HexChat AlternativesIRC Clients & Instant Messengers like HexChat

HexChat is described as 'IRC client based on XChat for Linux , but unlike XChat it’s completely free for both Windows and Unix-like systems' and is a very popular IRC Client in the social & communications category. There are more than 50 alternatives to HexChat for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, Self-Hosted and Web-based apps. The best HexChat alternative is Pidgin, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like HexChat are SeaMonkey, Adium, WeeChat and mIRC.

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Alternatives list

  1. Pidgin icon

    Pidgin

     1529 likes
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    Pidgin is a chat program which lets you log into accounts on multiple chat networks simultaneously. This means that you can be chatting with friends on XMPP and sitting in an IRC channel at the same time.

    118 Pidgin alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    Pidgin screenshot 1
     
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    3
    Comments about Pidgin as an Alternative to HexChat
    AntumDeluge
    Positive
    3

    It has a fully featured IRC client functionality.

    artyhedgehog
    Negative
    1

    Pidgin is more for IM protocols in general like XMPP, ICQ etc., while HexChat is for IRC chat.

    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Pidgin has IRC features, but it is a very poor implementation due to the entire program being focused on Instant Messaging

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    HexChat Icon
    Pidgin icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Pidgin is a legitimate HexChat alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Pidgin is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to HexChat.

    • Pidgin is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to HexChat.

    • Pidgin is Free and Open SourceHexChat is also Free and Open Source
  2. SeaMonkey icon

    SeaMonkey

     241 likes
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    Web-browser, advanced e-mail, newsgroup and feed client, IRC chat, and HTML editing in one application. Itis built on the open source Mozilla Gecko engine, the same code which underlies Thunderbird and is the base for the Firefox browser.

    185 SeaMonkey alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    SeaMonkey screenshot 1
     
  4. Adium icon

    Adium

     338 likes
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    Adium is a free and open source instant messaging application for Mac OS X, written using Mac OS Xs Cocoa API, released under the GNU GPL and developed by the Adium team. Based on the libpurple protocol library, Adium can connect you to any number of messaging accounts on any...

    68 Adium alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Adium screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about Adium as an Alternative to HexChat
    twisted_code
    Negative
    2

    Hexchat is an IRC client, this is not and is useless to anyone trying to connect to an IRC server (i.e., an overwhelming majority of HexChat users)... the matching algorithm seems to be oblivious to this detail.

    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Is an instant messenger, not an IRC client

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    HexChat Icon
    Adium icon
    • Adium is Free and Open SourceHexChat is also Free and Open Source
    • Adium is CustomizableHexChat is not according to our users
  5. WeeChat icon

    WeeChat

     38 likes
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    WeeChat is a free chat client, fast and light, designed for many operating systems. It is highly customizable and extensible with scripts.

    54 WeeChat alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • Xfce
    WeeChat screenshot 1
     
  6. mIRC icon

    mIRC

     97 likes
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    mIRC is a popular Internet Relay Chat client used by individuals and organizations to communicate, share, play and work with each other on IRC networks around the world.

    60 mIRC alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Main Window
     
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    7

    • Most users think mIRC is a great HexChat alternative.

    • mIRC is the most popular commercial alternative to HexChat.

    • mIRC is Paid and ProprietaryHexChat is Free and Open Source
  7. Quassel IRC icon

    Quassel IRC

     51 likes
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    Quassel IRC is a modern, cross-platform, distributed IRC client based on the Qt5 framework. Distributed means that one (or multiple) client(s) can attach to and detach from a central core that stays permanently online -- much like the popular combination of screen and a...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Quassel IRC screenshot 1
     
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    1
    6
    Comments about Quassel IRC as an Alternative to HexChat
    AntumDeluge
    Positive
    1

    It is a full IRC client, just like HexChat.

    HexChat Icon
    Quassel IRC icon

    • Most users think Quassel IRC is a great HexChat alternative.

    • Quassel IRC is Free and Open SourceHexChat is also Free and Open Source
  9. XChat for Linux icon

    XChat for Linux

     103 likes
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    XChat is an IRC chat program for both Linux and Windows. It allows you to join multiple IRC channels (chat rooms) at the same time, talk publicly, private one-on-one conversations etc. Even file transfers are possible.

    59 XChat for Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Main UI
     
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    1
    Comments about XChat for Linux as an Alternative to HexChat
    AntumDeluge
    Positive
    -1

    HexChat is a fork of XChat. They are both fully featured IRC clients.

    HexChat Icon
    XChat for Linux icon

    • Most users think XChat for Linux is a great HexChat alternative.

    • XChat for Linux is Free and Open SourceHexChat is also Free and Open Source
  10. irssi icon

    irssi

     86 likes
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    Irssi is a terminal based IRC client for UNIX systems. It also supports SILC and ICB protocols via plugins.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Cygwin
    irssi screenshot 1
     
  11. AdiIRC icon

    AdiIRC

     30 likes
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    c#/csharp IRC CLient. AdiIRC stores all its settings in text files, this way you can grab the adiirc folder and put in on a usb device or external harddrive. Take all your settings and servers with you everywhere!

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Wine
    Default theme 1.9.0
     
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    1
    Comments about AdiIRC as an Alternative to HexChat
    Guest
    Positive
    -1

    Hexchat crashes and have some bugs. also AdiIRC has a portable version

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    HexChat Icon
    AdiIRC icon
    • AdiIRC is Free and ProprietaryHexChat is Free and Open Source
  12. KVIrc icon

    KVIrc

     47 likes
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    Free open-source IRC client offering cross-platform support, Qt interface, rich scripting, customizable themes, Unicode, SSL encryption, logging, multi-server connectivity, DCC file transfers, plugin system, event automation, proxy and IPv6 compatibility, and localization.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    KVIrc screenshot 1
     
  13. Kiwi IRC icon

    Kiwi IRC

     28 likes
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    A hand-crafted IRC client that you can enjoy. Designed to be used easily and freely. More friendly than other webirc clients giving the general public an easy option to connect to any IRC network.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    Kiwi IRC screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Kiwi IRC as an Alternative to HexChat
    badon
    Positive
    0

    KiwiIRC is a good alternative to HexChat because it's browser-based, easy to use, and ready to go. I use it often, and I put in on my websites for other people to have easy access to IRC, even if they're totally new to IRC. Basically, HexChat is for power users, and KiwiIRC is perfect for beginners while still being good enough to please the power users. That's a rare combination.

    HexChat Icon
    Kiwi IRC icon

    • Kiwi IRC is the most popular Web-based & Self-Hosted alternative to HexChat.

    • Kiwi IRC is Free and Open SourceHexChat is also Free and Open Source
  14. Smuxi icon

    Smuxi

     31 likes
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    Smuxi is an irssi-inspired, flexible, user-friendly and cross-platform IRC client for sophisticated users, targeting the GNOME desktop.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Smuxi 0.7 on Linux Showing Quick Connect Dialog
     
12 of 65 HexChat alternatives