1
Also covers git and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
typer runs typing tests in the terminal, with installation and usage commands listed in its project page.
Alternatives
The Best Irssi Alternatives in 2026
24 alternatives0 free · 13 open source
Looking for something like Irssi? Here are 24 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 13 are open source.
Irssi runs as a modular text-mode chat client with built-in IRC and additional protocol support through plugins.
Top picks at a glance
First suggestiontypertyper runs typing tests in the terminal, with installation…Another optionfmfm manages files in a terminal interface, with its project…
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | typer | — | Yes | — |
| 2 | fm | — | Yes | — |
| 3 | Claws Mail | — | Not stated | Web |
| 4 | Eloquent | — | Yes | — |
| 5 | xdg-ninja | — | Yes | — |
| 6 | Scripts | — | Yes | Android |
| 7 | dax | — | Yes | Windows |
| 8 | Rich Framework | — | Yes | — |
| 9 | Mousai | — | Yes | — |
| 10 | Plan9port | — | Not stated | — |
All Irssi alternatives
2
Also covers git and linux · open source
fm manages files in a terminal interface, with its project built using Go and Bubble Tea.
3
Claws Mail
claws-mail.orgAlso covers git and linux
Claws Mail provides an email client described by its site as lightweight.
4
Also covers git and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
Eloquent proofreads text in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, and other languages.
5
Also covers git and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
xdg-ninja checks a user’s home directory for unwanted files and directories using a shell script.
6
Also covers git and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
This Waydroid script adds components such as OpenGApps, Magisk, and translation libraries.
7
Also covers git and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
dax offers cross-platform shell tools for Deno and Node.js, including command execution and output capture.
8
Also covers git and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
Prezto configures Zsh with defaults, aliases, functions, and command-line interface enhancements.
9
Also covers git and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
Mousai identifies songs, according to its repository description and project page.
10
Plan9port
github.com/9fans/plan9portAlso covers git and linux · same kind of open-source project
Plan 9 from User Space ports Plan 9 libraries and programs to Unix systems.
11
Haruna
github.com/KDE/harunaAlso covers git and linux · same kind of open-source project
Haruna plays video using Qt/QML and libmpv, according to its project description.
12
Also covers git and linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
pacwall changes a Linux wallpaper to show the dependency graph and status of installed pacman packages.
13
Magit!
magit.vcAlso covers git and linux
Magit puts Git operations in a text-based interface inside Emacs, according to its project page.
14
explainshell.com
explainshell.comAlso covers git and linux
explainshell matches command-line arguments to their help text and lets users select a distribution’s manual pages.
15
Android-x86
android-x86.orgAlso covers git and linux
Android-x86 ports the Android Open Source Project to x86 computers, allowing Android to run on a PC.
16
tuifi
git.sr.ht/~matf/tuifiAlso covers git and linux
tuifi provides music playback for the TIDAL HiFi API through a terminal interface.
17
bpkg
bpkg.shAlso covers git and linux
bpkg manages Bash packages from the command line, according to its documentation.
18
Photon
git.sr.ht/~ghost08/photonAlso covers git and linux
Photon reads RSS feeds in a terminal and supports sixel graphics, according to its project page.
19
TUI
codeberg.org/theooo/mantra.pyAlso covers git and linux
mantra.py displays online manual pages from the terminal, according to its project description.
20
TerminalTrove
terminaltrove.comAlso covers git and linux
Terminal Trove catalogs command-line and terminal user-interface tools for discovery.
21
Also covers linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
GxPlugins.lv2 collects additional LV2 audio plugins from the Guitarix project.
22
Also covers linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
FreeRDP provides a Remote Desktop Protocol library and client applications.
23
Also covers linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
Suwayomi-VaadinUI connects to Suwayomi as a Java manga reader client built with the Vaadin framework.
24
Also covers linux · same kind of open-source project · open source
dodo provides a graphical email client built on notmuch, with its project describing the client as hackable.
No alternatives match this filter.
Alternatives to similar tools
Scripts24 alternativesxdg-ninja24 alternativesexplainshell.com24 alternativesRich Framework24 alternativesMousai24 alternativespacwall24 alternatives
What is the best alternative to Irssi?
Based on features, tags and platforms, the closest alternatives to Irssi are typer, fm, and Claws Mail.
Are there open-source alternatives to Irssi?
Yes: typer, fm, Eloquent, and xdg-ninja.
Alternatives are suggested from the purpose and features described in our listings. Different pages for the same product appear once. Read each description to check whether it fits your task. How we choose alternatives · Suggest an alternative