Irssi
A terminal-based IRC client with split windows, extensive settings and scripting support.
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1 more ways to get Irssi
Package managers
- Homebrew
brew install irssi
About Irssi
Irssi is an IRC client that runs in the terminal. It handles multiple networks and channels in numbered windows that can be split, logged and rearranged, with configurable highlights, ignores, aliases, key bindings and status bars.
Automation and scripting let you extend it, and the documentation covers common setups such as NickServ log-in, CertFP authentication and connecting over Tor. It suits people who live in a terminal or keep IRC running on a server.
Strengths
- Runs in any terminal, including over SSH
- Scriptable and highly configurable
- Split windows and detailed logging
- Detailed manual and built-in help
Limitations
- Keyboard and command driven, with a learning curve
- IRC only, no other chat protocols
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source.
- License
- GPL-2.0
- Developer
- The Irssi contributors
- Platforms
- macOS, Linux, Command line
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- No
- Best suited for
- Terminal users who want a scriptable IRC client
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Irssi
Compare allSoftware that can replace Irssi for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
WeeChat
An extensible terminal chat client with a full IRC plugin and scripting in eight languages.
WeeChat is also a terminal IRC client, with scripting in eight languages, a script manager and remote interfaces for browser, phone and GUI clients.
Halloy
An open-source IRC client for macOS, Windows and Linux, written in Rust and focused on speed.
Halloy is an open-source graphical IRC client for macOS, Windows and Linux with broad IRCv3 support, configured through a single TOML file instead of 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 for Linux and Windows with DCC file transfers and a beginner-friendly interface, but no macOS version.
The Lounge
A self-hosted web IRC client that stays connected to servers while you are offline.
The Lounge is a self-hosted web IRC client that stays connected while you are offline and works from phones and desktops, but needs a Node.js server.
mIRC
A long-running Windows client for chatting on Internet Relay Chat networks, sold as shareware.
mIRC is a long-running graphical IRC client for Windows only, and it is proprietary shareware that requires paid registration.
Textual
A native macOS IRC client with IRCv3 support, OTR encryption and customizable styles.
Textual is a paid native macOS IRC client with IRCv3 support and OTR encryption, replacing the terminal with a graphical Mac interface.
Pidgin
A chat client that signs in to several networks at once, supporting XMPP, IRC, Matrix and more through plugins.
Pidgin is a graphical GPL client that connects to IRC alongside XMPP and other networks from one window, though releases are infrequent and there is no official macOS build.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
