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Polari alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll IRC clients

Top picks

  • Halloy logo

    Best overall

    Halloy

    Open source

  • KVIrc logo

    Best free option

    KVIrc

    Open source

  • Halloy logo

    Best open source

    Halloy

    Open source

Common reasons people leave Polari: linux only, and no scripting or plugin system. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Polari, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Halloy currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Halloy logoHalloyOpen source—YesmacOS, Windows, Linux5 of 568.8
2KVIrc logoKVIrcOpen source—YesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 464.8
3Textual logoTextualPaid—NomacOS5 of 551.2
  1. Halloy logo

    1. HalloyTop pick

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

    Open sourcemacOS, Windows, Linux

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Polari

    Cross-platform open source IRC client with more modern IRCv3 features and a similar clean look.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 Halloy a good Polari alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, Linux
    Checked Nov 8, 2026halloy.chat(opens source in a new tab)
    Built with
    Rust and iced
    Checked Nov 8, 2026halloy.chat(opens source in a new tab)
    Configuration
    config.toml file
    Checked Nov 8, 2026halloy.chat(opens source in a new tab)
    IRCv3
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026halloy.chat(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. KVIrc logo

    2. KVIrc

    Best for: People who want a free graphical IRC client with scripting on Windows, Mac or Linux

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Polari

    Feature-rich open source client with scripting, themes and Windows and Mac builds.

    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 ×0.387
    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 KVIrc a good Polari 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 8, 2026kvirc.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Latest release
    5.2.10 (Dec 2025)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026kvirc.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Licence exception
    Extended GPL
    Checked Nov 8, 2026kvirc.net(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Textual logo

    3. Textual

    Best for: Mac users who spend a lot of time on IRC and want a native app instead of a terminal client

    PaidmacOS

    51.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Polari

    The Mac equivalent of a clean native IRC client, if you're moving off Linux.

    Pros

    • Feels like a proper Mac app, with light and dark chat styles
    • Supports IRCv3, SASL, client certificates and ZNC bouncers
    • One-time licence with no subscription, usable on all your Macs
    • Scriptable in AppleScript, Swift, Python and other languages

    Cons

    • macOS only, with no Windows, Linux or phone apps
    • Not free after the 30-day trial, unlike most IRC clients
    • Does not stay connected when the Mac is off without a separate bouncer
    Visit Textual 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 Textual a good Polari alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free trial
    30 days
    Checked Nov 8, 2026textualapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pricing
    One-time purchase, no subscription
    Checked Nov 8, 2026textualapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS 12 Monterey or later
    Checked Nov 8, 2026textualapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    IRC features
    IRCv3, IPv6, SASL, ZNC bouncers
    Checked Nov 8, 2026textualapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Blendbyte (since October 2026)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026textualapp.com(opens source in a new tab)

Discontinued alternatives

The best Polari alternative for…

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

Halloy logo

Best Polari alternative for most people

Halloy

Cross-platform open source IRC client with more modern IRCv3 features and a similar clean look.

KVIrc logo

Best Polari alternative for a free option

KVIrc

Feature-rich open source client with scripting, themes and Windows and Mac builds.

Halloy logo

Best Polari alternative for open source

Halloy

Cross-platform open source IRC client with more modern IRCv3 features and a similar clean look.

Textual logo

Best Polari alternative for Mac

Textual

The Mac equivalent of a clean native IRC client, if you're moving off Linux.

Halloy logo

Best Polari alternative for Windows

Halloy

Cross-platform open source IRC client with more modern IRCv3 features and a similar clean look.

Halloy logo

Best Polari alternative for Linux

Halloy

Cross-platform open source IRC client with more modern IRCv3 features and a similar clean look.

Polari alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Polari?

Halloy ranks first right now. Cross-platform open source IRC client with more modern IRCv3 features and a similar clean look. KVIrc and Textual follow it in our ranking.

Polari vs Halloy: what's the difference?

Both Polari and Halloy are free and open source. Only Halloy runs on macOS and Windows.

Is Polari free?

Polari is free and open source.

Is there a free alternative to Polari?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Polari?

Yes: Halloy and KVIrc.

Which Polari alternatives work on Linux?

Halloy and KVIrc run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Polari?

The complaints we hear most: linux only; no scripting or plugin system; few appearance and behaviour settings.

How is this list ranked?

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