BitlBee

BitlBee is an open source instant messaging client that runs in your IRC client instead of directly in an IM network. It acts as a gateway between many popular chat networks and IRC, allowing you to interact with friends on AIM, ICQ, XMPP/Jabber, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Twitter and more through a familiar IRC interface.

BitlBee alternatives ➤

What is BitlBee?

BitlBee is an open source instant messaging gateway and server designed to bridge chat networks and standard IRC clients. Rather than connecting directly to chat services like AIM, ICQ, XMPP/Jabber, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, and others, BitlBee opens a local IRC server that handles the chat traffic.

This allows the user to interact with popular chat networks using a favorite IRC client like HexChat. Commands, messaging, contact lists and more are translated between the services invisibly by BitlBee in the background. It brings chat networks into IRC so they can be accessed from any IRC-capable client.

Key features include:

Access to AIM, ICQ, MSN, YahooIM, XMPP/Jabber, Twitter and more from IRC clients
Centralized and unified buddy lists and contact management
Private messaging, group chats, file transfers on supported protocols
IRC gateway for non-IRC chat networks cuts down on bouncers
Lightweight, daemonized, runs on Linux and Unix platforms

BitlBee is popular with tech-savvy chat users who live on IRC already. Running an array of dedicated IM clients can be a headache. By funneling everything through a preferred IRC client with BitlBee handling the translation, user experience is greatly simplified.

Official Links

Official Website
www.bitlbee.org

The Best BitlBee Alternatives

Top Apps like BitlBee

Pidgin, ICQ, Trillian, Kopete, Beagle IM, Minbif, Sim-IM are some alternatives to BitlBee.

Sugggest an alternative ❐

Pidgin

Pidgin is a popular open source chat application used primarily for instant messaging. It supports multiple mainstream chat protocols and accounts including AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, XMPP/Jabber, IRC, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, Novell GroupWise, Lotus Sametime, Zephyr, and more. This allows users to manage all of their instant messaging accounts and...

ICQ

ICQ is an instant messaging client and software application first developed in 1996 by the Israeli company Mirabilis. The name ICQ derives from the English phrase "I seek you." It was one of the first stand-alone instant messenger clients for personal computers that had a significant user base.In the late...

Trillian

Trillian is a popular multi-protocol instant messaging client developed by Cerulean Studios. It enables users to simultaneously use multiple IM services and protocols, including AIM, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, IRC, XMPP/Jabber, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, Novell GroupWise Messenger, Lotus Sametime, SILC, SIMPLE, and Zephyr networks all from one application...

Kopete

Kopete is a free instant messaging and chat application developed as part of the KDE Software Compilation for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It supports multiple popular chat protocols and services including AIM, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, Jabber/XMPP, Gadu-Gadu, Novell GroupWise Messenger, and IRC.Some key...

Beagle IM

Beagle IM is an open-source, multi-platform instant messaging application. It was initially released in 2010 by a small group of developers looking to create a lightweight and customizable chat client.Some of the key features of Beagle IM include:Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux systemsBasic one-on-one and group text chatsFile...

Minbif

Minbif is an open-source BitTorrent client application designed for Windows and Linux operating systems. It is written in C++ and aims to be lightweight, customizable, and provide a smooth user experience.Some key features of Minbif include:Low memory and CPU usage for minimal impact on system resourcesStreamlined and intuitive...

Sim-IM

Sim-IM is a free, open source multi-protocol instant messaging client for Windows. It enables users to connect to various chat networks and services to communicate with contacts.Sim-IM supports major protocols including XMPP/Jabber, IRC, Telegram, and Twitter. This allows users to manage multiple chat accounts within a single interface...