Halloy alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Halloy: configuration is done by editing a TOML file, and no scripting language like mIRC or WeeChat. We ranked 2 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Halloy, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. KVIrc currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	KVIrc	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux	4 of 4	66.5
2	mIRC	Paid	No	Windows	6 of 6	57.2

1. KVIrcTop pick
Best for: People who want a free graphical IRC client with scripting on Windows, Mac or Linux
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux
66.5
score / 100
Why switch from Halloy
Another free cross-platform graphical client, with its own scripting language.
Pros
Graphical client on Windows, macOS and Linux
Own scripting language and community addons
Free and open source
Cons
Busy interface with a very large number of settings
Slow release pace with a small volunteer team
macOS builds are less polished than Windows and Linux ones
Visit KVIrc Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is KVIrc a good Halloy alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
License
GPL-2.0 (with exception)
Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Toolkit
Qt
Checked Nov 1, 2026kvirc.net(opens source in a new tab)
Latest release
5.2.10 (Dec 2025)
Checked Nov 1, 2026kvirc.net(opens source in a new tab)
Licence exception
Extended GPL
Checked Nov 1, 2026kvirc.net(opens source in a new tab)
2. mIRC
Best for: Windows users who want a polished graphical IRC client with deep scripting
PaidWindows
57.2
score / 100
Why switch from Halloy
Polished Windows client with deep scripting, if paying for a licence is fine.
Pros
Own scripting language with a large community script library
Supports SASL, SSL/TLS, IRCv3 and multiple servers
Still actively updated after three decades
Cons
Windows only
Paid licence after a 30-day trial, while most IRC clients are free
Interface looks dated next to modern chat apps
Visit mIRC Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is mIRC a good Halloy alternative?
Verified facts
6 of 6 verified
Free trial
30 days
Checked Oct 29, 2026mirc.com(opens source in a new tab)
Personal licence
$19.95 (one year of updates)
Checked Oct 29, 2026mirc.com(opens source in a new tab)
Business licence
$34.95 per user
Checked Nov 1, 2026mirc.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platform
Windows
Checked Oct 29, 2026mirc.com(opens source in a new tab)
Protocol support
SSL, SASL, IRCv3, IPv6
Checked Oct 29, 2026mirc.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
$19.95 one-time (personal, 1 year of updates)
Checked Nov 1, 2026mirc.com(opens source in a new tab)