You probably don't hear much virtually IRC (Internet Relay Chat) these days because social media has stolen all the glory. Even so, it's yet alive and boot with various IRC clients for Windows, Mac, Linux, and even Android.

Collaborative systems like Slack and Discord are the most popular modern options for chatting, just sometimes you just want access to patently text-based conversation servers. That's what IRC is all nigh. It lets you join several channels created based on diverse topics and interests.

Anyone can create a server and have a #games channel dedicated to chatting about games. No one controls IRC, so everyone is free to host or alter servers however they want. So how can you enter the Wild West of online communication? Yous're going to demand an IRC client, and nosotros're going to aid you discover the best i for your system.

IRC Clients for Windows

Not all IRC clients are created equal. Some are uniform with Windows systems only, while more than versatile ones piece of work with macOS and Linux.

one. mIRC

Price: Free for 30 days, after which you need a user license that costs $20.

 Key features:

  • SSL encryption
  • Multi-server connections
  • Friend lists
  • Customizable vocal messages and sounds
  • Message logging
  • Notification system
  • Organization tray alerts

mIRC is one of the oldest and most popular IRC clients for Windows. It's been going strong since 1995 past keeping upwardly-to-date with neat functionalities. It's also user-friendly and easily connects to a server by just entering its information.

Yous can use mIRC to conversation and share files on any IRC network in the world. You can message someone in individual or organize group conferences. mIRC comes with the following

2. WeeChat

Price: Free.

Key features:

  • Multi-platform support
  • Translated in multiple languages
  • Supports multiple servers
  • Scripts manager
  • Customizable bars
  • Spell checking
  • Smart filter
  • Friend list

WeChat is a free, open-source IRC customer that works on Windows as well as Linux and macOS. It's highly versatile and has detailed documentation for every feature and functionality.

WeeChat has plenty of premium features despite beingness a free app, including smart filtering options, a configurable interface, and multi-server back up. Even more impressive is that it supports 8 scripting languages, including Python, C, Ruby, Lua, Javascript, and PHP, thank you to its scripts director, which ways there'south also an active community that creates scripts for WeeChat.

3. Foo IRC

Price: Ane-time payment of $1.99 in the Microsoft Shop.

Key features:

  • Supports multiple servers
  • Message history
  • Auto-reconnect to server
  • IRCCloud back up
  • Scripting back up
  • Ignore list

Foo IRC is a lightweight app that has a minimalist interface. It can run in the background without you noticing it. Information technology has a simplistic design, information technology'due south easy to employ with color-coded text, and you can install various plugins that alter the IRC client's look.

You tin can save the servers you frequent and your favorite channels so that y'all automatically reconnect to them when you start your computer.

4. IceChat

Price: Free.

Key features:

  • Customizable GUI
  • Multi-server and channel back up
  • Built-in client editor
  • Emoticons
  • Quick connect option

IceChat is one of the most stable IRC clients that fully supports Windows 10 64-bit. It's customizable, piece of cake to use, even for those unfamiliar with IRC clients. All you lot need to practise is register a nickname, selection your IRC server, and yous're connected. IceChat also supports multiple servers, and then you and your friends can enjoy numerous channels.

Y'all can pick a dissimilar GUI theme or use the IceChat Editor to make your changes. Different other IRC clients, IceChat comes with integrated emoticons to add some spice.

5. Pidgin

Cost: Free.

Cardinal features:

  • Supports all major computer platforms
  • Multi-server support
  • Open-source evolution
  • Notification system
  • Supports chat services similar MSN
  • Integrated emoticons

Pidgin is a free, open-source IRC client with multi-platform support. You lot can download it for Windows, macOS, and Linux equally well.

Pidgin looks more modern than other IRC clients and offers all the functionalities y'all'd want. Yous can transfer files, receive notifications, and use emoticons. Connect to as many chat channels as yous'd like, including chat services like MSN Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger.

1 of the best things about Pidgin is the active global customs that contributes to fast problems fixes, characteristic updates, and plug-ins.

IRC Clients for macOS

Following is a list of Clients exclusively used for macOS.

ane. Textual

Cost: Free for 30 days, afterward which yous need a user license that costs $seven.99.

Key features:

  • Accost book
  • Car-consummate office for commands and names
  • Customizable styles
  • Notification system
  • Inline image embedding
  • Multiple-aqueduct support
  • Supports iCloud

Textual is a premium IRC client adult for macOS. It has a dedicated development team and receives continuous support and updates. You tin submit feature requests to the team.

The first matter you'll notice is the GUI that looks similar any modern communication application and supports several keyboard shortcuts for smooth navigation.

