The Lounge
A self-hosted web IRC client that stays connected to servers while you are offline.
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About The Lounge
The Lounge is an IRC client you run on your own server and use from a browser. It stays connected to IRC networks while you are away, so it replaces a separate bouncer, and you resume where you left off on any device.
It adds push notifications, link previews, file uploads, new message markers and IRCv3 support, with a responsive interface for phones and tablets. It runs wherever Node.js runs and supports several user accounts. It is the community-managed fork of Shout.
Strengths
- Always connected, no separate bouncer needed
- Responsive interface for phones and desktops
- Push notifications and link previews
- Multi-user support
Limitations
- Requires running your own Node.js server
- IRC only
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source under the MIT licence.
- License
- MIT
- Developer
- The Lounge contributors
- Platforms
- Web, Self-hosted
- How it runs
- Self-hosted
- Best suited for
- IRC users who want a persistent connection usable from any device
- Categories
- Messaging
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 2 sources on file.
Alternatives to The Lounge
Compare allSoftware that can replace The Lounge 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 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.
The Lounge as an alternative
Listings that name The Lounge as an alternative.
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 necessarily a direct replacement.
