Software Alternatives & Startups

Pidgin VS Pling.com

Compare Pidgin VS Pling.com and see what are their differences

Pidgin

Pidgin is an easy to use and free chat client used by millions. Connect to AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and more chat networks all at once.

Pidgin Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Pling.com

A community where developers and artists share applications, themes and other content

Pling.com Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Pidgin might be a bit more popular than Pling.com. We know about 18 links to it since March 2021 and only 14 links to Pling.com.

social mentions
18 vs 14
Communication popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 2

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Pidgin
Pling.com
Website pidgin.im pling.com
Company Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Pidgin 5 features
Pling.com 4 features
  • Multi-Protocol Support
    Pidgin supports a wide range of chat protocols like AIM, MSN, Google Talk, Jabber/XMPP, ICQ, and IRC, making it versatile for users who need to manage multiple accounts from different networks.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source software, Pidgin allows for transparency and extensive customization. Community contributions help in improving its features and security.
  • Cross-Platform
    Pidgin is available for multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, which makes it accessible to a broad user base.
  • Plugin Support
    Pidgin offers a plethora of plugins that extend its functionality, allowing users to add features like encryption, additional protocol support, and interface enhancements.
  • Lightweight
    Pidgin is relatively lightweight and does not consume a lot of system resources, making it ideal for users who need efficient performance.

Possible disadvantages

  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface of Pidgin is considered outdated by modern standards, which may not appeal to users looking for a sleek and contemporary design.
  • Limited Native Mobile Support
    Pidgin does not have robust support for mobile platforms natively, making it less convenient for users who want to synchronize their chats across mobile and desktop.
  • Security Concerns
    Because of its open-source nature, any vulnerabilities discovered are publicly available, which can be a double-edged sword regarding security.
  • Complexity in Setup
    Initial setup and configuration might be complex for non-technical users, especially those needing to set up multiple accounts and plugins.
  • Limited Support for Modern Protocols
    Pidgin may lack support for newer chat protocols and services, thus limiting users who rely on more modern communication platforms.
  • Diverse Content
    Pling.com offers a wide range of digital content, including themes, icons, wallpapers, and software enhancements, catering to various customization needs.
  • Community Driven
    The platform is community-driven, allowing users to share and contribute their own creations, fostering a collaborative environment.
  • Open Source Friendly
    Pling.com supports many open-source projects, providing a platform for developers and users to share and discover open-source solutions.
  • Monetization Options
    Creators can monetize their content through donations or sales, providing an incentive to contribute quality content.

Possible disadvantages

  • Content Quality Variation
    Due to its open nature, the quality of content can vary significantly, which might require users to spend additional time finding suitable items.
  • User Interface
    Some users may find the website's user interface to be outdated or not as intuitive, potentially complicating navigation and content discovery.
  • Malware Risks
    As with any platform that allows user contributions, there is a risk of downloading malicious content, making it crucial for users to exercise caution and verify files.
  • Limited Support
    Being community-driven, official support is limited, and users might have to rely on community forums for troubleshooting and assistance.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Pidgin
Pling.com

Overall verdict

  • Pidgin is a good choice for users looking for a lightweight, multi-protocol instant messaging client. It is most appreciated for its simplicity, ease of use, and flexibility to configure according to user preferences. However, as some messaging services push towards proprietary protocols, Pidgin may require additional plugins or tweaks to remain fully compatible, and users should be aware of any potential limitations.

Why this product is good

  • Pidgin is a versatile and open-source instant messaging client that supports multiple messaging protocols simultaneously, such as AIM, Google Talk, Jabber/XMPP, ICQ, and many others. It provides a unified platform for users who want to manage different chat accounts and services in one place. Its extensibility through plugins allows for additional functionalities like encryption, interface customization, and message logging. Furthermore, being open-source means it has a robust community supporting and updating it, which contributes to its reliability and security.

Recommended for

    Pidgin is highly recommended for users who need to manage multiple chat accounts from different platforms within a single app. It is ideal for individuals who appreciate open-source software and the ability to extend functionality through plugins. It's particularly useful for those who prioritize functionality over a modern user interface and are comfortable with making customizations if needed.

