ngIRCd vs UnrealIRCd
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | ngIRCd | UnrealIRCd |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 76 · Good | 75 · Good |
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | C | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 578 | ★ 521 |
| First released | 2001 | 1999 |
| Replaces | Slack | Slack, Discord |
What are ngIRCd and UnrealIRCd?
ngIRCd
ngIRCd is a free, portable, and lightweight IRC server for small to mid-sized networks. It focuses on simplicity, low resource use, and a straightforward configuration file.
- Very low resource use
- Simple configuration
- IPv6 and TLS support
- No external dependencies
UnrealIRCd
UnrealIRCd is a long-established IRC server daemon known for its rich feature set, advanced security controls, and module system. It is one of the most widely deployed IRCd implementations.
- Extensive module system
- Advanced anti-abuse features
- TLS and IRCv3 support
- Highly configurable
ngIRCd vs UnrealIRCd: key differences
Both projects are written in C. NgIRCd is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for UnrealIRCd. UnrealIRCd is the more established project (first released 1999), while ngIRCd arrived in 2001.
Why pick each one
Choose ngIRCd if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in C
- Tiny footprint — runs in 32 MB RAM
Choose UnrealIRCd if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Written in C
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is ngIRCd or UnrealIRCd better?
ngIRCd is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider UnrealIRCd if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are ngIRCd and UnrealIRCd free and open-source?
Yes. ngIRCd is licensed under GPL-2.0 and UnrealIRCd under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ngIRCd and UnrealIRCd with Docker?
ngIRCd: check the project docs for container support. UnrealIRCd: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, ngIRCd or UnrealIRCd?
ngIRCd has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for UnrealIRCd. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.