Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Glowing Bear, a self-hosted web IRC front end for WeeChat

A web client for WeeChat. Contribute to glowing-bear/glowing-bear development by creating an account on GitHub.

Glowing Bear is a self-hosted web interface that allows users to access WeeChat, an IRC client, through a browser. Intended for developers and IRC users who want remote access to their chat client, it eliminates the… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Glowing Bear, a self-hosted web IRC front end for WeeChat launched in 2018; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Foxchat▲275

   Best Intercom alternative for startups and indie hackers

   Feb 2026 · foxchat.dev · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Let's Chat, a self-hosted chat app for small teams▲350

   Self-hosted chat for small teams.

   2015 · sdelements.github.io · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Stream Chat▲327

   Build, code and ship in app messaging in a few hours

   2019 · getstream.io · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Smallchat Beta▲372

   Slack integration for chatting with visitors to your website

   2017 · small.chat · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Let's Chat▲323

   Like Slack, but opensource and self-hosted.

   2015 · sdelements.github.io · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Relay▲430

   An extension that adds Discord-style chat to every website

   2020 · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Hello▲310

   Houseparty for web. Change the URL and chat in your room

   2017 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Chat'Inn▲69

   Miminal, Clean and Realtime Global Chat Application

   2022 · chat-inn.vercel.app · its alternatives →

9. 9
   SocialChat by Buffer▲214

   Start conversations on your site. Keep them going on social.

   2018 · buffer.com · its alternatives →

10. 10AB
    A browser-based IRC client built on Node.js – first Node project▲60

    2014 · airchatter.net · its alternatives →

11. 11
    The Lounge▲65

    A modern, cross-platform, self-hosted web IRC client

    2022 · thelounge.chat · its alternatives →

12. 12AA
    An anonymous P2P social network for Android, written in Clojure▲257

    2013 · nightweb.net · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Neko – Self hosted virtual browser that runs in Docker and uses WebRTC▲227

    A self hosted virtual browser that runs in docker and uses WebRTC. - m1k1o/neko

    2021 · github.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Open Source alternative to services like Intercom.io and Smooch▲163

    Client library for Minimal Chat. Contribute to minimalchat/client development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    P2p IRC-inspired browser chat on WebTorrent▲44

    2018 · chr15m.github.io · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Tailchat▲70

    The next-generation noIM Application in your own workspace

    2023 · tailchat.msgbyte.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Subway, a persistent web client for IRC▲84

    ABANDONED - A web based IRC client. Contribute to thedjpetersen/subway development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2012 · github.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Turn your website console into a chat that connects website visitors▲148

    Underground developer meeting room.

    2020 · consolechat.io · its alternatives →

19. 19
    A chat client built on git▲81

    Contribute to staab/git-chat development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Cow Chat▲85

    Anonymous location based chatrooms. With emoji. 🐮 💬

    2016 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Chat▲88

    turn your backend into a chat app instantly

    Mar 2026 · github.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    I built a Yahoo Messenger-inspired web chat app – pure nostalgia▲66

    I’ve been feeling a bit nostalgic lately, so I decided to build a little web chat app inspired by Yahoo! Messenger. Right now it’s got group chat rooms. Super simple setup, no email required to register. You can create your own room or hop into one that’s already open. Room owners can customize things like backgrounds and even cursors of their room. Users can format their messages with basic markdown like bold, italics, and color texts (kind of like the old Yahoo! days). I even brought back the classic Yahoo! Messenger emoticons because… well, why not? You can try it out here:…

    2025 · buzzed.chat · its alternatives →

23. 23
    aIRChat▲61

    A better looking, browser-based IRC client

    2014 · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Pac Chat▲133

    A realtime, anonymous chat made using node and Google maps

    2016 · pac.chat · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →