AppBreakup
Submit an app

mIRC alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave mIRC: windows only, and paid licence after a 30-day trial, while most IRC clients are free. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces mIRC, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. KVIrc currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1KVIrc logoKVIrcOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 466.5
2Discord logoDiscordFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 551.2
3Halloy logoHalloyOpen sourceYesmacOS, Windows, Linux5 of 540.0
  1. KVIrc logo

    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 mIRC

    Free, open-source graphical IRC client with its own scripting language, also on Mac and Linux.

    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 mIRC 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. Discord logo

    2. Discord

    Best for: Communities that want free voice and text chat

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    51.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from mIRC

    If your community is moving off IRC, Discord offers servers, channels and voice in one free app.

    Pros

    • Free with unlimited history
    • Excellent voice channels
    • Rich roles, bots and moderation

    Cons

    • Not built for enterprise compliance
    • Consumer-style interface for work
    Visit Discord Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Discord a good mIRC alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Price
    Free; optional Nitro subscription
    Checked Oct 29, 2026discord.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Voice channels
    Yes
    Checked Oct 29, 2026discord.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Web, desktop, mobile
    Checked Oct 29, 2026discord.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $2.99 a month (Nitro Basic)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026discord.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Nitro plan
    $9.99 a month
    Checked Nov 1, 2026discord.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Halloy logo

    3. Halloy

    Best for: People who want a fast, modern graphical IRC client with strong IRCv3 support on any desktop

    Open sourcemacOS, Windows, Linux

    40.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from mIRC

    Free, open-source graphical client that also runs on Mac and Linux.

    Pros

    • Native app on macOS, Windows and Linux
    • Wide IRCv3 support, including chat history and read markers
    • Works with soju and ZNC bouncers
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Configuration is done by editing a TOML file
    • No scripting language like mIRC or WeeChat
    • No mobile app
    Visit Halloy Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    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 Halloy a good mIRC alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, Linux
    Checked Oct 30, 2026halloy.chat(opens source in a new tab)
    Built with
    Rust and iced
    Checked Oct 30, 2026halloy.chat(opens source in a new tab)
    Configuration
    config.toml file
    Checked Oct 30, 2026halloy.chat(opens source in a new tab)
    IRCv3
    Yes
    Checked Oct 30, 2026halloy.chat(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best mIRC alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

KVIrc logo

Best mIRC alternative for most people

KVIrc

Free, open-source graphical IRC client with its own scripting language, also on Mac and Linux.

Halloy logo

Best mIRC alternative for a free option

Halloy

Free, open-source graphical client that also runs on Mac and Linux.

Discord logo

Best mIRC alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Discord

If your community is moving off IRC, Discord offers servers, channels and voice in one free app.

KVIrc logo

Best mIRC alternative for open source

KVIrc

Free, open-source graphical IRC client with its own scripting language, also on Mac and Linux.

KVIrc logo

Best mIRC alternative for Mac

KVIrc

Free, open-source graphical IRC client with its own scripting language, also on Mac and Linux.

KVIrc logo

Best mIRC alternative for Windows

KVIrc

Free, open-source graphical IRC client with its own scripting language, also on Mac and Linux.

KVIrc logo

Best mIRC alternative for Linux

KVIrc

Free, open-source graphical IRC client with its own scripting language, also on Mac and Linux.

Discord logo

Best mIRC alternative for iPhone and Android

Discord

If your community is moving off IRC, Discord offers servers, channels and voice in one free app.

Discord logo

Best mIRC alternative for working in the browser

Discord

If your community is moving off IRC, Discord offers servers, channels and voice in one free app.

mIRC alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to mIRC?

KVIrc ranks first right now. Free, open-source graphical IRC client with its own scripting language, also on Mac and Linux. Discord and Halloy follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to mIRC?

Yes. KVIrc (open source), Discord (free plan + paid) and Halloy (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to mIRC?

Yes: KVIrc and Halloy.

Which mIRC alternatives work on Linux?

KVIrc, Discord and Halloy run on Linux.

Why do people switch from mIRC?

The complaints we hear most: windows only; paid licence after a 30-day trial, while most IRC clients are free; interface looks dated next to modern chat apps.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces mIRC, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.