Signing in is easy just click the appropriate network or site and log on as usual. The first step is to sign in or create a new account the next involves entering user names and passwords for Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, Skype, and other IM networks and then just set up social networks: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Foursquare. We declined the option to run Trillian when Windows starts since we like a fast, clean boot with minimal Internet queries, but heavy chatters may prefer to get right at it. Trillian offers several setup options, and the installer automatically removes old files if you're upgrading.

We tried the latest freeware release, Trillian 5.3, in Windows 7. Users must be 13 or older to access Trillian's network. Trillian is available in several packages: an ad-supported Free version, an ad-free, Cloud-enhanced Pro version with an annual subscription, and a Lifetime version.

Trillian lets you follow your conversations on mobile devices and unfamiliar computers without compromising your security, and its transparent privacy policy helps keep you informed, as well as safe. Trillian is one of the most popular and best-rated standalone IM programs because it works so well with so many different chat apps and social networks from Skype to Facebook and Twitter, and AIM, ICQ, and XMPP.

Trillian software