A: Retro Instant Messenger is a re-creation of the classic 1997-style chat client we all remember.

A: Two people showing clear intention to chat is the ultimate nostalgic experience. We all recall the thrill when a friend appeared online after a week away, and the sadness when they disappeared again. Retro Instant Messenger brings back that excitement, the status updates, sharing photos, and even blocking that one person who kept trying to break up your friend group (You're a d*%k, Steven. I never forgot...). Reclaim your happy place and spark genuine conversations again with your friends who are excited to chat with you (Except Steven, of course. He's not welcomed here.).

A: Here’s what you can do right now (with more features coming soon):

• Add buddies
• Create custom buddy lists
• One-on-one text chat
• Away mode (coming soon)
• Away messages (coming soon, with all the variables you loved, %screenname%!)
• Image & file sharing (coming soon)

A: Nope! It’s completely free right now, and it will stay that way as long as possible. If usage skyrockets, I’ll explore options to cover costs to keep the service running smoothly.

A: Absolutely. All messages are transmitted securely to keep your chats private.

A: Follow me on Bluesky and drop me a message, bugs, ideas, or just to say hi!