KidChatters
KidChatters is no-nonsense chat service for kids 6 to 12 years old providing a safe, clean, and friendly chat environment. Editors Note: KidChatters has also added a new service for young teens ages 12 to 14 utilizing their same safe environment technology.

Kidzworld
Kidzworld is a super online entertainment portal for kids 9 to 14 that believes in placing safety first. Parents can be confident that Kidzworld is an super safe online global community providing only positive experiences. The sites free kids chat service is one of the best we've come across to date. It is monitored full time with a compassionate...diligent and caring staff. Chat rules are stated clearly and accomplish their intention of keeping kids safe without being over bearing to the point of stifling creativity. There are seven themed chat rooms for kids to choose from. The rooms are open from 3:00pm to 10pm est. Themes examples included Brain Candy, The Lab, Book Shelf and more. We highly recommend this site to parents for their kids 9 to 14 who want to chat in a safe rewarding environment. Editors Note: Look for the "Chat" link on left menu.

Google Talk
This free service is Google's version of instant communications. The service, (currently in Beta release) uses innovative technologies to allow users to communicate in an easy to use, efficient and effective environment. Google Talk is fast, has an intuitive interface and is fun to use. The service comes in two flavors - Google Talk Gadget: which requires no software (it runs from your Google Homepage or *Gmail - web based email account). Google Talk Gadget features include: The ability to add talk to your own webpage, preview YouTube videos, preview Picasa Web Albums (Picasa is Google's imaging client platform), and archive your chats in *Gmail. The second Google Talk flavor is the Google Talk Client: which requires a small software download and runs on your local computer. Google Talk Client features include: the ability to Make free PC-to-PC voice calls, send and receive voicemail, transfer unlimited files and folders, receive chat and email notifications and archive your chats in *Gmail. Editors note: *You must be invited by a current Gmail account holder to open a new account yourself.

ChristianTeens.net
Here's a dynamite chat site for Christian teens. Christianteens.net has everything from Bible to music chats to a great YouthSearch service. (a search engine devoted to youth).

X-Block
X-Block is a free fully monitored, safe chat service for students created by isafe.org. The service is geared to students 18 and under from around the world who want to make a difference on the Internet regarding safety. X-Block free chat is only for students younger than 18 and is monitored by isafe.org adults called "Stats" and by trained students called "Junior Stats". The service offers many chat room activities and an optional mentoring program. With well over 1 million unique visitors a month, kids are sure to find this site a safe and rewarding online chat experience. Editors note: The X-Block chat service has been temporally closed. We are keeping their link alive in the hope they will resume the service soon. All other features on the site are still funtional.

Yahoo! Messenger Chat
The directory of directories has changed it's old chat format and now all chatting is done thru Yahoo! Messenger. Yahoo! Messenger is an instant messaging program like ICQ and AIM. With News, Sports, and Stocks tabs. The service now also supports voice chat. Java and Wireless versions are also available. Unlike the old Java based chat service, you must download Yahoo's software to your computer to use Messenger chat.
Download Yahoo! Messenger Chat. For Win: 9.x, NT4, ME, 2000 and XP | Mac | Unix | Mobile Web | Download size: 874 KB.

Christian Chat.com
Here's an excellent moderated Christian chat service with many room categories to choose from including Christian Dads, Moms, Teens, Home School, Kids, Bible Talk, Singles and more. The service also offers free voice chat too.

A Singles Christian Network - Free Chat
A Singles Christian Network offers free moderated chat rooms for Christian singles. It was founded in 1991, and today is one of the largest computerized introductory services designed exclusively for Christians. Since 1991, they have received countless letters telling of new romances, engagements and marriages. Chat rooms are divided into two sections by age which are 18 to 35 and 35+. Editors Note: Service requires a browser add-on called Jchat.

