Miranda IM

Miranda IM

Miranda IM is a popular multi-protocol instant messaging client for Windows. It supports connecting to networks like ICQ, AIM, MSN, Yahoo, IRC, Jabber/XMPP. Miranda is lightweight, customizable, and offers features like tabbed chats, encrypted messaging, file transfers.
Miranda IM image
multiprotocol encrypted-messaging file-transfers tabbed-chats lightweight customizable

Miranda IM: Multi-Protocol Instant Messaging Client for Windows

A lightweight, customizable instant messaging client supporting ICQ, AIM, MSN, Yahoo, IRC, Jabber/XMPP networks with tabbed chats and encrypted messaging, file transfers.

What is Miranda IM?

Miranda IM is a free, open source multi-protocol instant messaging client for the Microsoft Windows operating system. It is designed to be very lightweight and customizable, while still offering a rich feature set out of the box. Miranda supports connecting and chatting over popular IM networks and protocols including ICQ, AIM, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, Jabber/XMPP, IRC, Gadu-Gadu, and more.

Some of the key features of Miranda IM include:

  • Tabbed chat windows for handling multiple conversations
  • Plugin architecture for extending functionality through scripts and addons
  • Customizable interface with support for skins and icons
  • Secure messaging with plugins available for encryption
  • File transfers, SMS, message logging, notifications
  • Cross-protocol features like chatting over multiple networks

Miranda is a long-running project which continues to be actively developed by a community of open source contributors. It focuses on delivering a fast, full-featured yet tiny-sized instant messaging tool for Windows. If you are looking for something more lightweight than apps like Skype or Pidgin, but still want modern conveniences like smooth encryption and tabbed chats, Miranda IM warrants a look.

Miranda IM Features

Features

  1. Multi-protocol support (ICQ, MSN, AIM, Yahoo, IRC, XMPP/Jabber)
  2. Tabbed and grouped chat windows
  3. Customizable interface with skins and plugins
  4. Encrypted messaging
  5. File transfers
  6. Audio/video chat
  7. Contact grouping
  8. Message history
  9. Notification popups

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Lightweight and fast

Very customizable

Supports many popular chat protocols

Active open source community with plugins

Free and open source

Cons

Dated looking interface

Steep learning curve

No mobile app

Limited native video/voice chat features


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