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

We don't list or review clients here for the Max OS or for GNU/Linux or Unix Operating Systems.
For a list of these, visit here: http://www.carbonize.co.uk/Yahoo/clients.php

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)
Yah-Too				0		YMSG	552
JAM				79		YMSG	443
YaZak				87		YMSG	564*
no5				79		YMSG	991
CheetaChat				60		YMSG	3000*
YAM				87		YMSG	527
YahELite				87		YMSG	600
YahEh				79		YMSG	1590*
El33tchat				87		YMSG	1230
Y!Mlite				87		YMSG	1500
- Yes (Blank Space = No) | KB = KiloByte | * = Extra Runtimes Required

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

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

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

no5 - http://no5.helpbytes.co.uk
	no5 is a re-release of the program of the same name. no5 currently lacks some features such as avatars, but contains animated smileys. The unique feature of no5 is the programmable system, you can create new scripts and forms by programming them in VBScript to add your own functionality.
	GOOD Programmable - Beyond "emotes in buttons!" and simple macros Small Download	BAD Early stages - Lacks Avatars and tattoo selector, for example.

CheetaChat - http://www.cheetachat.com
	CheetaChat has been around a while, and boasts many of it's own unique features. Cheeta Chat is now back in a new Beta, however it's account management facility makes logging in the first time difficult to see.
	GOOD Auto Update Compatible with their own chat server Text To Speech	BAD Still in beta, will be buggy - authors own words.

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. Voice in Chat and PM.	BAD

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!

YahEh - http://yaheh.ourchat.org
	A basic chat client, whose once exclusive feature of simultaneous double protocol login, is now no longer available.
	GOOD Debug Mode & Packet Constructor Small download!	BAD

El33tchat - http://www.el33tchat.com
	A new chat client derived from an older version of Y!Mlite, meant to be lighter, hence it lacks many features of current Y!Mlites.
	GOOD Less features than later versions of Y!Mlite you may not need.	BAD Some bugs are cleary existent.

Y!Mlite - http://daynacommunications.com/ymlite/
	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