Weechat
Fast, light and extensible chat client.
Weechat vs ZNC
Two self-hosted Communication - IRC apps, compared on the facts we track: GitHub popularity and activity, license, language, Docker images and a rough hosting estimate.
Side by side
| Weechat | ZNC | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Fast, light and extensible chat client. | Advanced IRC bouncer. |
| GitHub stars | 3,422 | 2,128 |
| Forks | – | – |
| Open issues | – | – |
| Commits (12 months) | 877 | 180 |
| Last activity | 2026-11-04 | 2026-11-01 |
| Latest release | v4.10.2 (2026-10-31) | – |
| Maintenance health | Active | Active |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language / platform | C, Docker, deb | C++, deb |
| Docker Hub image | – | – |
| Docker pulls | – | – |
| Est. server size | ~512 MB, 1 vCPU | ~512 MB, 1 vCPU |
| Est. hosting from | $3.5/mo | $3.5/mo |
| Categories | Communication - IRC | Communication - IRC |
| Links | Website · Source | Website · Source |
What the numbers say
- Weechat is more popular on GitHub: 3.4k stars vs 2.1k for ZNC.
- Weechat had more commits in the last 12 months (877 vs 180).
- Weechat publishes GitHub releases (latest v4.10.2); no GitHub release was found for ZNC.
- Weechat is licensed under GPL-3.0, ZNC under Apache-2.0. ZNC's license is permissive; Weechat's is copyleft (changes you distribute must stay open).
- Weechat is written in C; ZNC in C++.
- Deployment options listed upstream: Weechat: Docker, deb; ZNC: deb.
Summary: Weechat leads on GitHub popularity and commit activity. The right choice depends on the features you need — read both project descriptions and docs.
This summary is generated from GitHub, Docker Hub and awesome-selfhosted data as of 2026-11-05. It does not rate features or quality.
Frequently asked questions
Is Weechat or ZNC more popular?
Weechat has more GitHub stars (3,422 vs 2,128 for ZNC, as of 2026-11-05). Stars measure interest, not quality.
Which is more actively maintained, Weechat or ZNC?
Weechat had more commits over the last 12 months (877 vs 180). The last recorded activity was 2026-11-04 for Weechat and 2026-11-01 for ZNC. Our health labels: Weechat is “Active”, ZNC is “Active”.
What licenses do Weechat and ZNC use?
Weechat: GPL-3.0. ZNC: Apache-2.0. ZNC's license is permissive; Weechat's is copyleft (changes you distribute must stay open).
Can I run Weechat and ZNC with Docker?
We did not detect a Docker Hub image for either app. The upstream listing mentions Docker as a deployment option for Weechat. Check each project's documentation for install options.
Read more
ZNC
Advanced IRC bouncer.
Browse all self-hosted Communication - IRC apps.