ICQ New is a free, cross-platform chat service with a multitude of interesting features that differentiate it from its most direct competitors, such as WhatsApp, Signal or Telegtam. Despite its long history (it has been around since the late 90s), ICQ has been constantly updated and is still one of the most complete and recommendable messaging services available today.

Key Features

Cross-platform: unlike WhatsApp, whose desktop version requires you to have the app installed on your mobile, the different versions of ICQ work independently, so it is possible to sign up and start using it directly from your computer (making it the ideal alternative for those who still miss the classic MSN Messenger).
Intelligent responses: ICQ is able to analyze messages within a chat to offer you suggestions and quick responses tailored to the context of the conversation, perfect for when you don't feel like typing.
Speech recognition: Have you been sent an audio note and can't hear it right away? ICQ includes an automatic transcription feature so you can convert it into a text message instantly.
Full synchronization: your conversations are accessible from any device where you log in to your account, with no need for backups.