Compare software

Irssi vs KVIrc: catalog facts
Irssi	KVIrc
Free Free and open source.	Free Free to download and use; donations are accepted.
macOS, Linux, Command line	Windows, macOS, Linux
Runs in any terminal, including over SSH Scriptable and highly configurable	Built-in scripting language with documented API Themes, addons and translations available
Keyboard and command driven, with a learning curve IRC only, no other chat protocols	IRC only, no other chat protocols Many options can feel heavy for casual use
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0	License: GPL-2.0
No account needed	No account needed
Needs internet	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

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