Reviewed for Relay 0.11.0

Everything you need to stay in the conversation.

Stable capabilities reviewed for Relay 0.11.0. Availability can depend on your IRC server and Relay administrator settings.

Highlights

Designed around the way IRC is actually used.

Conversations

Always connected

Keep IRC connections alive while your browser or device is offline.

Access and personalization

Responsive web client

Move naturally between channels, chat, and users on desktop, tablet, and phone.

Hosting and control

Self-hosted Go server

Run a single server binary or a pinned container without a JavaScript runtime.

See conversation tools in action →

Conversations

Follow active rooms, return to missed context, and respond without losing the thread.

Always connected

Keep IRC connections alive while your browser or device is offline.

Replies, threads, and reactions

Reply in context, browse persistent threads, and respond with emoji. Technical details.

Message history and search

Search stored conversations and navigate back to an exact result. Technical details.

Message bubbles

Choose grouped, theme-aware conversation bubbles on every screen or mobile only.

Multiline messages

Send line-broken text as one message where the network supports it.

Shareable message links

Create expiring, read-only links on eligible private instances. Technical details.

Unread activity

Return through unread markers, mentions, and configurable activity views.

Link and media previews

Expand supported links, images, and click-to-play video when enabled.

Rich IRC text

Compose IRC styling, colors, code blocks, and syntax-highlighted snippets.

Typing indicators

See composing activity and disable both sending and receiving for privacy.

Notifications and sounds

Configure push, browser, in-window, per-channel, and sound alerts. Technical details.

Files and images

Attach, drag, or paste files; supported images have private metadata removed. Technical details.

Access and personalization

Use Relay on the device at hand and shape the workspace around your networks.

Responsive web client

Move naturally between channels, chat, and users on desktop, tablet, and phone.

Desktop and PWA clients

Install Relay as a desktop app or add its web client to a home screen. Technical details.

Themes and custom CSS

Browse built-in themes or import, export, and layer custom CSS. Technical details.

Synchronized sessions

Resume networks, channels, settings, mentions, and history on another client.

Network and channel organization

Group networks and arrange favorites and nested sub-channels. Technical details.

Command palette and autocomplete

Search channels, settings, actions, and context-aware IRC commands.

Profiles and avatars

Show profile details, identity colors, account badges, and inherited avatars. Technical details.

Passkeys and security keys

Use platform authenticators for passwordless or two-step local sign-in. Technical details.

Network security

Connect with TLS, SASL, strict transport security, or a SOCKS5 proxy. Technical details.

IRC encryption

Protect IRC traffic from network observers with shared passphrases. Technical details.

Hosting and control

Run Relay on infrastructure you choose, with practical controls for storage, access, and integrations.

Self-hosted Go server

Run a single server binary or a pinned container without a JavaScript runtime. Technical details.

Structured message storage

Use SQLite by default or PostgreSQL with indexed search and migration tools. Technical details.

Administration workspace

Manage server behavior, storage, media, authentication, integrations, and users. Technical details.

Accounts and registration

Create the first administrator securely and optionally enable verified registration. Technical details.

OIDC single sign-on

Add an OIDC sign-in path while retaining local account access. Technical details.

Storage and retention controls

Set history and upload policies appropriate to your deployment. Technical details.

Public mode hardening

Offer fixed-target guest access with bounded resources and reduced persistence. Technical details.

Network diagnostics and gateways

Inspect connection capabilities and configure trusted WebIRC forwarding. Technical details.

Calls, GIFs, and partyline

Optionally connect Jitsi, a server-proxied GIF picker, and a local community room. Technical details.