Overall verdict

  • Pling.com is a solid platform for the Linux and open-source community, offering a marketplace for themes, icons, wallpapers, and other desktop customization content while allowing creators to earn from their work. It's well-regarded for supporting the open-source ecosystem, though its user interface can feel dated and the content quality varies.

Why this product is good

  • Large library of free and paid Linux desktop customization content including themes, icons, and wallpapers
  • Supports open-source creators by enabling them to receive donations and earn income
  • Integrates with tools like the KDE Store and OpenDesktop ecosystem for easy content installation
  • Fosters a community-driven approach that benefits both users and developers
  • Free to browse and download most content

Recommended for

  • Linux users looking to customize their desktop environments like KDE, GNOME, or XFCE
  • Open-source developers and designers wanting to share and monetize their work
  • Enthusiasts seeking themes, icons, wallpapers, and other desktop assets
  • Community members interested in supporting open-source creators through donations

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Pidgin 3 videos + Add
Pling.com 0 videos + Add

Pidgin IM Overview

More videos

  • Review - Pidgin Review
  • Review - Pidgin IM - Instant Messenger Review

No Pling.com videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Pidgin
Pling.com
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Pidgin and Pling.com. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Pidgin no reviews yet
Pling.com no reviews yet

We have no reviews of Pling.com yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Pidgin 18 mentions
Pling.com 14 mentions
  • GNOME 2.20 but its Web Components
    I'm going for a classic feel here, so I designed the webmentions (which used to appear in a sidebar or under the post) UI to look like a Pidgin IM session, and the slide decks page looks (kinda) like OOO Impress. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Right to be Forgotten and Open Source
    When it comes to Right to be Forgotten we only have few places were we have user data as part of us running Pidgin. These are our mailing list archives which have been replaced by Discourse, our issue tracker, and our old developer WIKI. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • How can I forward Facebook messenger messages to email?
    I can't think of any way. There is a Facebook plugin for Pidgin, and you can get at your chats that way with a more versatile cross-platform messenger, if you are more normally on other chat services. https://pidgin.im/ - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago

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  • Top Bar customization
    1 go to pling.com 2 type fedora 37 ws 3 go to the post from the linux scoop 4 go to the files tab under the screenshots 5 download said file "Orchis Shell MOD" 6 install with gnome tweaks (make sure you have user themes enabled... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Who likes my desktop?
    Do you mean the icons on the panel and desktop if so, they are the candy icons with the sweet dark gtk theme you can find those on https://pling.com. Source: over 3 years ago
  • best place to find gnome 43 shell themes?
    I find gnome-look.org aka pling.com really bad for finding gnome shell themes cos you never know if the theme is compatible with your gnome version. Source: almost 4 years ago

View more

Alternatives to Pidgin and Pling.com

When comparing Pidgin and Pling.com, you can also consider the following products.

  • Telegram

    Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free.

    Compare Telegram to Pidgin or Pling.com:

  • Cinnamon Spices

    Modify your Cinnamon desktop environment and extend its features with Cinnamon Spices. Cinnamon supports the following types of spices: Themes, applets, desklets and extensions.

    Compare Cinnamon Spices to Pidgin or Pling.com:

  • Trillian

    Trillian is a decentralized and federated instant messaging platform that lets your whole company send private and group messages, keep tabs on what co-workers are doing, share files, and much more.

    Compare Trillian to Pidgin or Pling.com:

  • Dracula

    A dark theme for Atom, Alfred, Brackets, Emacs, iTerm, Mintty, Notepad++, Slack, Sequel Pro, Sublime Text, Telegram, Textmate, Terminal.app, Ulysses, Vim, Visual Studio Code, Wox, Xcode, and Zsh

    Compare Dracula to Pidgin or Pling.com:

  • Adium

    Adium is a free instant messaging application for Mac OS X that can connect to AIM, MSN, Jabber, Yahoo, and more.

    Compare Adium to Pidgin or Pling.com:

  • Element.io

    Secure messaging app with strong end-to-end encryption, advanced group chat privacy settings, secure video calls for teams, encrypted communication using Matrix open network. Riot.im is now Element.

    Compare Element.io to Pidgin or Pling.com: