Compare software

Srain vs Pidgin: catalog facts
Srain	Pidgin
Free Free and open source, funded through Open Collective donations.	Free Free and open source under the GPL. The project states it is free and contains no ads.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Chat-app style interface for IRC Native GTK application	Signs in to several chat networks at once from one window XMPP, IRC, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, GroupWise, Sametime, SILC, SIMPLE and Zephyr built in
IRC only, no other chat protocols Small project with occasional releases	The interface is unmistakably from another era Support for modern commercial networks depends on plugins that break when APIs change
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-3.0	License: GPL-2.0
No account needed	Account needed
Needs internet	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026

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