10 Fresh Messenger Apps for Linux

Can you think a fourth dimension when everyone used the aforementioned instant messaging app?

Even before the historic period of social media, there were always multiple contenders: you may have preferred ICQ, simply some of your friends were on MSN Messenger, some used Yahoo! Messenger, and others stuck to AIM. These days, IM is more mobile than ever, and you probably have two or more than messaging apps on your smartphone. Merely what happens when yous want to chat from your Linux figurer?

Well, yous can install a desktop client for 1 of the already pop IM services, or attempt to convince your friends to switch to a new messenger app. So, if you are looking for new messenger apps for Linux or just alternatives to pop messengers on Linux, here are ten interesting suggestions:

1. Ring

Ring is best described as a free and open up source Skype replacement. Unlike Skype, it cares about your privacy, and so all messages and calls are encrypted, and the developers claim that no files are saved on their servers. Band has it all: video and audio calls, regular instant messages, group chats, and call recording.

How it works:

The installation is fairly simple, every bit Ring offers pre-packaged installers for several Linux distributions. Notwithstanding, it requires a daemon (background service) and a client, so make certain to install both. In one case yous start using Ring, it will generate a Band ID for you. You're supposed to give it to your friends so they can add together you as a contact.

Y'all can have multiple Ring accounts, and the Settings dialogs are quite detailed, with options for auto-answering calls, audio and video codecs, chat history, and of course, encryption. Ring achieves secure, decentralized communication thanks to OpenDHT and GnuTLS libraries. Information technology also supports SIP (Session Initialization Protocol) accounts, so after you create one, you tin use Ring to phone call landline and mobile phones.

Ring lets you put a call on hold, share your desktop with the caller, and send files to other users. With features like these, plus the ability to make briefing calls, Ring is perfectly suitable for small businesses and remote workers.

Since Ring is however in beta, some features are missing, like the (arguably essential) choice to manage your contacts. Linux users can work around this problem by using the Evolution Data Server to provide contact information to Ring. Others will take to wait a while, or commencement using Ring anyway, because it's already a great app.

Platforms: Linux, Android, Bone Ten, Windows

ii. YakYak

Google doesn't seem to care much about making a Hangouts desktop customer for Linux. Sure, yous can utilize Hangouts in the browser, but it'due south non ever a pleasant experience. Luckily, people accept taken the matter into their own hands and created YakYak. Despite the somewhat unfortunate name (information technology sounds a lot similar Yik Yak, another messaging app), YakYak isn't bad at all. Information technology supports group chats, native desktop notifications, and multimedia integration.

How information technology works:

YakYak is not a traditional desktop app; instead, it's a "wrapped", windowed version of the web app created with the Electron framework. This makes the YakYak client relatively large – when unzipped, it takes upwards over a hundred MBs, approximately two times more than GIMP. Yet, information technology gives you everything that Hangouts has, plus boosted color schemes. Y'all can preview the chat history, modify your presence status, and get notified when other users are typing.

YakYak doesn't support multiple Hangouts accounts at the moment. If yous're not happy with it, but don't want to use Hangouts in the browser either, consider the purple-hangouts plugin for the trusty old Pidgin.

Platforms: Os Ten, Windows, Linux

3. Franz

If yous follow tech news, you've probably heard of Franz, as it generated quite a buzz when it came out earlier this twelvemonth. The forcefulness of Franz is in numbers – it supports more than than twenty messaging services, from well-known ones like Skype, WhatsApp, and Twitter, to HipChat, SteamChat, and even some of the services from this commodity (Mattermost, Rocket.Chat). Franz is truly a one-stop-shop solution. If yous accept to use multiple messaging services, only don't want a dozen dissimilar chat apps, Franz simply might be perfect for y'all.

How information technology works:

The mode Franz works is simple, merely besides somewhat disappointing. Like some other apps on this listing, information technology'southward not really a desktop app; rather, it's a wrapper for the web interface of each supported service. Basically, using Franz is like using a stripped-down web browser that keeps messaging services running in their respective tabs. This affects the app size, and more importantly, its memory footprint.

Nevertheless, Franz boasts some redeeming features. Autonomously from sending instant messages to your friends, you can likewise use it to bank check email with Gmail and Outlook. Desktop notifications will alert y'all of new messages, and the app itself has been translated into a few dozen languages. Possibly the best matter about Franz is the ability to utilise multiple accounts on the aforementioned service at in one case. Yes, this means you can – finally! – switch betwixt all v of your Twitter accounts in one window.

Platforms: Linux, Windows vii or newer, OS X ten.9 or newer

4. Cutegram

Telegram is one of the new messaging services – information technology appeared almost three years ago. Like WhatsApp and Viber, information technology'southward primarily a mobile service, which means you lot have to create an account with your phone number. Telegram lets its users share files (including images and videos), create channels (public chat groups), and utilise one account on multiple devices.

