AIM Alternatives for Linux

Skype is an instant messaging and VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) client to communicate with people in a distant place.

Pidgin is a free and open-source chat client which supports AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, XMPP protocols.

Telegram is a free cloud-based instant messaging platform.

Trillian is a proprietary multiprotocol instant messaging application.

Discord is a freeware proprietary VoIP application designed for gaming communities.

Signal is the most scalable encryption tool.

Jitsi (formerly SIP Communicator) is a free and open source multiplatform voice (VoIP), videoconferencing and instant messaging application.

Empathy is an instant messaging (IM) and voice over IP (VoIP) client which supports text, voice, video, file transfers, and inter-application communication over various IM protocols.

Psi is a free instant messaging application designed for the XMPP network (including Google Talk). Fast and lightweight, Psi is fully open-source and compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.

Kopete is a multi-protocol, free software instant messaging client released as part of the KDE Software Compilation. Although it can run in numerous environments, it was designed for and integrates with the KDE Plasma Workspaces.

Franz is a free messaging app /former emperor of Austria, that combines chat & messaging services into one application.

ICQ is an open source instant messaging software.

Gajim is an instant messaging client for the XMPP protocol which uses the GTK+ toolkit.

qutIM is free and open-source multiprotocol (ICQ, Jabber, Mail.Ru, IRC, VKontakte) instant messenger.

Coccinella is a free and open-source cross-platform client for the XMPP/Jabber-instant messaging-protocol.

Zulip is a chat and collaborative software.

Tkabber is a GPL instant messaging client for the XMPP protocol which uses the Tk toolkit for the GUI.

YakYak is a desktop chat client for Google Hangouts.