The present disclosure discloses an Instant Messaging (IM) terminal and a method for displaying a session message in real time. The method includes: obtaining user inputted literal contents and a font identifier of a user selected personalized font; invoking a personalized font configuration file corresponding to the font identifier according to the font identifier; synthesizing the personalized font configuration file and the literal contents into a session message and displaying the session message in real time. By implementing the present disclosure, when plotting characters, the IM terminal in real time is able to statically synthesize a personalized font according to literal contents of a message and a personalized font configuration file corresponding to a font identifier, which greatly satisfies the user requirements of inputting and displaying the personalized font in real time.