Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Kiwi IRC VS Pidgin

Compare Kiwi IRC VS Pidgin and see what are their differences

Kiwi IRC logo Kiwi IRC

A hand-crafted IRC client that you can enjoy. Designed to be used easily and freely.

Pidgin logo Pidgin

Pidgin is an easy to use and free chat client used by millions. Connect to AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and more chat networks all at once.
  • Kiwi IRC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-28
  • Pidgin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-13

Kiwi IRC features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Kiwi IRC provides an intuitive and modern web-based interface that is easy for users of all levels to navigate.
  • Customization Options
    Users and administrators have a variety of customization options to tailor the experience to specific needs, including themes, layouts, and plugins.
  • Accessibility
    Being a web-based client, Kiwi IRC is accessible from any device with an internet connection and a web browser, eliminating the need for client installations.
  • Open Source
    Kiwi IRC is open-source software, meaning the code is freely available to inspect, modify, and improve, fostering a collaborative development environment.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Kiwi IRC supports integration with other platforms and services, allowing for a seamless communication experience across different environments.
  • Real-Time Communication
    Kiwi IRC facilitates real-time messaging, making it ideal for dynamic and engaging conversations.

Possible disadvantages of Kiwi IRC

  • Technical Knowledge Required for Setup
    While user-friendly in usage, the initial setup of servers and configurations may require a certain level of technical expertise.
  • Self-Hosting Complexity
    For those opting to self-host, the process can be complex and requires server management skills and resources.
  • Security Concerns
    As with any IRC client, there are potential security vulnerabilities if not properly managed and updated. User data and communication can be susceptible to attacks if adequate measures are not in place.
  • Limited Mobile Optimization
    Although accessible via web browsers, the mobile experience may not be as optimized compared to dedicated mobile applications.
  • Resource Usage
    Running Kiwi IRC on a self-hosted server can be resource-intensive, which might be a consideration for smaller organizations or individual users.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic functionalities are easy to use, there can be a learning curve for users to fully utilize more advanced features and settings.

Pidgin features and specs

  • Multi-Protocol Support
    Pidgin supports a wide range of chat protocols like AIM, MSN, Google Talk, Jabber/XMPP, ICQ, and IRC, making it versatile for users who need to manage multiple accounts from different networks.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source software, Pidgin allows for transparency and extensive customization. Community contributions help in improving its features and security.
  • Cross-Platform
    Pidgin is available for multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, which makes it accessible to a broad user base.
  • Plugin Support
    Pidgin offers a plethora of plugins that extend its functionality, allowing users to add features like encryption, additional protocol support, and interface enhancements.
  • Lightweight
    Pidgin is relatively lightweight and does not consume a lot of system resources, making it ideal for users who need efficient performance.

Possible disadvantages of Pidgin

  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface of Pidgin is considered outdated by modern standards, which may not appeal to users looking for a sleek and contemporary design.
  • Limited Native Mobile Support
    Pidgin does not have robust support for mobile platforms natively, making it less convenient for users who want to synchronize their chats across mobile and desktop.
  • Security Concerns
    Because of its open-source nature, any vulnerabilities discovered are publicly available, which can be a double-edged sword regarding security.
  • Complexity in Setup
    Initial setup and configuration might be complex for non-technical users, especially those needing to set up multiple accounts and plugins.
  • Limited Support for Modern Protocols
    Pidgin may lack support for newer chat protocols and services, thus limiting users who rely on more modern communication platforms.

Analysis of Kiwi IRC

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Kiwi IRC is considered a good choice for those looking for a reliable, user-friendly, and easily accessible IRC client. Its modern design and features cater to the needs of a wide range of users, from individuals to communities seeking to incorporate chat functionality into their platforms.

Why this product is good

  • Kiwi IRC is a web-based client that supports modern web technologies, making it accessible and easy to use without the need for software installation. It offers features like a responsive interface, ease of integration into existing platforms, and support for multiple networks. These features can enhance the user experience for both novice and experienced IRC users.

Recommended for

    Kiwi IRC is recommended for website builders looking to integrate chat services, beginners who appreciate a straightforward interface, and communities in need of a customizable and hosted IRC solution.

Analysis of Pidgin

Overall verdict

  • Pidgin is a good choice for users looking for a lightweight, multi-protocol instant messaging client. It is most appreciated for its simplicity, ease of use, and flexibility to configure according to user preferences. However, as some messaging services push towards proprietary protocols, Pidgin may require additional plugins or tweaks to remain fully compatible, and users should be aware of any potential limitations.

Why this product is good

  • Pidgin is a versatile and open-source instant messaging client that supports multiple messaging protocols simultaneously, such as AIM, Google Talk, Jabber/XMPP, ICQ, and many others. It provides a unified platform for users who want to manage different chat accounts and services in one place. Its extensibility through plugins allows for additional functionalities like encryption, interface customization, and message logging. Furthermore, being open-source means it has a robust community supporting and updating it, which contributes to its reliability and security.

