The launch of the Internet was a revolution in itself, but to evolve over the years, we needed the support of many programs and protocols. One of the important aspects that has helped the Internet to grow immensely has been the communication between systems. While email clients help you manage your inbox and messaging protocols help you exchange messages between the components of the messaging system, a chat room allows you to create a virtual space to chat using the instant messaging system. social networks, etc.
IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is one such revolutionary communication technology that has held its place quite well in the current technological sphere. It is a nexus of chats and each of these chats is known as channels. These channels are hosted on servers, which then individually manage their own set of channel networks. This process allows you to communicate between different network systems connected on the same channels and servers.
In addition to allowing you to chat with different users on different network computers, IRC also allows you to transfer data, one-to-one messages, and more. Although a thing of the past, it still maintains its popularity among the latest competitions with internet forums and message boards. So, let's jump into the list of the best IRC clients for Windows.
mIRC tops the list with its indomitable characteristics. It's easy enough to get started with the software, as you immediately connect by entering some basic information and server details.
mIRC is known for its main features such as sharing, chatting, playing or working with IRC networks around the world in one or with multiple users in a group conference. This boasts a clean and efficient user interface that is super easy to set up. Some of its other notable features include real-time file transfers, multiple server connections, proxy support, buddy lists, UTF-8 display, taskbar alerts, SSL encryption, voicemail, message logging, and much more.
The software also features a robust scripting language which is useful for both automatic mIRC and for developing applications that can perform a wide variety of functions such as gaming or network communications.
Price: 30-day free trial available; the upgrade starts at $ 20 for the single user license.
WeeChat is a fast, lightweight and extensible chat client that deserves to be at the top of the list due to its powerful features. It is a comprehensive IRC plug-in that includes DCC, IPv6, multiple servers, nicklist, SASL verification, proxy support, and so much more. With a wide color gamut (256), intelligent filtering options, configurable bars and more, it includes a range of these unique features. In addition, it supports 8 scripting languages with a built-in script manager.
What's more? You can even connect to your WeeChat software via Android, your browser, or even Emacs by creating remote interfaces. Above all, it features detailed documentation and is translated into multiple languages.
Price: free
X-Chat is a user-friendly IRC client that offers some good features that was among mIRC's early competitors. It is free and open source software that offers a complete method for connecting via IRC networks on major platforms, including Windows.
Using this client, you can connect to multiple IRC chat rooms at the same time, chat in public or private (one-tone). What's more, you can also easily transfer files. SSL support or keyboard shortcuts are some of the features that make it a decent IRC client.
Price: free.
IceChat is a really great IRC client with unique features that interesting people need to use. This light-hearted and knowledgeable customer gets you started chatting in the blink of an eye. All you have to do is create a nickname, select an IRC server, log in and that's it! The most important part is that it allows you to connect to multiple servers and channels at the same time, helping you to easily communicate with your friends and family in your favorite channels.
If you want to explore more, you can also use its different techniques and customize the overall customer look. From changing a theme or writing your own commands to creating custom pop-ups, there is a lot you can do with IceChat Editor. Also, you can use its other innovative features, emoticons or favorite server tree which makes it much easier to use.
Price: free
HydraIRC is an easy to use IRC client, completely new in the category. This is designed in a way that offers a smooth and effortless experience to its users. It was originally launched for those with computer literacy, but has gradually grown to make IRC available to everyone. This client offers extensive features to please all users, including even the most demanding.
This was designed using advanced tools from the ground up, with the support of several state-of-the-art and super intuitive GUI toolkits and servers. You can connect to multiple IRC servers and channels using this client to as many networks as possible and chat endlessly.
Price: free
Pidgin is another great IRC client built on libpurple that allows you to connect to many messaging channels at a time. This client works supports various chat networks which include names like Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger, Zephyr, MSN Messenger, AIM, Jabber, Lotus Sametime, etc. Adapt various features of these chat services such as typing notifications, absence messages, emoticons, file transfer and more.
Above all, it is free to download. easy to use and compatible with all major platforms. Also, it integrates seamlessly with the taskbar on GNOME and KDE.
Price: free
HexChat was initially known as XChat-WDK and therefore is based on the XChat framework. But unlike XChat, this client is completely free and has a cross-platform presence.
Some of its main features include, an interface that is user-friendly and customizable, availability in scripting languages such as Lua, Python and Perl, translation available for multiple languages, actively developed and open source, ability to automatically connect to multiple networks, join and connection options and options for spell check, DCC, proxy, etc.
