Alternatives to The Lounge
A self-hosted web IRC client that stays connected to servers while you are offline. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
The Lounge
A self-hosted web IRC client that stays connected to servers while you are offline.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as The Lounge.
WeeChat
An extensible terminal chat client with a full IRC plugin and scripting in eight languages.
WeeChat is a terminal IRC client that can stay running on a server with remote browser and phone interfaces, though it has a learning curve.
Halloy
An open-source IRC client for macOS, Windows and Linux, written in Rust and focused on speed.
Halloy is a native Rust IRC desktop app with IRCv3 and soju bouncer support, so it needs a separate bouncer for persistence and is configured in a TOML file.
Irssi
A terminal-based IRC client with split windows, extensive settings and scripting support.
Irssi is a scriptable terminal IRC client that can run over SSH, trading the web interface for keyboard-driven commands.
Konversation
A graphical IRC client from KDE with DCC file transfers, per-channel encodings and an embedded terminal.
Konversation is a graphical KDE IRC client with DCC transfers for Windows and Linux, without persistent server-side connections.
mIRC
A long-running Windows client for chatting on Internet Relay Chat networks, sold as shareware.
mIRC is a proprietary shareware IRC client for Windows only, running on the desktop rather than as a self-hosted web app.
Textual
A native macOS IRC client with IRCv3 support, OTR encryption and customizable styles.
Textual is a paid native macOS IRC client with IRCv3 and OTR encryption, running on the Mac rather than on your own server.
Pidgin
A chat client that signs in to several networks at once, supporting XMPP, IRC, Matrix and more through plugins.
Pidgin is a desktop client that handles IRC alongside XMPP and other networks, but does not stay connected while offline and has a dated interface.
Also worth comparing
These listings name The Lounge as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
soju
A self-hosted IRC bouncer that stays connected to IRC servers for you and keeps chat history.
The Lounge combines the persistent connection with a web IRC client, so no separate client is needed, but it requires running a Node.js server and is IRC only.
ZNC
An IRC bouncer that stays connected to IRC networks so your client can disconnect without losing chat.
The Lounge merges the always-on connection with a web IRC client usable from phones and desktops, so no separate client is needed, running on Node.js.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
