Top 12 Open-Source Alternatives to XChat for Linux

Product categories

Communication Group Chat & Notifications Group Messaging Instant Messaging Internet Calls Messaging

Summary

The top open-source alternatives to XChat for Linux are HexChat, irssi, and KVIrc. One of the criteria for ordering this list is the number of mentions that products have on reliable external sources. You can suggest additional sources through the form here.

HexChat Landing Page
1

HexChat

HexChat is a fork of XChat with bug fixes and new features.
Pricing:
- Open Source
#Group Chat & Notifications #Messaging #Communication 7 social mentions
irssi Landing Page
2

irssi

Irssi is a terminal based IRC client for UNIX systems.
Pricing:
- Open Source
#Group Chat & Notifications #Messaging #Communication 6 social mentions
KVIrc Landing Page
3

KVIrc

KVIrc is a free portable IRC client based on the excellent Qt GUI toolkit.
Pricing:
- Open Source
#Group Chat & Notifications #Messaging #Communication
Quassel IRC Landing Page
4

Quassel IRC

Quassel IRC is a modern, cross-platform, distributed IRC client based on the Qt4 framework.
Pricing:
- Open Source
#Group Chat & Notifications #Messaging #Communication 4 social mentions
WeeChat Landing Page
5

WeeChat

WeeChat is a fast, light and extensible chat client.
Pricing:
- Open Source
#Group Chat & Notifications #Messaging #Communication 17 social mentions
Kiwi IRC Landing Page
6

Kiwi IRC

A hand-crafted IRC client that you can enjoy. Designed to be used easily and freely.
Pricing:
- Open Source
#Group Chat & Notifications #Messaging #Communication 6 social mentions
Telegram Landing Page
7

Telegram

Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free.
Pricing:
- Open Source
#Communication #Messaging #Instant Messaging 129 social mentions
The Lounge Landing Page
8

The Lounge

The Lounge is a web IRC client that you host on your own server.
Pricing:
- Open Source
#Group Chat & Notifications #Messaging #Communication 38 social mentions
Discord Landing Page
9

Discord

Step up your game with a modern voice & text chat app. Crystal clear voice, multiple server and channel support, mobile apps, and more.
Pricing:
- Open Source
#Communication #Group Chat & Notifications #Messaging 122 social mentions
Textual Landing Page
10

Textual

Textual is the world's most popular application for interacting with Internet Relay Chat (IRC)...
Pricing:
- Open Source
#Group Chat & Notifications #Messaging #Communication
Colloquy Landing Page
11

Colloquy

Traditionally, chat clients on the Mac have been anything but glamorous.
Pricing:
- Open Source
#Group Chat & Notifications #Messaging #Communication
Convos Landing Page
12

Convos

Convos is the simplest way to use IRC.
Pricing:
- Open Source
#Group Chat & Notifications #Messaging #Communication 10 social mentions