Although the client code is open up source, Telegram is a proprietary application, and it has been heavily criticized for some of its security choices. Nonetheless, if your coworkers or friends insist on using Telegram, the alternative desktop client called Cutegram will serve you lot better than the default ane.

How information technology works:

Cutegram offers packages for several Linux distros, aslope a generic Linux installer file. On first run, you'll be prompted to enter your phone number and connect your existing Telegram business relationship to Cutegram. Everything else is pretty much polish sailing, as Cutegram prides itself in being user-friendly and adapting to your desktop environment. You can transport files to your friends, organize contacts into groups, create private chats, and mute annoying people. The Settings dialog lets you tweak some visual details, every bit well as adjust emoji-related options.

Platforms: Linux, OpenBSD, OS X, Windows

5. Vector

Vector just might be the but conversation application you'll ever need. Video calls? Vector has that. Grouping chats? Check. You can share files AND it'southward all encrypted? You bet. Plus, it's completely complimentary and open source.

How information technology works:

Vector is actually a client for the Matrix protocol, an open up standard for decentralised, real-time online communication. Matrix allows anyone to install and run their own server, and those servers can and so connect to the public Matrix network. There are also network bridges or integrations, which get in possible to connect to IRC, Slack, XMPP, Skype and other services.

If y'all'd simply like to requite Vector a quick try, you lot don't need a server; in fact, you don't even need an account. Simply load the online version to admission whatever of the public chat rooms. Y'all'll notice the interface is Slack-inspired, but somewhat simpler. If y'all like what yous encounter, create a free Vector business relationship. And so you'll be able to make conversation rooms, start conversations with other users, invite your friends, share files with them, edit letters… Developers can play around with bots (to automate activities on a channel) and integrations with services like GitHub and Jenkins. Vector is yet in development, so only a few integrations are bachelor for at present. All the same, it shows a lot of potential and it could easily become a full-fledged Slack culling.

Platforms: Spider web (any desktop), iOS, Android

6. Ricochet

Most people would agree that consummate anonymity is impossible if you intend to do anything online. However, at that place are some measures we can take to protect ourselves when necessary, and Ricochet aims to brand this easier for the average user. It takes a different arroyo to security than other apps on this listing by relying on the Tor network to relay messages between users. The best part of the story: you lot don't need to gear up Tor manually, or even be particularly knowledgeable most it. Ricochet takes care of everything for y'all.

How it works:

Later downloading and decompressing the Ricochet archive (ricochet-versionnumber-static-i686 or ricochet-versionnumber-static-x86_64, depending on CPU architecture), simply run the executable Ricochet file. The app will ask y'all to either configure the network settings manually or let information technology exercise the work.

You'll get a unique Ricochet accost that others can utilise to contact yous. This address is the only office of your identity that'south visible to other users – your contact list is stored locally, and your location, IP address, and messages you lot transport are not exposed to tertiary-political party servers. If yous'd like to know exactly how Ricochet does this, feel gratuitous to peruse the official documentation.

At present Ricochet doesn't back up file sharing, and the programmer warns about the experimental nature of the app. However, it's nonetheless completely usable equally a regular messenger app, and it'southward worth trying if y'all truly care near privacy.

Platforms: Linux, Windows, OS X

7. Mattermost

Slack is great, but it'south not open source. If this is something that matters to y'all, Mattermost is probably the best Slack alternative you can discover. With file sharing, Markdown formatting, and of course, emoticon support, Mattermost has everything yous need for efficient collaboration.

How information technology works:

Mattermost is self-hosted, which means you have to run a Mattermost server, and then install client apps on your devices that will connect to it. On Linux, you lot'll need a desktop customer.

In one case it'due south all ready, y'all can hands drift existing channels and user accounts from Slack. However, private chats, files and images tin can't be imported from Slack'due south database for now. Mattermost pretty much looks and works merely like Slack, and you tin can further customize the appearance by creating your own themes.

Mattermost supports integrations with various services and applications, so you employ Trello, Outlook, RSS feeds, IRC, and Giphy in your channels and chats, or even create your own integrations. There are as well built-in commands like /bring together, /me, or those for direct messaging and link shortening/expanding.

Search is 1 of the most powerful parts of Mattermost, and the Contempo Mentions characteristic can be extremely practical when working in large teams with quick-paced communication. Speaking of teams, Mattermost allows y'all to use but one account to join multiple teams, and doesn't force you lot to create separate accounts for each team. To top it off, information technology has fantastic documentation where yous'll find detailed usage instructions.

Platforms: Linux, Windows, iOS, Android; specific requirements here

8. Tox

Tox is another privacy-enlightened messaging protocol. The communication takes place in a distributed, peer-to-peer network, where users tin can transport encrypted letters directly to each other, without whatsoever meddling, unknown servers in a faraway land. To join the network and become a Tox user, y'all need to install a Tox client. QTox is among the all-time-equipped clients, and it'southward the one depicted to a higher place.

How information technology works:

When you lot start using Tox, the client app will generate a Tox ID for you. This is a long cord of code that yous can share with your friends, and it lets them add you equally a contact. QTox supports multiple Tox accounts, and yous tin even share your Tox ID as a QR code.