Price: free and open source
KVIrc belongs to one of the first IRC clients launched which has undergone many developments over the past 10 years. It is a portable client based on the Qt GUI toolkit. This client is known for its extensive scripting support which allows users to customize. Best of all, it requires no installation and is ready to use out of the box. Then, you can just start using it with one click.
It is available for free and is cross-platform and therefore works on all major platforms, including Windows.
Price: free
This terminal-based IRC client is not only free and open source, it is also easy to use. It is known to support SILC and ICB protocols via plug-ins. Among its main features are, the option that helps users to create and use Perl scripts to perform actions, support themes that allow users to change the overall feel and appearance of the customer, the automatic recognition function, paste detection option, customizable key combinations, proxy plugins, updates without losing connections, plug-ins for password protected communications, sending terminal input to a channel or a message, support for continuous connections and so on.
Price: free
Quassel is illustrated as a contemporary IRC client which is due to its final stage of the next big release of a new feature. It is a cross-platform, distributed client that comes packed with all the features that a newer IRC client usually possesses. Its availability on all major platforms, including Windows, sets it apart in the category.
Since it is a distributed client, it allows users to connect to multiple clients at the same time and even disconnect from a central body that has been permanently online (something like WeeChat which is a mix of a display and a text-backed IRC client ). Reconnecting to your client will help users see the IRC session in the same situation it was left in, and this is also possible when reconnecting from any other location.
Furthermore, Quassel can also be used as a regular IRC client offering both client and core functionality in a single binary. Most importantly, this client's GUI offers a nick list and a dockable topic bar, or users can organize their channel and query strings into predefined custom screens that are dockable. This helps users to organize the GUI the way they want.
Price: free
AdiIRC is a free IRC client that is constantly being developed and improved with a super efficient beta team working on it around the clock. There are several updates every month that show up in the change log. What we like is that users get no-delay feedback for feature requests, recommendations, and bug reports. In addition, the client also supports mIRC themes.
AdiIRC is a portable IRC client that can be used without any installation. This helps make it work even from external hardware devices, such as USB sticks. The cool thing is that you can also move the configurations, scripts and snippets along with the installation folder. Bonus: It's a lightweight IRC client with a simple or complex design to choose from.
Price: free
ThrashIRC is another IRC client that claims to be the best IRC client for Windows. It features all the latest features normally offered by other IRC clients. However, it does offer some bonus features. This IRC client allows users to use their own features using minimal system resources. Best of all, it comes ad-free, spyware-free, and offers great stability.
Price: free
IRCCloud is an IRC client that helps users stay connected and with the ability to chat from anywhere without ever missing a message. This open platform is designed for real-time discussions and stays up to date with regular updates. It allows users to communicate in groups in real time, saving them from scheduling unnecessary meetings and being overloaded with email. Most importantly, unlike other IRC clients, it maintains user presence and keeps a log of all chats. Embed images, YouTube videos, vines and minerals directly into the chat window using this client. Bonus: It comes with a simple interface and allows for file sharing using the drag and drop feature.
Users can stay more organized by communicating in open or private messages, or in one-to-one sessions. It is also available on mobile platforms, making its availability ambiguous.
Price: free version available; the upgrade starts at $ 5 / month.
Smuxi is again a distributed IRC client like Quassel which comes with a highly customizable interface. It comes with thematic support and a caret mode that allows browsing through messages. The cool thing is that it features plugins and scripts that can be written in any language.
Best of all, Smuxi comes with Twitter integration where it allows you to check and interact with Twitter messages, history and direct messages from the client. It can be detached and thus can be used anywhere, comes with the full GNOME desktop and is able to integrate with Ubuntu's messaging menu.
Price: free
Kiwi IRC is a free and open source web client that comes with an aesthetic and contemporary layout that features a classic double column design. The chat window is located on the left of the window, while the nick list is located on the right. It allows users to generate codes that allow users to embed the IRC client within the website.
Most importantly, it is available in over 20 languages around the world.
Price: free
Although IRC clients belong to the old days with reduced popularity over the years, the concept of chat rooms is still quite strong and many still follow it. Feature-rich IRC clients make your life easier by letting you stay connected anywhere. So, if you are looking for the best IRC client, select one from the list and get on with your chat sessions.
