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, Mac, Windows, Web-based and BSD 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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HexChat alternatives are mainly IRC Clients but may also be Instant Messengers or Web Browsers.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of HexChat.
HexChat iconHexChat
  215
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HexChat is an IRC client based on XChat for Linux , but unlike XChat it’s completely free for both Windows and Unix-like systems.

More about HexChat
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HexChat alternatives page was last updated Feb 19, 2024
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  1. Pidgin icon
    Pidgin icon

    Pidgin

     1519 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.

    123 Pidgin alternatives
    Pidgin screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    Pidgin chat window
    Contact window
    +4
    For accounts on multiple chat networks

    Top Pidgin Features

    1.  Support for Multiple protocols
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Supports XMPP
    4.  Multiple Account support
    5.  IRC
    6.  Portable
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  VoiP Calls
    10.  Multiple languages
    11.  Xmpp
    12.  Multiple chat protocols
    Pidgin iconHexChat Icon

    Pidgin VS HexChat

    Is Pidgin a good alternative to HexChat?
     
    Comments about Pidgin as an Alternative to HexChat
     
    artyhedgehog

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

    Negative comment •Mar 2, 2017
    1
    AntumDeluge

    It has a fully featured IRC client functionality.

    Positive comment •Dec 11, 2017
    3
    Guest

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

    Negative comment •Oct 7, 2020
    1
    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 icon

    SeaMonkey

     235 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.

    180 SeaMonkey alternatives
    SeaMonkey screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    SeaMonkey screenshot 1
    SeaMonkey screenshot 2
    +3
    SeaMonkey screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Integrated Email Client
    2.  Built-in RSS reader
    3.  Add-ons
    4.  Built-in Download Manager
    5.  WYSIWYG Support
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Portable
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Support for Firefox extensions
    10.  Modular System
    SeaMonkey iconHexChat Icon

    SeaMonkey VS HexChat

    Is SeaMonkey a good alternative to HexChat?
     
  4. Adium icon
    Adium icon

    Adium

     337 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...

    69 Adium alternatives
    Adium screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Adium screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Support for Multiple protocols
    2.  Xmpp
    3.  Supports XMPP
    4.  Multiple languages
    5.  Tabbed interface
    6.  Messages
    7.  OTR
    Discontinued

    The last update is from March 2021.

    Adium iconHexChat Icon

    Adium VS HexChat

    Is Adium a good alternative to HexChat?
     
    Comments about Adium as an Alternative to HexChat
     
    twisted_code

    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.

    Negative comment •Mar 2, 2022
    2
    Guest

    Is an instant messenger, not an IRC client

    Negative comment •Oct 7, 2020
    1
    HexChat Icon
    Adium icon
    • Adium is Free and Open SourceHexChat is also Free and Open Source
  5. WeeChat icon
    WeeChat icon

    WeeChat

     35 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.

    55 WeeChat alternatives
    WeeChat screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • Xfce
    WeeChat screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  IRC
    4.  Modular System
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Decentralized
    9.  Support for @mentions
    10.  Portable
    11.  Multiple Account support
    12.  Support for Multiple protocols
    WeeChat iconHexChat Icon

    WeeChat VS HexChat

    Is WeeChat a good alternative to HexChat?
     
  6. mIRC icon
    mIRC icon

    mIRC

     93 likes
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    mIRC is a popular Internet Relay Chat client used by millions of people, and thousands of organizations, to communicate, share, play and work with each other on IRC networks around the world. Serving the Internet community for over a decade, mIRC has evolved into a powerful...

    63 mIRC alternatives
    Main Window

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    mIRC Features

    1.  IRC
    2.  Colored Text
    Options
    mIRC iconHexChat Icon

    mIRC VS HexChat

    Is mIRC a good alternative to HexChat?
     

    • 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. XChat for Linux icon
    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.

    62 XChat for Linux alternatives
    Main UI

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux

    XChat for Linux Features

    1.  IRC
    Discontinued

    The program is no longer updated. Last version, 2.8.8, released in May 2010, can be still downloaded from the official website.

    XChat for Linux iconHexChat Icon

    XChat for Linux VS HexChat

    Is XChat for Linux a good alternative to HexChat?
     
    Comments about XChat for Linux as an Alternative to HexChat
     
    AntumDeluge

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

    Positive comment •Mar 8, 2018
    -1
    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
  9. Quassel IRC icon
    Quassel IRC icon

    Quassel IRC

     49 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...

    58 Quassel IRC alternatives
    Quassel IRC screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Quassel IRC Features

    1.  QT Based
    2.  Standalone
    3.  IRC
    Quassel IRC screenshot 1
    Quassel IRC iconHexChat Icon

    Quassel IRC VS HexChat

    Is Quassel IRC a good alternative to HexChat?
     
    Comments about Quassel IRC as an Alternative to HexChat
     
    AntumDeluge

    It is a full IRC client, just like HexChat.

    Positive comment •Dec 11, 2017
    1
    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
  10. irssi icon
    irssi icon

    irssi

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

    62 irssi alternatives
    irssi screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Cygwin
    irssi screenshot 1
    irssi screenshot 2
    irssi iconHexChat Icon

    irssi VS HexChat

    Is irssi a good alternative to HexChat?
     
  11. AdiIRC icon
    AdiIRC icon

    AdiIRC

     29 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!

    46 AdiIRC alternatives
    Default theme 1.9.0

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Wine

    AdiIRC Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  IRC
    Darker theme
    Another dark theme
    +3
    AdiIRC screenshot 3
    AdiIRC iconHexChat Icon

    AdiIRC VS HexChat

    Is AdiIRC a good alternative to HexChat?
     
    Comments about AdiIRC as an Alternative to HexChat
     
    Guest

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

    Positive comment •Dec 31, 2016
    -1
    HexChat Icon
    AdiIRC icon
    • AdiIRC is Free and ProprietaryHexChat is Free and Open Source
  12. KVIrc icon
    KVIrc icon

    KVIrc

     45 likes
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    KVIrc is a free portable IRC client based on the excellent Qt GUI toolkit. KVirc is being written by Szymon Stefanek and the KVIrc Development Team with the contribution of many IRC addicted developers around the world.

    55 KVIrc alternatives
    KVIrc screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    KVIrc screenshot 1

    KVIrc Features

    1.  Logging
    2.  IRC
    3.  Avatar
    4.  Portable
    5.  KDE
    6.  Custom notifications
    7.  Themes
    8.  Support for IPv6
    KVIrc iconHexChat Icon

    KVIrc VS HexChat

    Is KVIrc a good alternative to HexChat?
     
  13. Smuxi icon
    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.

    48 Smuxi alternatives
    Smuxi 0.7 on Linux Showing Quick Connect Dialog

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Smuxi Features

    1.  IRC
    2.  Gtk
    3.  Xmpp
    Smuxi 0.7 on Linux Showing Twitter
    Smuxi 0.7 on Linux Showing User Menu
    +2
    Smuxi 0.6.4.1 on Windows 7
    Smuxi iconHexChat Icon

    Smuxi VS HexChat

    Is Smuxi a good alternative to HexChat?
     
  14. Konversation icon
    Konversation icon

    Konversation

     27 likes
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    Konversation is an IRC client which gives you speedy access to Freenode network's channels, where you will find support for most distributions.

    58 Konversation alternatives
    Konversation screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Haiku

    Konversation Features

    1.  IRC
    2.  KDE
    Konversation iconHexChat Icon

    Konversation VS HexChat

    Is Konversation a good alternative to HexChat?
     
12 of 67 HexChat alternatives