HexChat
HexChat is a fork of XChat with bug fixes and new features.
What is HexChat?
HexChat is an IRC client based on 
XChat for Linux , but unlike XChat it’s completely free for both Windows and Unix-like systems.
HexChat was originally called XChat-WDK which in turn was a successor of freakschat.
Features
Easy to use and customizable interface Cross-platform on Windows, OS X, and Unix-like OSes Highly scriptable with Python and Perl Translated in multiple languages Fully open source and actively developed Multi-network with auto-connect, join, and identify Spellcheck, Proxies, SASL, DCC support and more
HexChat Screenshots
HexChat information
- LicensingOpen Source (GPL-2.0) and Free product.
- Written in
- RatingAverage rating of 3.7
- Alternatives64 alternatives listed
Supported Languages
- English
GitHub repository
- 2,775 Stars
- 506 Forks
- 756 Open Issues
- Updated
Comments and Reviews
Tags
- IRC Client
- Chat Clients
- xchat
- Xfce
Category
Social & CommunicationsLists containing HexChat
Essential Open Source Softwares • Open/Free soft must have • Free tools (Software that can help you mostly in any field) • Social ToolsRecent user activities on HexChat
bonepyramid thinks Qwebirc is an alternative to HexChat
bonepyramid thinks HydraIRC is an alternative to HexChat
bonepyramid Upvoted a comment on HexChatI use it in Linux Mint and I haven't been disappointed by it. It has options like word highlighting, user name highlighting etc. The overall look is also good. It can also be minimized to tray. 
Not really much to say. Best free mIRC alternative I have found since W7. It looks nice and simple and downloads can be automated (for things I want to download through it).
I do not really chat on mIRC anymore, just visit it to download things, so at least for that, it is good enough.
Pidgin's notifications don't work all the time.
The biggest disappointment is that it cannot do tiled or split windows like in mIRC or kvirc. It is a very signficant drawback for people accustomed to those features to the point that I (along with many others) wont adopt HexChat. Other than that, it is a decent client.
Best fully open source IRC client software
Because is the best alternative to chatzilla
I use it in Linux Mint and I haven't been disappointed by it. It has options like word highlighting, user name highlighting etc. The overall look is also good. It can also be minimized to tray.
I've used xchat2, the silverex build, the "official" build.. this is the best build for windows so far. But, it still has TONS of bugs (current git count is around 200) and the devs can barely keep up with "urgent security updates" much less making config files consistently read and write well.
The scripting APIs are good. There's a big library of scripts out there, also good. There's spellcheck.
But it's soooo buggy. Internet connection having issues? Crashes. SSL problems? Crashes. (it still doesn't do good SSL!) connected to a bouncer? Crashes.
It's not perfect. It's okay.