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kirc vs Irssi: catalog facts
kirc	Irssi
Free Free and open source under the MIT license.	Free Free and open source.
macOS, Linux	macOS, Linux, Command line
Keyboard-centric editing and navigation Small C codebase with minimal runtime requirements	Runs in any terminal, including over SSH Scriptable and highly configurable
Requires building from source	Keyboard and command driven, with a learning curve IRC only, no other chat protocols
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: MIT	License: GPL-2.0
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 8, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026

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