Free Chat Rooms and Services
One of the main reasons many people go online is to chat to their friends and family. The Internet has opened up a number of communication channels, the most popular being e-mail (although chat weighs in at a close second). Below, we review the Internet's best free chat services, including free emoticons, online chat rooms and communities. We've also included some services that allow you to add a chat room to your own Web site. Remember: be safe, never disclose your personal details and never arrange to meet strangers. Our Free Chat Software category reviews programs that allow you to chat, message and interact with other Internet users, so be sure to check those out as well. If you happen to stumble across an outdated link, we'd very much appreciate it if you could report it. Thank you!
MessFun.com - This site offers all kinds of freebies for instant messenger programs, such as those provided by MSN, Yahoo! and AOL. Included here are free MSN display pictures, emoticons (smileys), wallpapers and lots more besides. MessFun.com also provides instant messenger status checkers, so you can see who's online before you log in (ideal if you get pestered a lot). They even include suggestions for comical MSN nicknames.
FreeJavaChat.com - Offers free chat rooms to add to your Web site. FreeJavaChat.com is able to provide a completely free service with no banner adverts or other annoying gimmicks. You can use mIRC or the Java chat applet in any Web browser, plus users can take advantage of private messaging, IRC commands, a "simple mode", etc. This service also includes various other features.
Chatzy - Chatzy is a new free and simple chat service with no installation procedure. Using this service, you can create your own chat room and invite people to join you instantly by e-mail. On most chat sites, you can only enter public chat rooms, or you need to use ports not available from behind a firewall. Chatzy is different and possibly the simplest chat site available on the Internet.
Just Chat - A popular free chat room community aimed at adults. A number of traditional chat rooms are available, each holding up to 200 chatters at any one time. Their message boards are also great place to talk about current affairs, politics, sport, etc. A unique point about Just Chat is that you don't even have to register (just select a room and away you go).
Bravenet Chat Rooms - If you've ever wanted to add a chat room to your site, offer live customer support, or simply establish an online meeting place for friends, check out Bravenet's free chat room offering. They provide one of the best free chat services we've seen with the ability to customise the "chat launch" page to match the look and feel of your site. Please note: users will require a Java-enabled Web browser to access this service.
> Bravenet also provides a truckload of other free Webmaster services, including a blog, guestbook, hit counter, photo album and more.
> A range of widgets have recently been released that users can place on their Web site to enhance interactivity. The Web Poll, Site Search and Headline News are particularly popular.
mabber - If you're a fan of instant messaging and you're feeling adventurous, why not give mabber a whirl? This free and new instant messaging service provides real-time chat without the need to download any software. Developed in Germany, mabber can be used to chat with friends online, either via a computer or on your mobile phone. Similar to other messenger services, you can see who's online and add new friends as you wish.
> Users can integrate a mabber widget on their site, blog or MySpace page, and talk to their visitors in real-time.
> Since you needn't download any software, mabber can be used anywhere: school, Internet cafes, university, at work, etc.
FreeChatCode.com - Offers a free Java chat room service, ideal for increasing the "stickiness" of your Web site. The chat room provided here is easy to customise with your existing site and allows an unlimited number of users, with the additional option for private chat. The service also provides a language filter, password protection, sound alerts and the ability to save chat transcripts. FreeChatCode.com is advert supported.
There - "There" is an online virtual world where users can chat with others, meet friends and participate in group games. The program features an exciting 3D environment, which allows you to interact with others and live an online, virtual life. The basic version of the program (54 MB) is free and allows you to select a personal avatar, text chat, create "buddy lists", listen to streamed radio, shop in auctions and join up to 20 "There" groups.
ParaChat - Want to add a chat room to your Web site? ParaChat's "free" package provides a feature-rich, remotely hosted Java chat room service, allowing for real-time interaction. As a Webmaster, you can cutomise the colour and language of the chat room, and also integrate the embedded applet seamlessly into your site's page. For creating user appeal and repeat visits, ParaChat is an excellent tool. The service is advert supported.
> ParaChat recommends you select the "embedded chat room" option, which can be integrated directly into your site's pages. However, if you prefer, they also offer a pop-up chat room option as well.
> The free version provides 100 user capacity for each room and now includes a "who's typing now?" feature.
ChatAge.com - Provides free online chat rooms for teens and adults alike. ChatAge.com features three room categories: general (for all ages), teens and adults (for 18 years and over). The chat rooms here are moderated to ensure safety for younger chatters, although we advise caution in any Internet chat room. Don't give away your personal details or arrange to meet anyone online!
Moove - Experience chat in a 3D world environment when you download this unique chat client called "Moove". In a nutshell, Moove follows the rule of traditional IRC (Internet Relay Chat), but also offers graphical images of people mimicking the statements made in text. For example, if you specify to shake hands with your chat buddy, the virtual character will do the same on the screen.
Chat-Forum.com - Provides free, advert supported Java-based chat rooms for use on your Web site. Chat-Forum.com's free chat room is easy to implement and will no doubt increase the "interactivity factor" of your site. Some of the features provided here include: private messaging, room administration, user blocking, etc. There is a restriction of 10 users per room at any one time. Technical support via e-mail is also provided.
Paltalk - A live voice and video chat community featuring a free program called PaltalkScene, which allows you to chat with others using webcams and microphones. The service includes thousands of chat rooms on virtually any topic imaginable, so you're bound to find a room to participate in. Paltalk also has an instant messaging component that allows you to hook up to AIM, Yahoo!, MSN and ICQ users. A version for Apple Mac is promised in the near future.
AddonChat - The "free" edition of AddonChat offers a free, basic and advert supported chat room, which is easily integrated into your site's pages with a snippet of HTML code. A direct link is also provided to each chat room, so even if you don't own a site, you and your friends can still utilise the room. A number of features are offered, including: private messaging, control panel, multiple language support, user ignore feature and profanity filters.
Freeola Chat - A free chat community that's based around a series of message boards. Freeola Chat is a fun place to talk about games, gossip, films, life and more. By participating in the discussions, visitors have a chance of being singled out to win £30 worth of Argos or Amazon vouchers. If you're feeling creative, you can even start your own forum, and take charge with moderation privileges.