So Long, Meebo: Virtual Reference & Chat Options for Libraries
Likes 1
Compare LibChat vs LibraryH3lp vs Trillian vs Zoho vs Chatango
Compare LibChat vs LibraryH3lp vs Trillian vs Zoho vs Chatango
Link | LibChat | LibraryH3lp | Trillian | Zoho | Chatango |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Like | Likes 0 | Likes 0 | Likes 0 | Likes 0 | Likes 0 |
| Website | springshare.com/... | libraryh3lp.com | trillian.im | zoho.com/... | chatango.com |
| Last update | Aug. 2nd 2012 6:27:38 PM | Aug. 2nd 2012 6:27:38 PM | Jun. 18th 2013 8:29:34 PM | Mar. 31st 2023 5:41:33 AM | Dec. 19th 2012 4:00:08 PM |
| Pricing | |||||
| Price | $499 annually | from $180 annually, depends on institution size; SMS begins at $50
per 1000 msgs libraryh3lp.com/... Note: My Customer Cloud version of this product identical in every respect except pricing; .20 per chat*; 0.03 per SMS | Free; $12 annually for Pro version | Free | Free |
| Free trial period | Yes | Yes 90 days | No N/A | No N/A | No N/A |
| Features | |||||
| Cross-platform | All major browsers | All major browsers | All major browsers; client works on Windows and Mac | All major browsers | All major browsers |
| Networks supported | None: not based on Jabber protocol | AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, Google Talk, ICQ, Facebook, XMPP/Jabber | AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, Facebook, Twitter, Google Talk, ICQ, Jabber/XMPP, Windows Live, IRC, Bonjour | Google, Facebook, Yahoo, MSN, AIM, ICQ, MySpace, Jabber | None |
| Concurrent operators | 2 | Unlimited | Multiple connections to same account permitted | 1 | 1 per room; can create unlimited rooms |
| Flash-based | No | No | - web version only | - Sound options are flash-based | Yes |
| Chat transcripts | Yes | Yes can be toggled on/off | Yes | Yes can be purged | Yes |
| LibAnswers/Guides integration | Yes | Yes Works with Libguides; some LibAnswers integration possible. http://docs.libraryh3lp.com/libguides.html | No | Yes Can add widget to LibGuides | No |
| SMS | Yes | Yes | - Workaround using AIM hack | - Workaround using Google Voice & GVMax or AIM hack | No |
| Twitter integration | Yes | - In development | Yes | No | No |
| Embeddable | Yes Widget | Yes Widget (includes "float over" and "pop out" options) | No | Yes Widget - similar to meebo | Yes |
| Mobile-friendly widget | Yes | Yes | Yes Mobile app | Yes | - Flash rules out iOS |
| Customizable appearance | Yes | Yes | - skins available for Windows client | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple queues | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Transfer chats | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Stats/report generation | Yes Extensive analytical tools. http://www.springshare.com/libanswers/features.html | Yes Extensive reporting tools available; stats also available via API. | No | No | No |
| Custom APIs | No | Yes APIs and "hackable code" | No Pro version can be extended by plugins | No | No |
| Local client available | No | Yes through Pidgin, Adium, Psi, any XMPP/Jabber client, including mobile clients. | Yes | Yes through Pidgin or Trillian or Gajim | No |
| File attachment | No | Yes 20 meg max | Yes | - can only send to registered Zoho users | No |
| Ads | No | No | Yes in free version; No ads in Pro | No | Yes in user profiles |
| Audio/video | No | No | - Audio only | Yes | - uses Adobe Flash |
| Customizable notifications | Yes | Yes Standard away message or hide widget when offline | Yes | - Simple status updates only; no pop-up notifications | - Yes, with free MessageCatcher download (Windows only) |
| Privacy features | Patron data securely stored in Springshare database; purge on request; SMS numbers never displayed; "We will never sell, distribute, or misuse patron information in any way" | Library can purge its own data independently; anonymize identifying information; SSL encryption; no ads; no data mining | 128-bit Blowfish encryption built-in | SSL; chat history can be purged | "We do not read private one-on-one conversations that occur in Chatango...We do store your IPs, and use cookies to identify users, just like every other site in the world. When you send a message in a group chat, your IP address is visible to the chat owner and to the chat moderators, that the chat owner creates. We don't store your passwords, just their HMAC's. We do not store any credit card numbers when you support Chatango. We do not sell your email addresses to spammers or marketing agencies. And there is no spyware and no adware in MessageCatcher." |
| Customer support | Yes | Yes | - Support via email for Pro customers | Yes | No |
User reviews and comments