mIRC Alternatives for Linux

mIRC is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is Discord, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to mIRC and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to mIRC are Pidgin, HexChat, irssi and WeeChat.

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Alternatives list

  1. Discord icon

    Discord

     1132 likes

    An integrated platform for text and voice communications. Offers tailored channels for different topics, customizable moderation tools, low latency for fluency, and managed user roles for optimal community facilitation.

    229 Discord alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Epic Games Store
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
    Desktop UI
     
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    2
    Discord vs mIRC Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Discord can't connect to IRC so the use cases are different

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    discord does not have the option to access irc

    • Discord is Freemium and ProprietarymIRC is Paid and Proprietary
  2. Pidgin icon

    Pidgin

     1534 likes

    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

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    For accounts on multiple chat networks
     
  4. HexChat icon

    HexChat

     225 likes

    HexChat is an IRC client based on XChat for Linux , but unlike XChat it’s completely free for both Windows and Unix-like systems.

    67 HexChat alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • MacPorts
    • XQuartz
    HexChat screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Discontinued

    The version 2.16.2 is the final version of the software. The author announced that "The project has largely been unmaintained for years now and nobody else stepped up to do that work."

    HexChat vs mIRC Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    3

    Open source, light and customizable, i recommend it

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Similar to Mirc but less complex

    • HexChat is Free and Open SourcemIRC is Paid and Proprietary
  5. irssi icon

    irssi

     89 likes

    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
     
  7. WeeChat icon

    WeeChat

     38 likes

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

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • Xfce
    WeeChat screenshot 1
     
  8. KVIrc icon

    KVIrc

     45 likes

    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

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    KVIrc screenshot 1
     
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    2
    KVIrc vs mIRC Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    It's free, has certain nice extra features and a better scripting language.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Good features, very stable and free, aside from mIRC there's nothing better out there.

    • KVIrc is Free and Open SourcemIRC is Paid and Proprietary
  9. XChat for Linux icon

    XChat for Linux

     103 likes

    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.

    61 XChat for Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Main UI
     
  10. Quassel IRC icon

    Quassel IRC

     51 likes

    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...

    55 Quassel IRC alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Quassel IRC screenshot 1
     
  11. Empathy icon

    Empathy

     157 likes

    Empathy is a messaging program which supports text, voice, video chat, and file transfers over many different protocols. You can tell it about your accounts on all those services and do all your chatting within one application.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    Empathy screenshot 1
     
  12. Sloga icon

    Sloga

     4 likes

    Free, privacy-focused chat platform for gaming communities offering servers, channels, roles, low-latency voice, video, screen sharing, 5GB uploads, message translation, end-to-end encrypted DMs and calls, forum features, calendar events, and no paid tiers.

    53 Sloga alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Google Chrome
    Server chat
     
  13. Konversation icon

    Konversation

     27 likes

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

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Haiku
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    Konversation screenshot 1
     
  14. Smuxi icon

    Smuxi

     31 likes

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

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Smuxi 0.7 on Linux Showing Quick Connect Dialog
     
12 of 34 mIRC alternatives