MetroIRC vs HexChat

Struggling to choose between MetroIRC and HexChat? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

MetroIRC is a Social & Communications solution with tags like irc, chat, messaging, open-source.

It boasts features such as Open-source, Lightweight, Supports IRC networks and channels, Nickname registration, Notification icons, Auto-connect on start, Logging and pros including Free and open source, Simple and easy to use interface, Lightweight and fast, Supports multiple IRC networks and channels.

On the other hand, HexChat is a Social & Communications product tagged with opensource, crossplatform, irc, chat, notifications, autoreconnecting.

Its standout features include Multi-platform support (Windows, Linux, macOS), Supports multiple IRC networks and channels, Highly customizable with scripts and plugins, Encrypted communication via SSL/TLS, Auto-reconnect and auto-join channels, Notification support, Text formatting and styling, Logging and scrollback, Proxy support, IPv6 support, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Very customizable and extensible, Stable and lightweight, Supports all major IRC features, Available for all major desktop platforms, Active development community.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

MetroIRC

MetroIRC

MetroIRC is an open-source, lightweight Internet Relay Chat (IRC) client for Windows. It has a simple, easy-to-use interface and supports multiple IRC networks and channels, nickname registration, notification icons, auto-connect on start, logging, and other basic IRC client features.

Categories:
irc chat messaging open-source

MetroIRC Features

  1. Open-source
  2. Lightweight
  3. Supports IRC networks and channels
  4. Nickname registration
  5. Notification icons
  6. Auto-connect on start
  7. Logging

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Simple and easy to use interface

Lightweight and fast

Supports multiple IRC networks and channels

Cons

Limited features compared to other IRC clients

No mobile app

Small user community


HexChat

HexChat

HexChat is an open source, free IRC client for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It supports multiple servers and channels, theming, plugins, and features useful for IRC chat, including notifications, auto-reconnecting, and text styling.

Categories:
opensource crossplatform irc chat notifications autoreconnecting

HexChat Features

  1. Multi-platform support (Windows, Linux, macOS)
  2. Supports multiple IRC networks and channels
  3. Highly customizable with scripts and plugins
  4. Encrypted communication via SSL/TLS
  5. Auto-reconnect and auto-join channels
  6. Notification support
  7. Text formatting and styling
  8. Logging and scrollback
  9. Proxy support
  10. IPv6 support

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Free and open source

Very customizable and extensible

Stable and lightweight

Supports all major IRC features

Available for all major desktop platforms

Active development community

Cons

Steeper learning curve than some clients

Limited native mobile support

Less user-friendly than modern chat apps

Some platform versions more outdated than others