Compare software

Pidgin vs Textual: catalog facts
Pidgin	Textual
Free Free and open source under the GPL. The project states it is free and contains no ads.	Paid Sold directly by the developer; no longer available in the Mac App Store.
Windows, macOS, Linux	macOS
Signs in to several chat networks at once from one window XMPP, IRC, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, GroupWise, Sametime, SILC, SIMPLE and Zephyr built in	Native macOS interface with dark and light modes IRCv3, IPv6 and client certificate support
The interface is unmistakably from another era Support for modern commercial networks depends on plugins that break when APIs change	macOS only, requiring Monterey or later Paid, and no longer in the Mac App Store
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License: GPL-2.0	License not stated
Account needed	No account needed
Needs internet	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026

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