Compare software

Polari vs Srain: catalog facts
Polari	Srain
Best for: GNOME users who want a simple IRC client	Best for: Linux users who want a modern-looking native IRC client
Free Free and open source under the GPL-2.0-or-later licence.	Free Free and open source, funded through Open Collective donations.
Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Integrates cleanly with the GNOME desktop Simple interface focused on conversations All 4 strengths for Polari Integrates cleanly with the GNOME desktop Simple interface focused on conversations Notifications for new messages Actively maintained with regular releases	Chat-app style interface for IRC Native GTK application All 3 strengths for Srain Chat-app style interface for IRC Native GTK application Translated into several languages
Linux only Fewer power-user features than clients such as HexChat or WeeChat All 3 limitations for Polari Linux only Fewer power-user features than clients such as HexChat or WeeChat IRC only, no other chat protocols	IRC only, no other chat protocols Small project with occasional releases
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0-or-later	License: GPL-3.0
No account needed	No account needed
Needs internet	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Polari apps.gnome.org/Polari Catalog checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Srain github.com/SrainApp/srain Catalog checked October 2, 2026

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