Textual supports all Mac versions. It'due south piece of cake to navigate, configure and customize. The client is well-documented, and yous tin can utilize several programming languages to create your addons. You can save your configurations and plug-in scripts in the customer's dedicated installation binder.

2. LimeChat

Price: Free

Key features:

  • SSL encryption
  • Conversation bulletin notifications and highlights
  • Pasted links get automatically clickable

If you desire a free, lightweight IRC customer for your Mac system, LimeChat is your choice. It's secured with SSL encryption and allows y'all to connect to multiple servers simultaneously.

LimeChat is not equally gorgeous as Textual, just the functioning and functionality are there. Information technology can ship conversation notifications on every channel yous're connected to; it supports keyboard shortcuts for easy navigation and can stay agile in the background.

three. XChat Aqua/Azure

Price: Free

Key features:

  • Supports basic scripting
  • Encrypted messaging system
  • Auto-complete functionality
  • Supports file transfers
  • Integrated spell-checker

XChat Aqua/Azure is a lightweight IRC customer developed for Mac systems. It can car-complete commands, nicknames, and it protects you from grammatical errors with an integrated spell-checking tool. Additionally, y'all tin transfer files to other users.

XChat is a free app that comes with at least i unique feature that other clients lack. Information technology allows you to encrypt your message, and the receiver can decrypt it with the correct passcode. That'due south pretty neat if you're concerned nearly security.

IRC Clients for Linux

The Linux customs is doing a great chore at continuously developing IRC and making security and functionality improvements. Whether yous prefer a graphical, panel, or spider web IRC customer, at that place's something for anybody.

Notation: WeeChat, mentioned in the Windows section to a higher place,  is 1 of the best IRC clients for Linux and Windows. Make sure to try it out!

1. Konversation

Cost: Complimentary

Key features:

  • On-screen notifications overlay
  • Control shortcuts
  • Automatic URL detection
  • Channel bookmarks
  • Supports DCC file transfer
  • Highly customizable with scripts

Konversation is the best option for people who focus on improving productivity. Several features set this IRC client for Linux apart from others, including the On-Screen Display and Quick Buttons tools.

The GUI looks plain, merely y'all don't have to keep the client window open to keep an eye out for private messages and chat mentions. The On-Screen Display feature generates an overlay bulletin when someone types your nickname. You can simply configure the customer, connect to a server, and then continue your business concern until someone messages you.

The Quick Buttons feature can turn any control into a Quick Button shortcut. Say 'goodbye' to repetitive typing. Add a URL catcher and file transfer support to the mix, and you have a robust IRC client for Linux.

2. Irssi

Cost: Free

Key features:

  • Customizable with modules, scripts, and themes
  • Autologging
  • Custom keybindings
  • Detects pasted text
  • Multi-platform support

Irssi is a command-line IRC client for Linux and other Unix systems. It doesn't have a GUI, and then use Irssi only if you enjoy working with terminal commands. Notwithstanding, you tin can still customize the customer's looks with various themes.

Irssi is piece of cake to fix up and customize. It'southward an open-source IRC client, and then there's an active community developing and creating scripts that expand its functionality. You can download hundreds of scripts from the Irssi Script Repository to get features that aren't available with the standard package.

By default, Irssi supports remote connection options, custom keybindings, logging, all the basic features you get with most IRC clients.

3. ERC

Price: Free

Fundamental features:

  • Multi-server and channel back up
  • Car-join channel feature
  • Converts URLs to clickable buttons
  • Highlighting
  • Timestamps
  • Notification system
  • Logs past actions

ERC is an IRC customer with the Emacs text editor, making it easy to modify and customize based on your requirements and way. If you're into programming, you will capeesh the ability to create your functions and commands.

By default, ERC comes with all the functions an IRC customer should accept. It supports multiple channels, i-on-1 private messaging, keyword and nickname highlighting, and notifications. ERC is the best choice if you lot desire a light IRC customer for your Emacs or XEmacs editor.

Bonus: IRC Client for Android

IRC isn't just for computer geeks. If you want to chat on the become, you tin grab an IRC mobile client awarding for your Android smartphone or tablet.

IRCCloud

Price: Gratuitous

Cardinal features:

  • Saves your server connexion without information access
  • Chat history synced to the cloud
  • File sharing
  • Notification arrangement

IRCCloud is a basic IRC client for Android that lets you connect to your favorite IRC channels. IRCCloud stays online even when you accept an unstable connection. The client will keep running, and it will automatically reconnect to the channel y'all were using. Don't worry about losing your chat history either because information technology syncs to the cloud.

Despite being an Android IRC client, IRCCloud works like most estimator IRC clients. You can share and receive files, get notifications when someone mentions your nickname, and customize it with scripts.

What's your favorite IRC client? Let usa know in the comments!