Polari
Simple IRC client made for the GNOME desktop.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Linux
Is Polari free?
Yes, free and open source
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- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 3
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About Polari
Polari is the GNOME project's IRC client. It keeps the interface deliberately small: a list of rooms and private conversations on the left, the chat on the right, and desktop notifications when someone mentions you, so you don't need to learn menus full of options. It follows GNOME's design guidelines and fits in with other GNOME apps on Linux, and it's distributed through Flathub as well as most distribution repositories. Polari is free and open source, maintained within the GNOME project with regular releases that track the GNOME release cycle. It suits people who just want to join a few channels for open source projects or communities and chat. Power users will miss features found in clients like KVIrc or WeeChat, such as scripting, extensive theming or a terminal interface, and there is no version for Windows or macOS.
Best for: GNOME users who want a no-fuss IRC client for a few channels.
Pros and cons
What works
- Clean, minimal interface that follows GNOME design
- Free and open source, part of the GNOME project
- Easy install from Flathub
- Desktop notifications for mentions
Why people leave
- Linux only
- No scripting or plugin system
- Few appearance and behaviour settings
- No built-in bouncer or cloud history
Polari vs Halloy, KVIrc and Textual
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Top Polari alternatives
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Polari: common questions
What is Polari?
Polari: Simple IRC client made for the GNOME desktop. Best for GNOME users who want a no-fuss IRC client for a few channels. Available for Linux.
Is Polari free?
Yes. Polari is free, open-source software.
Is Polari open source?
Yes.
What platforms does Polari run on?
Polari is available for Linux.
What are the best alternatives to Polari?
The highest-ranked Polari alternatives right now are Halloy, KVIrc and Textual. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Polari vs Halloy: what's the difference?
Both Polari and Halloy are free and open source. Only Halloy runs on macOS and Windows.