The Best All-in-One Messenger Apps for Windows and macOS

I use various messaging apps to stay connected with different groups of people. From Slack for work to WhatsApp and Telegram for friends and family, and Discord for gaming, my desktop gets cluttered with multiple apps running simultaneously. This is where all-in-one messenger apps for Windows and macOS come in handy.

All-in-One Desktop Messenger and Productivity Apps

These all-in-one desktop apps allow you to manage multiple services and platforms from a single window. They let you launch apps like Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, Asana, and Slack all at once. The benefits are clear: easy keyboard shortcuts for quick switching between services, the ability to create workspaces to categorize apps, manage notifications globally or individually, and more.

1. All-in-One Messenger – For Messaging Only

All-in-One Messenger supports messaging and chatting apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Gmail (GTalk). However, it does not support productivity apps like Asana or Google Drive. The user interface is sleek and easy to use, although some users have reported crashes on Windows 11. Additionally, Twitter and Android Messages may not load properly.

All-in-One Messenger is suitable for average users who want quick access to a few messaging apps in a single user interface. Advanced users may find other apps more suitable for their needs.

Pros:

• Simple and intuitive design

Cons:

• Does not support productivity apps
• No support for workspaces
• Limited app support

Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Download All-in-One Messenger (Free)

2. IM+ – All-in-One Messaging for Desktop and Mobile

IM+ is similar to the all-in-one messaging app mentioned above, with one important distinction: it works on iOS but not on Windows. This means you can access all your favorite chat apps on macOS and iPhone. Other than that, the features are similar, with a focus on messaging apps and limited customization options.

IM+ also offers the benefits of being a native macOS app, such as running in the background even when the app window is closed. However, the feature set is limited compared to other apps.

Pros:

• Impressive user interface
• Works on both iOS and macOS
• Native macOS features
• Limited feature set for the price

Cons:

• It can be expensive
• Only supports 24 services

Platforms: macOS and iOS

Check Out IM+

3. Station – Open-Source and Feature-Rich

Station is a free and open-source all-in-one app that offers not only messaging apps but also a variety of productivity and business apps like GitHub, Todoist, and Evernote.

Station comes with advanced features like a “Do Not Disturb” mode to turn off notifications for a specific period of time. It also offers a “Focus” mode to disable notifications for individual apps. Station allows you to log in to multiple accounts on the same platform, although some users have reported issues with certain apps.

Pros:

• Open-source
• Advanced search
• Support for messaging and productivity apps
• Smart dock
• “Do Not Disturb” and “Focus” modes
• Install Chrome extensions
• Notification Center
• Quick Switch

Cons:

• Can't create multiple workspaces

Note: Ferdi is another open-source all-in-one app you can try if you encounter issues with Station.

Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Download Station (Free)

4. Rambox – For Enterprise Users

Rambox is designed for businesses and enterprise users. It is not free, and the code is not open-source. However, the polished user interface, clean design, and seamless functionality make it worth considering.

Rambox allows you to sign in using your Google or Facebook account and save all your added services in the cloud. This means you can access your entire workspace from any computer. Rambox supports multiple workspaces, making it unique among all-in-one apps.

Pros:

• Beautiful and functional user interface with themes
• Wide range of supported apps
• Multiple workspaces
• Built-in spell-checker
• To-do list and widgets in personal dashboard
• “Do Not Disturb” and notification management
• Lock apps with password or FIDO security
• Smart hibernation to save power and resources

Cons:

• Closed-source code
• Can be expensive for paid users

Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Download Rambox

5. Franz

Franz offers a business model similar to Rambox. It has a free plan with limitations and paid plans for professionals and business users.

Franz provides account sync across multiple devices when you create an account. It offers control over notifications and customization options. The free plan is ad-supported, but paid users get additional features like a spell-checker and workspaces. Enterprise users can add custom websites, manage roles and permissions, and enhance security with proxies and 2FA.

Pros:

• Beautiful and functional user interface
• Notification management
• Create workspaces
• Cloud sync
• Extension support
• Spell-checker
• Run multiple instances

Cons:

• Free plan is ad-supported
• Limited features for both free and paid accounts

Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Download Franz

Conclusion

For a free all-in-one app that handles both messaging and productivity apps, Rambox is a recommended choice. If data privacy and security are important to you, consider using Station or Ferdi, which are open-source and reliable. If budget is not an issue, Rambox's one-time license is worth considering for advanced users. IM+ is suitable for users who want messaging apps on both their desktop and smartphone, but it is limited to the Apple ecosystem and can be expensive. Franz is also a good option, but its limit on the number of services and ads may be a drawback.

Remember to choose an all-in-one messenger app that suits your specific needs and preferences.