Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Textual VS HexChat

Compare Textual VS HexChat and see what are their differences

Textual logo Textual

Textual is the world's most popular application for interacting with Internet Relay Chat (IRC)...

HexChat logo HexChat

HexChat is a fork of XChat with bug fixes and new features.
  • Textual Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-28
  • HexChat Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

Textual features and specs

  • User Interface
    Textual offers a clean and modern user interface that is easy to navigate, making it user-friendly for both beginners and advanced users.
  • Customization
    The application is highly customizable, allowing users to adjust themes, plugins, and appearance settings to personalize their experience.
  • Performance
    Textual is optimized for performance, providing a smooth and responsive experience that handles large volumes of data efficiently.
  • Security
    Includes robust security features, including support for SSL, ensuring that communications are secure and private.
  • Scripting Support
    Textual supports scripting, which allows advanced users to automate tasks and customize functionality to suit their workflows.

Possible disadvantages of Textual

  • Platform Limitation
    Textual is only available for macOS, which limits its accessibility to users on other operating systems like Windows or Linux.
  • Learning Curve
    While Textual is user-friendly, some advanced features might require a learning curve for new users unfamiliar with IRC protocols.
  • Cost
    Textual is a paid application, which might be a downside for users seeking a free IRC client solution.
  • Limited Integration
    Compared to some other IRC clients, Textual may have limited integration options with third-party services and tools.

HexChat features and specs

  • Open Source
    HexChat is open source, which means the source code is available for anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance. This fosters a community-driven development approach and ensures transparency.
  • Cross-platform
    HexChat is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and various Linux distributions. This makes it a versatile choice for users on different platforms.
  • Customization
    HexChat offers a high degree of customization with plugins and scripts, allowing users to tailor the client to their personal needs and preferences. It supports Python and Perl scripting.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The software comes with an intuitive and user-friendly interface, which makes it accessible even for users who are new to IRC (Internet Relay Chat).
  • Notifications
    HexChat supports desktop notifications, helping users stay informed about important messages or events even when they are not actively looking at the client.

Possible disadvantages of HexChat

  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, the use of IRC itself has a learning curve, particularly for users who are not familiar with IRC commands and etiquette.
  • Limited Modern Features
    Compared to some modern chat applications, HexChat may lack features such as media sharing, integrated voice/video calls, and advanced file transfer capabilities.
  • Security Concerns
    Despite being open source, IRC as a protocol can be less secure compared to modern messaging protocols. Users need to be cautious about sharing personal information and may need to use additional measures like SSL/TLS encryption.
  • Resource Usage
    For users running HexChat on older systems, the application may consume a noticeable amount of resources, affecting system performance.
  • Community Support
    While there is a community around HexChat, it might not be as large or responsive as the support communities for more widely-used, proprietary software.

Textual videos

MUST HAVE TOOL for Textual Criticism or WASTE of money? Textual Commentary review! (2020 Review)

More videos:

  • Review - First Textual Experience with Aziz Ansari
  • Review - New Testament Textual Criticism

HexChat videos

Opensource Spotlight: HexChat & IRC Chat - A Geek Underground

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Textual and HexChat)
Group Chat & Notifications
Messaging
29 29%
71% 71
Communication
24 24%
76% 76
Social & Communications
46 46%
54% 54

User comments

Share your experience with using Textual and HexChat. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, HexChat seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 7 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.

Textual mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Textual yet. Tracking of Textual recommendations started around Mar 2021.

HexChat mentions (7)

  • getting started with IRC. I have some questions.
    Start off using HexChat for a client. You can find channels here: https://netsplit.de/channels/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • DPReview.com is shutting down
    First off, grab yourself an IRC client. On their connection info page Hackint has information for both WeeChat and Hexchat, but you could use any IRC client. Source: about 2 years ago
  • IRC Chat?
    Gajim is for XMPP. For IRC you need Hexchat or Weechat or something like that. Source: over 2 years ago
  • TIFU by showing my dad the possibilities of the Internet.
    Hexchat is one of the more popular ones. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Online in the 70s, 80s, and early 90s.
    IRC - Also still around and in some cases, the same as it ever was, albeit with a smaller user base. A list of networks can be found here, and while there are many actively developed IRC clients out there, if you don't know where to start, most people recommend HexChat. Reddit's affiliated network is called Snoonet. mIRC is still actively developed by Khaled Mardam-Bey, so by all means, feel free to give that a... Source: over 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Textual and HexChat, you can also consider the following products

mIRC - mIRC: Internet Relay Chat client

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

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

WeeChat - WeeChat is a fast, light and extensible chat client.

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.

IRCCloud - IRCCloud is a modern IRC client that keeps you connected, with none of the baggage. Stay synced and notified wherever you are with our web and mobile apps.