Alternatives · Team Chat
Pidgin alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded Pidgin alternative is Jami (3.2 GPA). It's also the best free one.
Pidgin compared with 5 alternatives: Jami, Matrix, Element, Openfire and ejabberd.
Pidgin is free to use. All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| PidginThis tool | Free | Free | Windows, Linux |
| Jami | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Matrix | Free | Free | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Element | Free plan | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Openfire | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| ejabberd | Free plan · from €200/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux |
Price against what you get
Pidgin has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 4 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Jami and Matrix score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Pidgin
Jami
Peer-to-peer encrypted chat, calls and video conferences
- Jami is free.
- Jami also lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Jami is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Jami also covers video calls.
Suits: Groups that want a free, open-source chat with no account details
Matrix
Open, decentralized network for chat and calls
- Matrix is free.
- Matrix also lists a web app and macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Matrix is self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Matrix does not cover file sharing, which Pidgin does.
Suits: Organizations that want to own their chat data on their own domain
Element
End-to-end encrypted chat and calls on the Matrix standard
- Element also lists a web app and macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Element is self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Element also covers video calls.
Suits: Governments and regulated organizations that self-host encrypted chat
Openfire
Open-source XMPP chat server you run on your own hardware
- Openfire is free.
- Openfire also lists a macOS app.
- Openfire is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Openfire does not cover file sharing, which Pidgin does.
Suits: IT teams that want to host their own chat server
ejabberd
Erlang messaging server for XMPP, MQTT, SIP and Matrix
- ejabberd starts at €200 per month (Fluux managed cloud).
- ejabberd also lists a macOS app.
- ejabberd is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- ejabberd does not cover file sharing, which Pidgin does.
Suits: Developers building chat or messaging into a product
Limits worth knowing in Pidgin
- It is a desktop client only: no hosted workspace, mobile app or browser version is listed.
- The vendor says it runs on Windows, Linux, BSD and other UNIX-like systems; for macOS it points to Adium instead.
- Linux builds are not provided by the project; it recommends installing from the distribution's package manager.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Pidgin?
The alternatives to Pidgin in this directory are Jami, Matrix, Element, Openfire and ejabberd. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Pidgin.
Is there a free alternative to Pidgin?
Yes. Jami, Matrix and Openfire are free to use. Element and ejabberd have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Pidgin alternatives work on macOS?
The Pidgin listing does not include a macOS app. Jami, Matrix, Element, Openfire and ejabberd list one.
Which Pidgin alternatives work on Android?
The Pidgin listing does not include an Android app. Jami, Matrix and Element list one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.