Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

Ajax IM is an instant messaging application built with Node.js technology. Launched in 2010, it provides real-time communication capabilities for users who need a lightweight messaging solution. The application… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Meet the new Ajax IM (with Node.js) launched in 2010; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Message.io▲296

   Bots that work everywhere

   2016 · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Let's Chat, a self-hosted chat app for small teams▲350

   Self-hosted chat for small teams.

   2015 · sdelements.github.io · its alternatives →

3. 3JL
   JS library to make your website instant▲426

   http://instantclick.io/ It seems the internet architecture won't bring us instant websites anytime soon. So here is a hack. I released this JS library last month (today is version 2.0 release, fixing v1.0's rough edges), it makes use of HTML5's pushState and preloading to make a website instant. It works like this: before clicking on a link, you'll hover over it. And there's a delay of 200-300 ms between these two events. InstantClick uses this delay to preload a page, when you click on a link it will display instantly in most case. (You can test on the website.) That's…

   2014 · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Node.js Messenger▲140

   A small alternative to Slack

   2017 · totaljs.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Let's Chat▲323

   Like Slack, but opensource and self-hosted.

   2015 · sdelements.github.io · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Telegram Bot Platform 2.0▲474

   A new era of messaging

   2016 · telegram.org · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Modern, Facebook Messenger▲341

   Facebook Messenger for your website, chat with visitors

   2016 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Stream Chat▲327

   Build, code and ship in app messaging in a few hours

   2019 · getstream.io · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Honk▲265

   Real-time messaging

   2020 · honk.me · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Realtime Chatroom Built with Laravel and VueJS▲53

    Creating Real Time chat with Laravel, Vue and Pusher - ahmedkhan847/chatwithlaravelandvue

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Open source hyper-live chatroom using WebSockets, Node.js, and Vue.js▲22

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Now API▲197

    Instant serverless Node.JS deployments with an API.

    2016 · vercel.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Riot.im▲178

    A universal secure chat app entirely under your control.

    2016 · element.io · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Courier▲257

    API, designer, and metrics for messaging & notifications

    2021 · courier.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Amio Messaging SDK▲84

    Develop for multiple messengers using JavaScript

    2018 · github.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Instant API – Build type-safe web APIs with JavaScript▲102

    Hey there HN! I just wrapped up an all-day documentation spree for Instant API, a JavaScript framework for easily building web APIs that implements type safety at the HTTP interface. It uses a function-as-a-service approach combined with a slightly modified JSDoc spec to automatically enforce parameter and schema validation before HTTP requests make it through to your code. You just write comments above your endpoint functions and voila, enforced type safety contracts between your API endpoints and your developers. OpenAPI specifications are generated automatically as a byproduct of simply…

    2023 · github.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Ping Instant Messenger▲64

    For confidential communication

    2020 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Prompt.im - A simple real-time chat app built in 1 day▲18

    prompt.im is for sale on Spaceship. Secure checkout and quick transfer. See all purchase options. No hidden fees.

    2011 · prompt.im · its alternatives →

19. 19AB
    A browser-based IRC client built on Node.js – first Node project▲60

    2014 · airchatter.net · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Willy▲74

    Reversing the “instant trend”. Send messages to the future.

    2018 · its alternatives →

21. 21WA
    We actually built chat for GitHub - Kato.im▲17

    2013 · kato.quora.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Chat▲88

    turn your backend into a chat app instantly

    Mar 2026 · github.com · its alternatives →

23. 23IM
    I made a chat roulette for remote workers▲123

    2020 · remoteroulette.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Msngr.js, a messaging library for JavaScript▲32

    An asynchronous messaging library, written in JavaScript, for node and the web browser - KrisSiegel/msngr.js

    2015 · github.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →