General IRC Networks

Selected networks with several hundred to several thousand users

We've set up separate pages to highlight some of the most popular nets (with over 10,000 people), or those serving a special local region or subject area. That still leaves hundreds of general networks. If you really want a full list, check out the netsplit.de 3rd party statistics site [ext. link]. We highlight just a few of these small to medium networks below. They are not necessarily the best or biggest nets. We just want to give you some suggestions if you're new to IRC and looking for a general chat network. If you're fed up with the chaos of the popular nets, many of these nets have full services and can be a reasonable place for you to either start or move your channel. Networks are listed alphabetically.

Network	Data
AUSTnet	Servers mainly around the pacific. Unlike most large networks, this is one of the few that isn't US-based, but predominantly australasian. North American all-nighters might find some signs of friendly life here. Locations: Australia, Canada, Singapore, UK, USA Default ports: 6667-6669 Services: Channel (ChanOP), Nick (NickOP), Note (NoteOP), Help (HelpOP) Started: Early 1996 Administrative channel: #asd Server list
ChatNet	Locations: Canada, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Turkey, UK, USA Services: Channel (K9) Started: March 1996 Administrative channel: #nuthouse Server list.
MSN	Microsoft's own chat system, based on something called the Microsoft Exchange Chat Service. Formerly IRC- and web-based, as of May 2001, they require you to use their web link, which will prompt you to download their special client. Since you cannot connect to this network using a standard IRC client, we will no longer provide information on it, beyond simply pointing you to their own web site.
NewNet	Originally formed by the irc.eskimo.com server after being forced off EFnet, this network soon became a prime example of how a small network grows to a respectable size and maintains stability for a number of years. Locations: Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, UK, USA Services: Channel (ChanServ), Nick (NickServ) Started: April 1996 Administrative channel: #idleland Server list.
RelicNet	Locations: Australia, Belgium, Canada, UK, USA Services: Channel (ChanS), Nick (NickS), Memo (MemoS), others. Started: October 1997 Administrative channel: #relicnet Server list
Talk City	This is another large IRC/web-based chat network that has become unreasonably restrictive. As of April 2000, TalkCity required the use of specially modified versions of IRC clients such as mIRC for Windows, Ircle for Mac, etc. This was ostensibly to prevent abuse from people who were using customized "war scripts" to attack other users. Not surprisingly, the modified clients also came with annoying streaming ads, so you decide for yourself what their true intention was. Since this network can no longer be reached using standard IRC clients, we will no longer provide information on it, beyond simply pointing you to their own web site.
WebNet	A network formerly run entirely on Windows servers, which was a great novelty back then, this network has developed into a very decent alternative to the major ones. Showcase for the (commercial) Conference Room ircd. Locations: Canada, Hong Kong, Thailand, USA Default port: 7000 Services: Channel (ChanServ), Nick (NickServ), Memo (MemoServ) Administrative channel: #spiderslair Server list

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