Profanity provides text-based access to XMPP services as a console chat client written in C.
Profanity
Profanity lets users connect to XMPP messaging services from a terminal interface.
About Profanity
Profanity is a console-based XMPP client, inspired by Irssi, for chatting over XMPP messaging services from a terminal interface. The project describes its aims as freedom, privacy and choice, and says it supports encryption methods including OTR, PGP, OMEMO and OX. It also describes XMPP as decentralized, so users can run their own server.
The repository links to a user guide with installation and build-from-source instructions, and to a separate plugins repository. The source does not say which encryption methods are enabled by default or how they behave in a given setup, so those details are not covered here.
Key features
- Console-based XMPP client with a terminal interface
- Inspired by the Irssi terminal chat client
- Lists support for OTR, PGP, OMEMO and OX encryption
- Supports decentralized XMPP, where users can run their own server
- Separate plugins repository for extensions
- User guide covering installation and building from source
Best for: Users who prefer a terminal interface and want to use XMPP with the encryption methods the project lists.
Good for
- Names several encryption methods, including OTR, PGP, OMEMO and OX
- Designed to work with decentralized XMPP servers that users can run themselves
- Has a separate plugins repository for extensions
Profanity at a glance
- Category
- Social & Communities › Messaging Apps
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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Profanity FAQ
How do I install Profanity?
The project's user guide has an install section and a section on building from source.
Where should I report a problem?
Search the issue tracker first. If no existing issue matches, create a new one on the GitHub issue tracker. Users without a GitHub account can send a bug report template to the project's mailing list or ask someone in the project's chatroom to submit it.
Is something wrong or out of date?
Tell us and an editor will check it.
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