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I used to use XChat, until i realised it was only free on Linux. It was my favourite IRC client I've used and it's my preferred choice on Linux now. I moved to mIRC but it's not perfect imo. I should try to get to use irssi more but I have a thing for GUIs. Terminal-style apps are ok but not something I'd like to spend ages looking at, especially on Windows.

What GUI-based client do you use on Windows and why?

edited Nov 29 at 8:12

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2 revs, 2 users 100%
Ross

XChat2 (silverex.org/download) is a free clone of XChat for windows. – BlueNovember Jan 9 at 2:04

bLee · Answer 1 · 2009-07-17 21:56:46Z

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mIRC

Pretty Solid.

answered Jul 17 at 21:56

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bLee

	Simple, yet powerful. I have been using mIRC for over 10 years. – cschol Jul 17 at 22:57
	But is mIRC free? – bAN Jul 27 at 19:14
	@bAN: I never had to pay for it. I know it has that evaluation period, but it never stopped me from using it. – bLee Jul 27 at 21:55

Sam152 · Answer 2 · 2009-07-17 21:57:46Z

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I use ChatZilla, mainly because I'm not a heavy IRC user and its really convenient to use it as a plugin for Firefox, it's nice and lightweight too.

answered Jul 17 at 21:57

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Sam152

ldigas · Answer 3 · 2009-07-17 22:47:32Z

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X-Chat 2 - free, stable, comes with python, ruby ... support

answered Jul 17 at 22:47

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ldigas

Factor Mystic · Answer 4 · 2009-07-17 23:08:52Z

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Pidgin supports IRC out of the box, and it works well because the chat windows are tabbed in the same window as other conversations:

answered Jul 17 at 23:08

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Factor Mystic

	Pidgin is also nice since you can use it for all your other chat needs like MSN, Yahoo, Facebook etc – Matthew Lock Nov 19 at 3:33
	Your image is broken. – musicfreak Nov 29 at 7:07

Spencer Ruport · Answer 5 · 2009-07-17 22:16:07Z

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I use Trillian along with ChatZilla (already mentioned). Trillian because I already use it for other chat networks and it's convenient to not have to install yet another chat program.

answered Jul 17 at 22:16

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Spencer Ruport

I remember using Trillian a while back but dropped it for some reason. Have you tried Trillian Astra? – Ross Jul 17 at 22:22

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@Ross: i've tried it. Slick new GUI, but still slow... and still fails to play well with the firewall - even worse now, as it won't even start if it can't contact its own servers. That last one pretty much killed it for me; i can use GTalk and AIM through GMail now, fighting with a desktop app that can't figure out how to tunnel through 443 is just more trouble than its worth. – Shog9 Jul 17 at 22:52

Oscar Reyes · Answer 6 · 2009-07-17 21:55:33Z

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http://mibbit.com

It can be used from the webbrowser.

answered Jul 17 at 21:55

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Oscar Reyes

becomingGuru · Answer 7 · 2009-07-18 06:39:12Z

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Windows or Linux, Xchat rocks

answered Jul 18 at 6:39

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becomingGuru

grawity · Answer 8 · 2009-07-18 15:33:33Z

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irssi - over SSH to a Linux box :)

There is an official Cygwin build though, but it's Cygwin, so I don't like it much.

answered Jul 18 at 15:33

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grawity

+1 for ssh-to-linux-run-irssi, but -1 for mentioning cygwin (j/k) ;) – jtimberman Jul 18 at 15:52

MacAnthony · Answer 9 · 2009-07-18 16:40:58Z

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Ice chat is pretty similar to mirc but doesn't have the guilt and nagging associated with registering it.

http://www.icechat.net/site/

answered Jul 18 at 16:40

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MacAnthony

2 revs easypeasy · Answer 10 · 2009-11-29 07:07:13Z

I've been using thrashirc for 3 years. I like it's simple GUI, and it's dcc resume feature. It runs good on vista and win7 ultimate 64bit. Sucky part, it isn't free. It was $10 back when I got it, I think it's $12 now. http://www.thrashirc.com

sam · Answer 11 · 2009-12-05 12:57:10Z

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I haven't IRCed in a long time but I, and a lot of people I knew when I did IRC, used to use XiRCON and PIRCH. I don't think either are still updated but I believe PIRCH spawned a successor called Vortec IRC.

answered Dec 5 at 12:57

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sam