Compare software

Irssi vs Polari: catalog facts
Irssi	Polari
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source under the GPL-2.0-or-later licence.
macOS, Linux, Command line	Linux
Runs in any terminal, including over SSH Scriptable and highly configurable	Integrates cleanly with the GNOME desktop Simple interface focused on conversations
Keyboard and command driven, with a learning curve IRC only, no other chat protocols	Linux only Fewer power-user features than clients such as HexChat or WeeChat
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0	License: GPL-2.0-or-later
No account needed	No account needed
Needs internet	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026

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