Pidgin (software)

Pidgin

Screenshot Pidgin's buddy list window in Trisquel
Initial release	December 31, 1998; 25 years ago (1998-12-31) (as Gaim)
Stable release	2.14.13[1]  / 23 February 2024
Preview release	None [±]
Repository	keep.imfreedom.org/pidgin/pidgin/
Written in	C (C#, Perl, Python, Tcl are used for plugins)
Platform	Linux macOS (unofficial) Microsoft Windows Solaris(unofficial) FreeBSD NetBSD(unofficial) OpenBSD(unofficial)
Available in	Multiple languages[2]
Type	Instant messaging client
License	GPL-3.0-or-later
Website	pidgin.im

Pidgin (formerly named Gaim) is a free and open-source multi-platform instant messaging client, based on a library named libpurple that has support for many instant messaging protocols, allowing the user to simultaneously log in to various services from a single application, with a single interface for both popular and obsolete protocols (from AIM to Discord), thus avoiding the hassle of having to deal with new software for each device and protocol.

As of 2007^[update], the number of Pidgin users was estimated to be over three million.^[3]

Pidgin is widely used for its Off-the-Record Messaging (OTR) plugin, which offers end-to-end encryption. For this reason it is included in the privacy and anonymity focused operating system Tails.^[4]