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Pidgin review (2026): is it any good?

Desktop chat client that connects to many chat networks at once

FreeTeam ChatChecked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
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Pidgin report card

2.8GPA

Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026

Best for one desktop window for several chat networks

Pidgin is a desktop chat program that logs into several networks at once, such as XMPP and IRC. It is free and has no ads. It is only a client, though: there is no phone app, no browser version, no hosted workspace, and the Mac version is left to Adium.

Who Pidgin is for

  • Fits if you keep accounts on XMPP and IRC and want them in one window
  • Works for Windows or Linux users who would rather have a small program than a browser tab

Who Pidgin is not for

  • Skip it if you want a phone app, as none is listed
  • Not for you if you are on a Mac, since the vendor points you to Adium
  • Too light for team use, with no workspace, channels structure or admin tools of its own
  • Watch out: Linux builds come from your distribution's package manager, not from the project
See the alternatives

Why Pidgin gets a 2.8

Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.

  • AValue for moneyFree and open source under the GPL, with no ads. A program anyone can download and run.
  • AFree plan and trialFree outright, with no paid tier and no cap. Donations are accepted.
  • CFeaturesHandles several accounts in one window and adds more through plugins. It is a client for other people's networks, so it does a smaller job than a workspace.
  • CEase of useNo rating on record. You add and set up each chat account yourself before it does anything.
  • CPlatforms and integrationsWindows and Linux only. No Mac build from the project, no mobile app and no web version.

What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Pidgin's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.

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Pidgin: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA

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Where Pidgin stands among team communication apps

Pidgin's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 49 of the 75 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 10.

It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 60 of 75) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 0).

Pidgin has no paid plan.

On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 76 team communication apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Pidgin’s own letter is outlined.

  • AValue for moneyAbove 58 of 75, level with 17
  • AFree plan and trialAbove 60 of 75, level with 15
  • CFeaturesAbove 1 of 75, level with 61
  • CEase of useAbove 11 of 75, level with 46
  • CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 75, level with 8

Price against what you get

Each dot is one of 66 team communication apps. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$1$2$5$10$20$50$100$200$500More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessPidgin

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
The full chart, and the best team communication apps at every price

Keep Pidgin, or make your own?

Keep it

Pidgin is free, so making your own would save you nothing.

And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.

What you could not

  • Chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
  • Storing and serving files for other people.
  • A real app for Windows and Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
  • It plugs into other products, XMPP, IRC and Bonjour among them.

What this rests on. Pidgin’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

What is Pidgin?

Pidgin is a free, open-source chat program that lets you log in to accounts on several chat networks at the same time, such as XMPP and IRC. It is a client for existing networks rather than a hosted team workspace. Plugins extend it, and it has no ads.

Worth knowing

  • 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.

Key features

Several networks in one window
Out of the box it works with Jabber/XMPP, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, IRC, GroupWise Messenger, Sametime, SILC, SIMPLE and Zephyr.
Plugins for more protocols
Plugins add support for further chat networks and extend what the client can do.
Chat network features
Supports file transfers, away messages, buddy icons, custom smileys and typing notifications where the network offers them.
Open source, no ads
The code is licensed under the GNU General Public License and the program contains no advertising.

Pidgin pricing

As of Nov 13, 2026, Pidgin is free to use.

Starts at
Free
Free plan
None
Free trial
None listed
Free$0Free, open source under the GNU General Public License, with no ads. Donations are accepted.

Read from pidgin.im on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Pidgin before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Works with

  • XMPP
  • IRC
  • Bonjour
  • Gadu-Gadu
  • GroupWise Messenger
  • Sametime
  • SILC
  • Zephyr

Pidgin alternatives

All Pidgin alternatives comparedAll team communication apps

Common questions

Does Pidgin have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Pidgin is listed for Windows and Linux.

Does Pidgin have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Pidgin is listed for Windows and Linux.

Is Pidgin open source?

Yes. Pidgin is open source, according to its own site.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.