Recommended for

    Pidgin is highly recommended for users who need to manage multiple chat accounts from different platforms within a single app. It is ideal for individuals who appreciate open-source software and the ability to extend functionality through plugins. It's particularly useful for those who prioritize functionality over a modern user interface and are comfortable with making customizations if needed.

Kiwi IRC videos

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Pidgin videos

Pidgin IM Overview

More videos:

  • Review - Pidgin Review
  • Review - Pidgin IM - Instant Messenger Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Kiwi IRC and Pidgin)
Group Chat & Notifications
Communication
18 18%
82% 82
Messaging
26 26%
74% 74
Social & Communications
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Kiwi IRC and Pidgin

Kiwi IRC Reviews

We have no reviews of Kiwi IRC yet.
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Pidgin Reviews

Franz Not Working ? Try These Best Franz Alternatives! [2023]
Pidgin is a well-known multi-platform, cross-platform instant messaging client that had to alter its name at the time owing to legal concerns with AOL. You can talk with users of Skype, Yahoo, ICQ, AIM, and even those in an IRC chat room via its user interface.
Source: viraltalky.com
The 7 Best Chat Apps and Clients Better Than Official Messengers
Given its many years and open-source nature, Pidgin supports a wide variety of chat networks, along with third-party plugins to enable many more. For example, there isn’t an official WhatsApp plugin, but you can get WhatsApp on Pidgin using third-party plugins.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pidgin should be more popular than Kiwi IRC. It has been mentiond 17 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Kiwi IRC mentions (6)

  • Matrix 2.0: How we’re making Matrix go voom
    > At that point you've just reimplemented a less-standard version of matrix with extra steps though. There are IRCv3 specifications that allow this richer experience, and they are at least as standard as Matrix. Check out https://ergo.chat/ with modern clients like https://sr.ht/~emersion/goguma/ (Android), https://git.sr.ht/~emersion/gamja/ https://kiwiirc.com/ (web), or https://git.sr.ht/~taiite/senpai (TUI) >... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Long term good standing user account seems to be disabled, is it ok to ask here for advice for what looks like a automated P2P-NET ban?
    First try the web-based ones - https://kiwiirc.com/ - https://mibbit.com/. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Looking for some very specific courses. Voice acting, acting, voice over, narrator stuff, I just wanna know how people do this shit!
    Their IRC link is on their homepage. If you don't have an IRC client you can use https://kiwiirc.com/ in browser. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Ergo IRC Server
    It depends. There's a lot of people on/around IRC who really like it (see libera and all the other networks), and yeah there definitely are people spinning up new smaller networks. Especially with things like https://sr.ht/~emersion/gamja/ and self-hosted https://kiwiirc.com/ , as well as really polished client experiences like irccloud, it's easier to convince people to join in. Right now I'm working with a dev... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • I search for an up to date, light, easy to use and multiplateform client
    Since it's a local install, I would use ergo as the server. For the client I would set up a web based client, either KiwiIRC or The Lounge. Source: almost 4 years ago
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Pidgin mentions (17)

  • Right to be Forgotten and Open Source
    When it comes to Right to be Forgotten we only have few places were we have user data as part of us running Pidgin. These are our mailing list archives which have been replaced by Discourse, our issue tracker, and our old developer WIKI. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • How can I forward Facebook messenger messages to email?
    I can't think of any way. There is a Facebook plugin for Pidgin, and you can get at your chats that way with a more versatile cross-platform messenger, if you are more normally on other chat services. https://pidgin.im/ https://github.com/dequis/purple-facebook/wiki If you want web-based clients, try a multi-app client such as Ferdium, RamBox or Station. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Why so rude?
    As I mentioned earlier, this scenario happens to me all the time. This is precisely why I refuse to discuss why we don't use Git or GitHub for Pidgin. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Automattic is acquiring Texts and betting big on the future of messaging
    I did a find before posting my comment and found yours. >Cool I like Wordpress. But they bought a fancy Pidgin clone for 50mil...? https://pidgin.im/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • YOUR OPSEC SUCKS | UHQ SCHIZOID OPSEC GUIDE | BECOME BULLETPROOF
    XMPP XMPP stands for Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol and is used for communications for message-oriented middleware based on the Extensible Markup Language (XML). Many more people are starting to use this as a main way of communication using programs such as Pidgin to accomplish this. Pidgin is an open-source multi-platform IM client which most people will recommend for XMPP. The main reason is... Source: about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Kiwi IRC and Pidgin, you can also consider the following products

mIRC - mIRC: Internet Relay Chat client

Telegram - Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free.

HexChat - HexChat is a fork of XChat with bug fixes and new features.

Skype - Stay in touch with your family and friends for free on Skype. Download Skype today to chat and call on desktop and mobile.

irssi - Irssi is a terminal based IRC client for UNIX systems.

Trillian - Trillian is a decentralized and federated instant messaging platform that lets your whole company send private and group messages, keep tabs on what co-workers are doing, share files, and much more.