HexChat Alternatives

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, mIRC and WeeChat.

More about HexChat

HexChat alternatives page was last updated Jun 13, 2026

IrisChat
1 like
IrisChat is a lightweight, open-source IRC client for Android with a clean modern interface, local database encryption, and end-to-end encrypted DMs via the Signal Protocol.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source (MIT)
Origin
Türkiye
Platforms
Android
Is IrisChat a good alternative to HexChat?
CGI:IRC
5 likes
CGI:IRC is a Perl/CGI program that lets you access IRC from a web browser, it is designed to be flexible and has many uses such as an IRC gateway for an IRC network, a chat-room for a website or to access IRC when stuck behind a restrictive firewall.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application type
IRC Client
Platforms
Linux
Online
BSD
Self-Hosted
Perl
Is CGI:IRC a good alternative to HexChat?
senpai
2 likes
A modern terminal IRC client.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source (ISC)
Application type
IRC Client
Platforms
Mac
Linux
Is senpai a good alternative to HexChat?
wsIRC
3 likes
wsIrc - the global community communicator, goal is to offer a free web IRC client which should be at the end as good as old standalone application, but yet without requiring any installation, without any update, without any virus risk, and maybe we will offer yet a few...
Cost / License
Free Personal
Proprietary
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Is wsIRC a good alternative to HexChat?
HoloIRC
1 like
HoloIRC is an open source IRC client for Android 4.0 and up. It is designed to be as simple to use as possible while being extremely small in size and fairly light in resources. It works with IRC bouncers as well as regular servers.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source (GPL-3.0)
Application type
IRC Client
Alerts
Discontinued
Platforms
Android
Android Tablet
Is HoloIRC a good alternative to HexChat?
Visual IRC 2
Like
Visual IRC (ViRC) is an open source Internet Relay Chat client for the Windows operating system.
Cost / License
Free
Proprietary
Application type
IRC Client
Platforms
Windows
+2
Is Visual IRC 2 a good alternative to HexChat?
G
G
Gnotty
4 likes
Gnotty ties the knot between the web and IRC. It is designed to assist open source projects that host an IRC channel for collaboration on their project. Gnotty is BSD licensed.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application type
IRC Client
Origin
Australia
Alerts
Discontinued
Platforms
Online
Self-Hosted
Python
G
Is Gnotty a good alternative to HexChat?
N
N
nirc
1 like
A simple web browser IRC client written in Node.js.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application type
IRC Client
Alerts
Discontinued
Platforms
Linux
Online
Self-Hosted
Git
Node.JS
npm
N
Is nirc a good alternative to HexChat?
Tiny Tiny IRC
5 likes
Tiny Tiny IRC is an open source AJAX-powered IRC client. The idea behind this being that you don't need either client software or even a stable network connection to stay connected to IRC, just keep the site opened to see new messages.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application type
IRC Client
Alerts
Discontinued
Platforms
Android
Android Tablet
Is Tiny Tiny IRC a good alternative to HexChat?
Maid-IRC
6 likes
A modern web IRC client. Built on Node.js.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application type
IRC Client
Alerts
Discontinued
Platforms
Online
Self-Hosted
Node.JS
Is Maid-IRC a good alternative to HexChat?
W
W
WebIRC
5 likes
WebIRC runs as a server and is always connected to your favorite IRC networks. Seamlessly open the same session from home, work, and your mobile devices to continue exactly where you left off.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application type
IRC Client
Platforms
Self-Hosted
W
Is WebIRC a good alternative to HexChat?
leafChat
5 likes
leafChat is an IRC client for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

Chat with your friends using popular IRC networks. leafChat has a friendly, clean interface that doesn't get in the way of your conversations. Connect to multiple servers at once on the same screen, so that it'.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application types
IRC Client
Instant Messenger
Alerts
Discontinued
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Is leafChat a good alternative to HexChat?