Alternatives to mIRC? reddit / irc ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TheDivineArchitect · 2015-01-26 16:28 I have been using mIRC for 15 years now, and it has been the only IRC client I have used for my desktop. I registered for it years ago and was glad to do so, no regrets. For me it is essentially perfect, customizable for my needs. My issue at hand is recently I have been introducing friends to IRC for a role-playing group. Naturally I would point them towards mIRC as it is the client I have used for years. What I did not realize is that since I have registered, the nagware screen that reminds you that your evaluation period is expired, can no longer be skipped by legal means. Can people here recommend a simple to use, freeware IRC client for Windows Desktops, that I can teach people to use as a replacement? In some cases these people, while nice, require ELI5 explanations for it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Kokabiel · 2015-01-26 16:55 Hexchat is the best free windows IRC client at present. Full featured and easy to configure. I managed to get several thousand people using it in one particular community when they moved to IRC for communication. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- evilyou · 2015-01-26 16:57 I like [Hexchat,](https://hexchat.github.io/) truly cross-platform, clean interface, insanely customizable, easily scriptable with python or perl. Highly recommend. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nerfarenablast · 2015-01-26 17:02 Voting for Hexchat as well. Excellent client. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Techno_Shaman · 2015-01-26 18:09 Ill go against the crowd and say KVIRC is the best client. You can customize just about anything, and almost all of my IRC staff use it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FiendKing04 · 2015-01-26 18:18 Each one has their quirks. You honestly just have to try the different ones and see which one you prefer. Perhaps this will help: [Microsoft](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx) [Windows](http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/home) | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | Java | [Google](https://google.com/) [Android](https://www.android.com/) | [Google](https://google.com/) [Chrome](https://www.google.com/chrome/) [Extension](https://www.google.com/chrome/) ---|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|- --- [IceChat](http://www.icechat.net/site/) | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | [jIRCii](http://oldschoolirc.com/) | [Yaaic](http://www.yaaic.org) | [CIRC](https://www.google.com/chrome/) [HexChat](https://hexchat.github.io/) | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | [IRCCloud](https://www.irccloud.com/) | [Pidgin](https://pidgin.im/) | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | [AndroIRC](http://www.androirc.com/) | [Mibbit](http://mibbit.com) | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | [IRCCloud](https://www.irccloud.com/) | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | [Irssi](http://www.irssi.org/) | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | text | Acknowledgements: * Thanks to /u/Kokabiel, /u/nerfarenblast and /u/evilyou for mentioning HexChat. * Thanks to /u/apranets for mentioning IRCCloud. * Thanks to /u/Techno_Sharman for mentioning KVIRC. * Thanks to /u/efreak2004 for mentioning jIRCii. * Thanks to /u/owleaf for mentioning Adium. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- arpanets · 2015-01-26 18:28 For ease of use, and no installation required, [IRCCloud](https://www.irccloud.com/) wouldn't be a terrible idea. Pretty good for beginners. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tanath · 2015-01-26 20:38 It's not just for Windows. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Kokabiel · 2015-01-26 20:49 You're correct, it's multiplatform and open-source. However, that does not change the fact that it is the best IRC option for those on Windows currently. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Kokabiel · 2015-01-26 23:41 IrcCloud is pretty amazing if you're willing to pay for the premium service. It's the best mobile irc client by far. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- bobdle · 2015-01-27 01:47 Why do you prefer that over hexchat? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Techno_Shaman · 2015-01-27 02:17 It's been years since i tried out hexchat, so i cant list specifics. I believe there were a few features in KVIRC that werent in hexchat. Smart-nicknames was one of them, if i'm remembering correctly. At this point i'm used to it and it does everything i need. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- owleaf · 2015-01-27 04:39 I'd also add [Adium for OS X](https://adium.im/) (free); it's quite popular and fairly user-friendly (not to mention, open source). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- efreak2004 · 2015-01-27 07:43 [jIRCii](http://oldschoolirc.com) hasn't had any updates in a while, but is my preferred client. It's java, so it's multiplatform, but it's very fast and very customizable. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FiendKing04 · 2015-01-27 09:29 Isn't this essentially the OS X version of Pidgin? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Princess_Pwny · 2015-01-27 09:54 I personally Like AndChat for my android, why is IRCCloud better? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- owleaf · 2015-01-27 10:40 Yes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- playforvoices · 2015-01-27 13:19 Give Quassel a try: http://www.quassel-irc.org It's a cross platform client (OSX, Linux, Windows) and it's OpenSource. Also KVIrc is cross platform (OSX, Linux, Windows, FreeBSD): http://www.kvirc.net/?id=releases&lang=de On OSX and IOS my favorite client is LimeChat: http://limechat.net/mac/ Also Adium can be interesting on OSX because it's libPurple adaption: https://adium.im ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cronyx · 2015-01-27 13:48 Can I ask about your RP group? What kind of setting, where's your channel, etc? (I'm assuming darkmyst or sorcerynet for FFRP) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Kokabiel · 2015-01-27 17:36 AndChat is what I use personally, but the IRCCloud mobile client is very clean, very easy to use, less buggy than AndChat, and comes with a variety of other neat features that are difficult to replicate if you're not technically inclined. For example, IRCCloud essentially gives you a bouncer service, allowing you to be online 24/7 without missing anything, giving you logs that you can revisit if needed. It lets you consolidate by connecting to IRCCloud first, so you can have multiple machines connected under the same nickname without overlap. It's not ostentatious and has a very pleasing UI. For those of us not locked into a terminal session fiddling with our ~/.irssi/config, it's a very modern and simple client that doesn't skimp on features. If you're willing to get down and dirty, you can do more with other clients but for someone looking for something that "just werks," IRCCloud is probably the single best option on mobile. EDIT: The free service is pretty great, but if you're on multiple networks and want a 24/7 bouncer, it's $5/month. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Princess_Pwny · 2015-01-28 14:27 Ahh, that makes quite a bit of sense for that use case, Thanks for the explanation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- bllgvn · 2015-02-13 00:59 I use and love Hexchat as others have said. Pidgin is good for people that don't want 2 and 3 chat clients installed. If some of the people are a little more tech savy and use FireFox Chatzilla isn't bad but it requires that FireFox stay open in order for it to work. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- titusma · 2023-01-13 11:39 Hi! I just recalled mIRC, when I used this I was using another program, which could communicate with mIRC but I forgot the name. Command or something like that, it had an '+' as icon as I recall it.