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What IRC client do you use on Windows?

I am after a good IRC client for Windows. I appreciate mIRC has been 'the standard' for years, but is that still the case? Can anyone offer any, preferably free, alternatives?

Please only post one suggestion per answer.

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migrated from serverfault.com Nov 19 '09 at 6:59

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closed as exact duplicate by Diago Nov 19 '09 at 7:25

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17 Answers

up vote 18 down vote

X-Chat for Windows:

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Seconded - it's by far the best IMO. – GodEater May 15 '09 at 12:46
I'm not sure if it's still the case, but there used to be a paid and a free version of X-Chat/X-Chat2. The paid version may have disappeared as, being based on Open Source, it violated the license. – alexp206 May 15 '09 at 13:10
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X-Chat for Windows isn't free: "You may use XChat for Windows for free for 30 days. If, after this time, you would like to continue using the product, you are required to register. Registration is a one time fee of $19.99 USD (US Dollars)" -- xchat.org/windows – David Collantes May 15 '09 at 13:16
@David therefore I've linked the unofficial free X-Chat (UNIX IRC client) build for Windows too. :) – Node May 15 '09 at 13:32
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Hey Node, I didn't realise you'd linked to SilvereX - it's almost like an easter-egg. I think you might have left some upvotes on the table there. ;-) – Charles Roper May 15 '09 at 13:52
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up vote 11 down vote

I share your mind, mIRC is the best IRC client on Windows !

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up vote 11 down vote

Irssi.

Being a console application, you can get used to a single thing and run it everywhere -- Windows, Linux, some screen session on a remote server. Plus, IRC somehow looks better in a terminal window.

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add screen to the mix and things are golden. ssh to your favorite box screen -r and irrsi is right there. Add Bitlbee and things get that much better – trent May 15 '09 at 21:08
Thanks for the tip trent, I didn't know about BitlBee. – Tiberiu Ana May 17 '09 at 13:32
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up vote 4 down vote

SilvereX is my favorite. Build on top of X-Chat, but free (X-Chat isn't free).

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Rather annoyingly, the domain for SilvereX is blocked by OpenDNS here (classed as 'chat' - same thing happens on the mIRC domain). Is there an alternative domain or download location? – Charles Roper May 15 '09 at 13:49
Hm, I would try google or add the IP of silverex.org to your local etc/hosts file: 74.86.161.210 www.silverex.org – Node May 15 '09 at 14:27
Thank you, David - much appreciated. – Charles Roper May 15 '09 at 14:47
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up vote 4 down vote

I like ChatZilla. Although I admit, I've never needed super advanced features, that mIRC provides.

I run it as Firefox extension, but it's also available as standalone (with XULRunner).

It's great advantage is that it works on any platform on which Mozilla works.

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up vote 4 down vote

I like HydraIRC, it's simple to set up and use. I've never used any of the advanced features, just the favourites which I find invaluable.

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up vote 4 down vote

The Opera browser integrates a pretty nice and simple IRC client (it still does, doesn't it?).

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Opera does have the IRC client as of version 11.01. – Marve Feb 23 '11 at 19:19
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up vote 4 down vote

Since I'm a programmer, I use my own IRC client written in C#.

alt text

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It is not about what you use, it is about which one you think it's the best. I am sure, being a good programmer and all, you will certainly know yours isn't :-) – David Collantes May 15 '09 at 20:19
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since it's totally free and quite customizable (I have the sources) that's the best one :) – user2451 May 15 '09 at 21:04
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@noncisonomessaggi are you willing to share the source? – alexandrul Mar 28 '10 at 16:57
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@noncisonomessaggi: And it's easier to customize than any other? You're positive? – SamB Apr 26 '10 at 3:29
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How on earth does this answer the OP's question? Provide at least a link to the binaries or better yet source code. Otherwise I'll say this is just a mock up and nothing else. – ra170 Aug 29 '11 at 19:06
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up vote 1 down vote

I thought I would add the one that I currently use:

AdiIRC

It's free and can be run from a USB drive. It's pretty good.

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up vote 1 down vote

I use Quassel and have no problems with it whatsoever.

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up vote 1 down vote

If your IRC usage is fairly light (e.g. 1 or 2 channels) you might consider a multi protocol client such as trillian.

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up vote 1 down vote

I don't have a lot of experience with it myself, but I've been hearing really good things about Mibbit. I hear it's being folded into the next rev of Firefox as the default IRC handler? (Which is either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your viewpoint.)

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Unfortunately it got banned from freenode sometime last summer :-(. I was really upset to discover this upon returning to school! – SamB Apr 26 '10 at 3:31
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up vote 1 down vote

I'd still go for mIRC for full feature goodness, and probably something like the IRC client built into trillian for "quick 'n dirty". If you're already using trillian or one of the other similar products that also includes an IRC client then you've got nothing to lose by checking if it meets your needs. As for "the best", that's a well with no bottom.

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up vote 0 down vote

Irssi run in a ssh putty session connected to a linux box. :)

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up vote 0 down vote

Leafchat Scores well on IRC Review

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up vote 0 down vote

I've personally used IceChat. Its free and works well.

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up vote 0 down vote

mIRC beacuse when I started getting addicted to IRC there was nothing else ;-)

Looking objectively, very few other clients have capabilities, and kind of community support mIRC has.

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