Yahoo! Chat Clients

What are Yahoo! Chat Clients?

Yahoo! Chat Clients are the programs used to interact with Yahoo! Chat. Official clients include Yahoo! Messenger and Yahoo! Java Chat and Chat2.0. However, these are very vulnerable to boot codes, and for that reason people use third party chat clients.
This webpage has been designed in order to give you an overview of the available Yahoo! Chat Clients. It is not a full description of each client, but the important facts are covered, for more information, view their websites. I try to give an unbiased review, and leave it for you to choose, I don't selectively choose clients based on whether I like their authors as some websites do!

Mac, Linux and other Platforms

I don't review clients for the Max OS or for GNU/Linux or Unix Operating Systems.
For a list of these, visit here

Comparison

The table below lists which clients support some of the more important features. Most clients support a basic set of features, which I need not list. Unique features may appear in the descriptions, below. Click a client name to read more, or scroll down to go through each one! Click a heading for more information on what it means.

Client/Feature	Fades	Avatars	Tattoos	Smileys	Webcam	Protocols	Size(KB)
YahELite				79		YCHT, CHAT2 YMSG: 10,11,12	600
Y!Chamber				79		YMSG: 12	384*
JAM				79		YMSG: 12	443
Yah-Too				0		CHAT2,YCHT YMSG:11	552
Gyach				0		YMSG: 11	2048
YahEh				79		YCHT YMSG:12	1590*
Y!Mlite				79		YCHT, CHAT2 YMSG: 10,11,12	1500
YaZak				87		YCHT, CHAT2 YMSG: 10,11,12	564*
YAM				87		YMSG 13	527
My!Chat				64		CHAT2	745*
Y!Chat				16		YCHT	2200*
- Yes (Blank Space = No) | KB = KiloByte | * = Extra Runtimes Required

YahELite - http://www.yahelite.org
	Not as old as cheeta, but YahELite has been around a long time, and is very easy to customise, most aspects of the client can be customised to your own liking. It's very small to download and is a low memory user. It's easy to operate, but you might get confused at the start. Smaller, limited versions are also available, See Here. This client also supports mail retrieval and sending, as well as Yahoo! SMS.
	GOOD File Sharing Levels of Spam Protection Extension Feature for programmers, see YahSeek 500 Quick access buttons - for common posts Spell checking Text To Speech Support for international character and all international room lists.	BAD Confusing to the new user for the first 10 minutes!

Y!Chamber - http://www.ychamber.com
	This is a newer YCHT based client. Pretty basic at present, but includes voice.
	GOOD Debug Mode	BAD No Colours, Fonts or Fades

JAM - http://www.geocities.com/trolling_around
	By the author of YahToo below, this is the only 3rd party client listed here that has put more emphasis into the Messenger part of the client, such as the movements of buddies, offline messages. You can use it like Yahoo! Messenger, without entering a chat room! BUT it does also have a chat client built in, so you can chat! It's very much like the Yahoo! Messenger, without some of their features such as IMVironments. For full voice access, skins and avatars, use JAM Version 5.
	GOOD Buddy Management More like Yahoo! Messenger Can IM and see online buddies without going into chat. Easy to use and customisable interface. Built in HTTP server (File Sharing)(V4) Glyphs - Tattoo you create yourself (V5)	BAD

Yah-Too - http://www.geocities.com/trolling_around
	The newer and maintained version of Yah-Ha by Trolling Around. Unfortunately it has no graphical smileys, it uses a font typeface. It is low on features however it lets you add your own through scripts!
	GOOD Very nice user interface User can extend its limited features Tattoo support Yahoo! File Transfer Support	BAD Limited features

Gyach - http://www4.infi.net/~cpinkham/gyach/beta/win32/
	A client developed for GNU/Linux but ported into Windows. This client boasts some features in Linux which are not available on the Windows Platform, or failed to operate on Windows, such as smileys and blends. The colour/font support was also poor. Unsure of Status
	GOOD	BAD

YahEh - http://yaheh.chat-help.co.uk/
	This is a new client that unlike many others logs you in twice for extra protection. Your chat will be performed through the secure YCHT protocol, while your Instant Messages and Buddy Lists will be performed through the more reliable YMSG protocol.
	GOOD Simultaneous YCHT and YMSG Debug Mode & Packet Constructor Small download!	BAD

Y!Mlite - http://www.ymlite.co.uk
	A newer client written in Delphi. Also has a more compact limited version available. Has 100 smileys, extends that of the 79 Yahoo! ones. Has automation features. no long work around required. Y!Mlite recently included the YahELite Extension feature, and personality feature.
	GOOD Intelligent name complete Automated Features User defined Buttons File Sharing Skins Quick Mail to other Y!Mlite users.	BAD

YaZak - http://messy.zak.2ya.com
	A fairly new client produced in Visual Basic (which means you may need the runtime files off the site). It doesn't have the best of user interfaces, but it has tried, and it works well. It's fairly boot proof.
	GOOD Gossip Chat Auto Word Correction Audibles Animated Smileys Animated Avatars	BAD

YAM - http://www.trolling.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html
	YAM (Yet Another Messenger) is a new Messenger & Chat client by the same author as JAM. The client features a nice user interface and a custom, efficient and safer output as opposed to the Internet Explorer Control used by Yahoo! Messenger.
	GOOD Supports Glyphs, in addition to Tattoos and Avatars. Runs nicely as a messenger replacement without chat. Animated user list events. Custom, more efficient chat output. Animated Avatars & Smileys. Yahoo! Compatible Emotes - Just drop in your emote file.	BAD Transparency problems in some Windows 98 versions.

My!Chat - http://mychat.fxscripts.com
	Another client written in Visual Basic requiring (provided) the Visual Basic runtimes. Personally had issues with the output, but other people like this client. People have said your actions on this chat client may be monitored remotely, I don't know.
	GOOD Customisable avatars Supports other chat systems.	BAD Basic fader, no YMSG support. Ad Supported (incl. Adult). Constantly loads adverts in the background!

Y!Chat - http://www.ekriirke.com/YChat
	Original 3rd Party Chat Client. Extends those features of the java client but unfortunately some of it's unique features no longer work due to Yahoo! Changes.
	GOOD Avatars on user list Built in working voice chat	BAD User Interface is lacking in some areas.

Back to home page