HexChat vs WeeChat

HexChat is available as a free download with source code licensed under GPL v2 and available on GitHub.

HexChat's default interface is clear, well-organized and intuitive. Channels can be laid out as both tabs and in a tree structure. All components such as user lists, topics bar or even menu bar can be hidden to provide a clean way to interact. Conversely the interface can be configured to show quick access buttons for changing channel flags, sending files or performing operator actions.

HexChat is an advanced IRC client that is good for beginners as well as those users who like to get under the hood. It is easy to get up and running, but has all the advanced features that a power user would need.

Windows , Linux and Mac. Source-code available. Someone named Berke Victor's responsible for the Mac version. It's not maintained by the github team (Win, Linux, source-code).

HexChat has a great list of plugins and scripts and is compatible with most XChat plugins. XChats library is incredibly extensive. There is a wide range of both useful and fun plugins. It's possible to add an RSS feed, play a game of chess or control an mp3 player via chat while translating everything written to l33t speek.

While most clients allow changing the theme or style of a window, HexChat gives complete control over what it looks like. It's possible to set a custom image as the background, changing font, or syntax colors.

The Win10 Store "trial" is actually the full version and is not time limited - the pay version is simply there to give Windows Store users the ability to donate to the project, because the Windows Store doesn't support a donate button.

HexChat has either complete or partial translations in over 50 languages.

HexChat supports scripting in Perl and Python. Both languages can be used to extend functionality of the software - bots can be written, automation can be added, new dialogs can be created.

GitHub repository shows active development.

Lots of automation features built into the core application. Custom keyboard shortcuts and Alias commands enabled. Winamp, url-logger, and many other plugins can be easily enabled for extra functionality. UI is highly configurable/themeable, large community of users. Supports countless simultaneous connections.

Hexchat has well-organized, extensive documentation that covers everything from a basic Getting Started guide to enabling Spell Check, connecting to Twitch chat or using Tor.

WeeChat has a command line interface.

WeeChat has an easy to use interface and sane defaults, making it a great client for beginner users.

Easy to configure weechat connect to server using certificates

Many dotfiles are publicly available.

Weechat allows very flexible window splitting behavior to show multiple IRC channels at once. Windows can be split vertically and horizontally.

Weechat can be fully driven by keyboard shortcuts. Navigating between buffers, switching between windows and changing text styling can all be achieved with keyboard shortcuts.

Supports scripting in C, Python, Perl, Ruby, Lua, Tcl, Scheme and Javascript.

Works perfectly with a poor connection.

Smart filtering lets set a series of rules for IRC channels. For example, it allows instructing the client to show /quit and /join messages only if the user was speaking in the last 20 minutes.

WeeChat is a free program licensed under GPL with source code available on GitHub.

It's possible to leave WeeChat running at home/on a server, then connect to it with a smartphone client. This way a choppy mobile internet connection won't disconnect from IRC, and still allow using a touch screen optimized UI.

Weechat community can be found on #weechat @ Freenode. The community, including devs, is helpful in answering any WeeChat related questions.

WeeChat has a built-in tool for searching, downloading, installing and updating scripts and plugins.

By default WeeChat has a chat area surrounded by a nicklist on the right, title bar on top, and status and input bars at the bottom. The layout, though, can be completely customized and split vertically or horizontally. It supports 256 colors as long as the terminal supports 256 colors as well as bolded, italicized and underlined text. Even includes little touches as differently colored nicknames for people /away.

WeeChat scripts repository has hundreds of scripts including url shorteners, music player integrations and bandwidth monitors.

Mouse click and gestures are supported on a local terminal as well as remote terminal accessed via ssh regardless of screen/tmux. To enable mouse support use /mouse enable command or press alt+m.

You are able to modify configurations inside application or via modifying files(i.e. colors).

WeeChat has html5, qt, android, emacs and javascript remote interface options.

Text is searched through in real time as search terms are being written.