TeenSpot
TeenSpot was founded over seven years ago as a small and simple chat site with the aim of providing a fun and free community for all teenagers. Since then, the site has expanded its features and grown into one of the premiere entertainment and community hangouts for teenagers online. TeenSpot offers 26 different chat rooms with headings that include everything from Christian to Singles to African American. Every chat room is moderated and the site employs common sense rules governing age appropriate content and etiquette. Although the site does have rules...they are not suffocating which allows teens the freedom to be themselves. Editors Note: You must have Macromedia Flash 7 (or higher) installed on your computer in order to be able to access their chat rooms. The site offers a link to download it for free in their FAQ section.

Christian Chat Rooms
CCR serves up a large list of Christian specific chat rooms, games and shopping resources.

Free Chat Directory Services

Chatmag
There is no way we could ever list all of the chat services (rooms) available on the Internet. Our mission has always been to try and give you a short list of some of the best chat services (in our humble opinion) available to you. However, if you are looking for a more comprehensive (in sheer volume that is) list of chat rooms...you may want to check out the Chatmag.com site. Chatmag is an Internet directory and assistance site devoted to Internet chat. The sites chat directory is divided into categories that range from Arts to Zoology and just about everything in between. It currently lists over 18,000 individual chat rooms in 250+ topic areas. Chatmag also has an excellent help manual for those unfamiliar with Internet chat programs. Plus, an extensive Safety section with useful information on online safety tips for children and adults, Internet scam alerts, safety software, and more. Chatmag's directory listings are a little lean on descriptions...so use common sense when clicking on their links. However, for shear volume of chat room listings...the site can't be beat!

Free Instant Messaging Software

AOL Instant Messenger
Get AOL latest and greatest instant messenger software that now includes tons of new features. This is still the most popular instant message chat system on the Net. New features include: email, IM, text, voice and video at the click of a button. Now you can look your buddies in the eye, hear their voices or take them with you everywhere you go. AOL AIM has also incorporated support for mobile devices including a client for cell phone text messaging.
Download AOL IM. For Win: 9.x, ME, 2000, XP and Mobile Web | Download size: 2.3 MB. Editors note: AOL now offers an instant messenger that is completely Web based (e.g., no need to download any software - see site for details).

Free Chat Monitoring Utilities and Software

KidLogger
If you're looking for a free, small but powerful utility to monitor your young childs online activity, then KidLogger should definitely be of interest to you. KidLogger is a simple, free key-logger (keystroke logger) program. It is designed for parents and guardians to keep a watchful eye on kids activity on the computer. The program will not only monitor online activity like websites visited and chat room conversations, it will also keep users apprised of what computer programs were started, documents opened, pictures and movies viewed and more. KidLogger is simple to setup and use and runs in the background, totally invisible until you want to see it's collection of data.
Download KidLogger. For Win: 2000, 2003, NT and XP | File size: 900 KB.

Naomi- Free Internet Filtering Software
Naomi is a totally free, powerful, advanced internet filtering program that is easy to setup and use. The program is intended for families, and kids in particular. Naomi incorporates a real time feature set that is able to constantly monitor all internet connections, protecting children from inappropriate online material. It does this by examining all data being transmitted and received through any internet application including chat programs, web browsers, news readers and more. Naomi does not require any user configuration or special computer skills to install and run so it's perfect for first time (new) users.
Download Naomi. For Win: 2000, NT and XP | File size: 1.3 MB.

Crawler Parental Control
Crawler Parental Control is a 100% freeware application that lets parents decide where their children can go on the Internet and what they can see. The program offers a powerful set of filtering options that block objectionable content, credit card use, x-rated chat and much more. CPC is totally configurable and can be setup for multiple users so older kids and adults can access content not appropriate for toddlers etc.. The program has many other features available like e-mail notification (lets you know at work if your kids are trying to access objectionable content), time limits (lets you set a specific time limit for your kids to be online) and much more.
Download Crawler Parental Control. For Win: 2000 and XP | File size: 2.15 MB.

ChitChat
ChitChat! is a freeware text-based chat program for Windows 95 or NT that allows multiple users to converse in real time as long as both parties have the software installed. It is compatible with the standard UNIX talk protocol, and the Ytalk program on the UNIX platforms. ChitChat! is free to all academic and noncommercial home users.
Download ChitChat. For Win: 9x and NT | File size: 346 KB.