Digsby

CNET Editors' note: Beta or prerelease software is not intended for inexperienced users, as the software may contain bugs or may potentially damage your system. We strongly recommend that users exercise caution and save all mission-critical data before installing or using this software.

CNET Editors' review

With so many ways to network and socialize online, you may find it difficult to keep track of everything. Digsby promises to help keep chat, e-mail, and social networking conversations in one convenient place, but it didn't work exactly as we expected.

This freeware program looks a great deal like other popular chat programs, such as AIM. With a skinny rectangular box running along the side of your computer, a prompt to add accounts helps you get started. From here you will find a menu of seven different IM programs to choose from, six different e-mail programs, and four different social networking sites. When selected, each simply asks for your log-in and password and connects to the system. Your various programs are displayed, with IM buddy icons separate from e-mail and social networking e-mails.

Single-click or mouse-over the name of the person you want to chat with to access IM options, including SMS, e-mail, and file transfer. Double-click to initiate an IM chat, while the context menu offers those options as well as buddy-specific history logs. The e-mail service will open your default e-mail client, although you can preview your Webmail in-box through the Digsby contact list. Facebook users can update their feeds, check their friends' feeds, and get full feed streams in Digsby, and the program now supports MySpace IM, as well. If you have a lot of IM accounts to keep in one place, this freeware tool can help keep you organized.

Users should be aware that Digsby now calls out all of its bundleware during the installation process, so install with caution if you don't want the Ask.com toolbar or the grid computing protocol. This is a marked improvement from when Digsby only allowed opting out after the program was installed, so we're more comfortable recommending the program once again.

Publisher's Description

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All User Reviews

Results 1-10 of 160

  • 1.0 stars

    "Digsby authorization fails repeatedly"

    December 3, 2012  |   By ChrisTheiss

    Version: Digsby build 91 (beta)

    Pros

    Used this program for several years successfully. Met all expectations.

    Cons

    After a PC crash, reinstalled Windows XP and Digsby. Digsby will not load properly, displaying authorization failure each time. Cannot access account to see what is wrong. Program completely unusable.

    Summary

    There must be some kind of conflict in program with other software. I am using latest versions of Firefox and Thunderbird for example and although Digsby worked previously with other versions, now it won't work properly. Connection?

    Reply to this review

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  • 1.0 stars

    "worst IM,getting crashed again and again...."

    August 16, 2012  |   By prakri

    Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)

    Pros

    Worst IM that i ever seen,**** this digsby,since it get crashes again and again

    Cons

    worst worst worst

    Summary

    what summary i can give,all pros cons and summary are all same,worst worst worst......

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Great multiprotocol client, nice and free"

    February 27, 2012  |   By Elijah_B73

    Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)

    Pros

    Easy to use
    Multi protocol (I use it for my ICQ, GTalk & Yahoo IM accounts)
    Works fine out of the box w/o expert settings tweaking
    Ads in the conversation thread can be easily turned off

    Cons

    Ad in the conversation window

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Do not install this cheat program to computer"

    January 11, 2012  |   By jariviin

    Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)

    Pros

    Do not install this cheat program to computer

    Cons

    Do not install this cheat program to computer

    Summary

    Do not install this cheat program to computer

    Reply to this review

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Installs malware."

    May 12, 2011  |   By sean_vikoren

    Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)

    Pros

    It did not burn my house down.

    Cons

    I had to use Revo uninstaller to get the gunk off that it installed.

    Summary



    Updated on May 13, 2011

    Update / Warning: Revo did not find everything and I still have malware that I am trying to track down.

    Reply to this review Read reply (1)

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Great Integrator for Instant Messaging"

    March 24, 2011  |   By spudnubber

    Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)

    Pros

    - Looks great (many skins in the settings/preference)
    - Supports group chats, video or audio chats, file transferring, etc.
    - integrates email and Facebook stuff in addition to instant messaging

    Cons

    - you have to create an account with them
    - there are adds in some places like the chat area
    - you have to be careful in the installation not to download a bunch of crap ( like one of the guys before me mentioned)

    Summary

    The comment the person before me had is definitely something to consider or be carefully. I think you can opt out of the background stuff and i know you can opt out of the toolbars and stuff. As far as I know, I have avoided the background stuff. My antivirus program has not identified any suspicious processes and i have not noticed anything unusual either. Digsby does not seem to use very much of my system resources at all either.

    Reply to this review

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Probably won't install it once knowing what really does"

    March 6, 2011  |   By Arverick88

    Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)

    Pros

    Multi protocol and lots of customizing.

    Cons

    Installs lots of "optional" software that you don't really want. Uses your processor when idle to work on their own stuff.

    Summary

    There are way better IM clients out there and from developers with more transparent policies.


    Excerpt from the TOS:

    You agree to permit the Software to use the processing power of your computer when it is idle to run downloaded algorithms (mathematical equations) and code within a process. You understand that when the Software uses your computer, it likewise uses your CPU, bandwidth, and electrical power.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Great for multitasking and huge time saver"

    February 5, 2011  |   By omariusa

    Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)

    Pros

    - Great User interface and functionality
    - View Email and FB newsfeed with a single click.
    - View new FB and twitter posts as pop ups
    - Setting up the account takes seconds

    Cons

    - Ads with every chat window
    - I don't like very much how video/audio chat work, but it's okay
    - No online or iphone versions yet

    Summary

    Aside from the Ads at the bottom of each chat conversation, I really find it to be a great piece of software. Totally worth trying

    Reply to this review Read reply (1)

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  • 4.0 stars

    "Like it so far, just started using the product."

    January 8, 2011  |   By Nadinero

    Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)

    Pros

    don't know

    Cons

    don't know

    Reply to this review

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Digsby owns!! it OWns!"

    August 19, 2010  |   By johnboy4202

    Version: Digsby build 78 (beta)

    Pros

    all your messaging in one place, without a bunch of crap add-ons

    Cons

    apparently harvests spare cpu cycles

    Summary

    good software!

    Reply to this review

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Results 1-10 of 160

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Digsby