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IceChat vs Irssi: catalog facts
IceChat	Irssi
Free Free and open source under the GPL.	Free Free and open source.
Windows	macOS, Linux, Command line
Multi-server and multi-channel support with a server tree Aliases, popups and themes for customization	Runs in any terminal, including over SSH Scriptable and highly configurable
Windows only IRC is unencrypted unless the server supports TLS	Keyboard and command driven, with a learning curve IRC only, no other chat protocols
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0-or-later	License: GPL-2.0
No account needed	No account needed
Needs internet	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.