Autonomously from regular text chats, qTox supports audio and video calls, group chats and grouping calls. You can send files to your friends, and qTox will automatically show a preview of shared images. It's besides possible to fix Group Bots that can host chats and invite users who are not otherwise connected. Nevertheless, you tin't transfer files or brand video calls in a group chat.

An interesting thing about Tox every bit a protocol is that all participants in a conversation must be online at the aforementioned time if they desire to conversation or add together each other as friends. Some Tox clients, like qTox, have a "faux offline messages" feature that tin salvage a message and deliver it once the recipient comes online.

Other useful qTox features include the ability to disable chat history, change interface colors, format messages with Markdown, and quick-quote other people's messages by pressing Alt+Q. There's too the multi-window mode which lets you open up each conversation in its own window; you can rearrange the windows and combine them at any fourth dimension. Tox is still in development, only it'due south quite stable, so don't be afraid to endeavor it, either via qTox or some other customer.

Platforms: Linux, Os X, Windows

9. Peerio

Peerio feels like a mix of Dropbox and Gmail with extra layers of encryption. Information technology'due south an open source awarding that seems more focused on file sharing and collaboration than on plain instant messaging, which makes it a practiced pick for office environments. The free programme gives you i GB of storage for files upwardly to 400 MB in size, while the Pro option will upgrade you to 50 GB of storage for $10 per month.

How it works:

Since Peerio puts your security and privacy outset, the process of creating an account has a few extra steps. You'll have to register with a username and electronic mail, and create a passphrase. Then you'll get a confirmation code, which you have to enter at your first login. Finally, y'all'll create a device-specific PIN to speed up time to come logins on that device. The Linux desktop customer tin can be found here, packaged for several popular Linux distributions.

Peerio's only limitation is the fact that you can communicate exclusively with other Peerio users. This ways you'll take to ask your friends to create their own Peerio accounts. You tin import a listing of contacts from Gmail to brand this easier.

Later on that'southward done, you lot can chat in groups of upwardly to 50 participants, search through all discussions, and exchange files. Y'all tin can see if others have opened your letters, and even delete the letters you've sent from the recipient's inbox. The files you upload are encrypted, and every user gets a unique private fundamental for the active session, which expires one time they log out of Peerio.

Now, this may sound swell, but what if yous're skeptical about Peerio's encryption methods? Well, the developers have explained it all in the official documentation, then it'south worth checking out if you'd like to know more.

Platforms: Linux, Windows, Os 10

ten. RocketChat

RocketChat is an interesting Slack alternative with a massive list of features. You can message people in individual groups or in public channels. RocketChat supports different kinds of calls – audio, video, and conference. If y'all mail service a link, you'll get an instant preview of its content, whether it'southward a photo, a video, or an animated GIF. You can share your desktop with other users, and edit messages subsequently they're sent. A cool feature is the back up for TeX math rendering in example you need to write some serious formulas.

How it works:

RocketChat has an online demo where you can test it out. Log in with an existing account (cull from the list of supported services) or create a new one to access the web interface. Of course, if you plan to use RocketChat as a Slack replacement in your office, you lot'll need to deploy a server instance. The client apps are installed separately on supported devices and platforms.

RocketChat is not that unlike from Slack, and to make migration easier, you can import information from Slack or even prepare a real-time Slack bridge, which will mirror the conversations from a Slack channel or grouping. Naturally, integrations (webhooks) are likewise supported, so you lot'll exist able to plug in services like GitHub, Telegram, and Giphy to receive alerts and have fun with GIF reactions in your RocketChat channels.

Platforms: Linux, FreeBSD, OS Ten, Windows, Android, iOS, Firefox OS

Run into Besides: 10 Free Online Resources for Learning Linux

Requite these messenger apps for Linux a shot

Y'all may accept noticed that all these messenger apps accept a lot in common. About of them are open source. Quite a few are focused on privacy. Lastly, some of them are not "truthful" desktop apps, but rather spider web apps wrapped in a windowed interface.

Practice we really need that many messenger protocols and apps? Probably not. Do we need messenger apps for Linux? This is a question that everyone should answer for themselves, simply generally speaking, it's adept to have at least i. You never know when your phone might pause, and then information technology'southward wise to have a desktop version as a backup. Besides, many people are required to use a conversation app for work, which ways they demand information technology both on their phone and their computer.

If you were not impressed with any of the apps we listed, you could take a wait at Appear.in, Actor.im, and Crypto.cat. Or even better – tell us about your favorite messenger apps for Linux. Which ones do you use? Can you recommend a messenger app that we didn't mention? Permit united states of america know in the comments below.

Image Credits: Kaiserpinguine mit Jungen via Wikimedia, Ring, YakYak, Mattermost, Cutegram, qTox.

Source: https://beebom.com/messenger-apps-linux/

Posted by: lewistaraysin1977.blogspot.com

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