software applications, chat, and share a whiteboard.
  
• ICQ 99b beta - A must-have instant messaging program from Israel that ranks as one of the Web's most useful freeware programs. ICQ's features could fill a book but the most important innovation it offers is "awareness" (the ability to determine whether other people are online at a given moment). ICQ also allows you to transfer files; travel in groups to different Web pages; play sound effects and much more. The program is very easy to use and has a very attractive and useful interface that allows you to keep track of several simultaneous conversations.
  • The newest version (99b beta) adds helpful features, such as message archiving, which gives you a complete record of every communication you've sent or received. There's also an easy-to-use organizer functions, as well as a "Whitepages" feature which acts as an ICQ search engine for finding ICQ users according to a wide variety of search criterium.
  • There's an entire galaxy of add-ons to enhance ICQ. But one of the most useful we've found is the freeware program called ICQ Rescue. This handy little program makes it easy for you to create a backup of your ICQ contact list, your bookmarks and your message history, so they can be easily restored.
• Visual IRC - Powerful freeware chat client that features an Office 97-like user interface, voice chat and video conferencing. Visual IRC also offers an object-oriented scripting language (ViRCScript) and support for Active Scripting. Suitable for newbies and experiences users alike. The Web's top IRC client.
  
• Microsoft V-Chat - With this awesome client, you start by selecting an "avatar," (a graphical representation for yourself.) With your avatar you can chat, gesture, or explore 2D or 3D environments. Choose from a wide selection of avatars or make your own.
  
• irc.ram-page.com - Here's a promising, fast-growing free IRC server that offers access via either the Web or an IRC client (such as mIRC) They also offer a free service that lets Webmasters easily set up a chat room on their own page. Note: they do not allow porn or warez (illegally pirated software).
  
• PowWow - PowWow is a popular Windows-based communications program for the Internet that allows up to 9 users to chat via typing or voice; send files; view personal home pages and JPEG pictures; and cruise the Web together.
  
• Kids PowWow - This is a version of PowWow for children up to age 13. It creates a fun, but protective environment for kids who want to use PowWow. Kids PowWow alerts children when an adult pages them, or when they page an adult. The PowWow for Kids home page provides conferences (which have profanity filters) and other features.
  
• ichat Pager - With this cool client, you can be instantly connected to friends and associates and see who's on line. You may send messages instantly; participate in real-time discussions; and page friends 24 hours a day.
• mIRC & Eggdrop Archives - An essential site for users of mIRC, the Web's top chat program. This informative site will help you get the most out of mIRC and offers many scripts, bots and add-ons for this chat client. There's also assistance here for using Eggdrop, the popular advanced IRC robot.
• Ide@lScript - Ide@lScript (yes, that is the correct name!) is a helpful IRC script from Brazil that offers all kinds of goodies. Features include basic channel and personal protection and protection against hackers. Ide@l§©ript also offers colorful greetings and personalized writing, as well as an ASCII and WAV player and an "advanced away system with message recording." A Portuguese version is here.
• nOthello - Play the classic game Othello with other people on IRC! Design your own bitmaps for boards and pieces. This site also offers plenty of other cool scripts for use with IRC.
  
• Active Worlds Browser -This is one of the all-around coolest freebies on the Web. It's a browser that lets you access AlphaWorld, a unique, 3D virtual community populated by real people. The Active Worlds universe boasts hundreds of thousands of users and thousands of kilometers of virtual territory. You can explore over 100 worlds in real-time, 3D, high-color graphics. You can even "own" land and build anything you'd like on your property, from a simple house to an elaborate palace (a process that is quite easy). Active Worlds is more than a piece of software; it's a way of life! (Note: you need a Pentium with Win 95/NT and 24 megs of hard drive space.)
• AOL Instant Messenger - This excellent program, once available only to AOL users, is now available to the entire online community. It offers many cool features. It allows you to see who's currently online and lets you send quick and private instant messages. It's "faster than E-mail and more fun than the phone."