The smaller IRC networks - less than 1,000 maximum users
updated March 2024
AfterNET
Server Locations: United States, Canada, Japan, France, and the United Kingdom
Services: AuthServ and X3
Support Channels: #afternet
Servers: http://www.afternet.org/help/connecting/servers?redirect=1
Servers: irc.afternet.org
Information:
AfterNET is a network of Internet Relay Chat (IRC) servers that was founded in September of 1996 and is dedicated to providing a free, quality chat environment, which gives people all over the world a means to communicate with each other. As a completely volunteer run organization, we strive to be a place where the freedom of speech of all our users is respected. We are in it for the community, not for a profit.
BSDNet
Support Channels: #nohelp
Servers: irc.bsdnet.org
Information:
Yup. It’s BSD. Various flavours of BSD operating systems are the main topic on this network, pretty much in the same style as on LinuxNET. A network for the experts. Rather unfriendly towards outsiders, all they lack is a ‘Keep Out’ notice in the MOTD. If you don’t know what BSD is, this is not for you.
BeyondIRC
Server Locations: USA
Support Channels: #A-BeyondIRC-Welcome, #Services
Servers: walle.beyondirc.net, whipcrack.beyondirc.net, irc.beyondirc.net
Information:
A small IRC network which as been around since January, 1997.
EsperNet
Server Locations: US, EU, Asia
Support Channels: #help, #dragonweyr, #esper
Servers: https://www.esper.net/servers.php
Servers: irc.esper.net, nova.esper.net, anarchy.esper.net, calamity.esper.net
Information:
EsperNet is one of the more organized small networks, best known for the public release of the Services created and used on the network. Originally started by an FF RPG group, their userbase is now much more general. Started July 1996
FEFnet
Server Locations: UK, US
Support Channels: #help
Servers: https://www.fef.net/servers.xhtml
Servers: irc.fef.net
Information:
Another network promising strict abuse control as one of its pro’s. Unlike most others of the kind though, channel subjects are not restricted.
IRCNow
Server Locations: USA, Luxembourg
Services: Nickserv
Support Channels: #help
Servers: https://wiki.ircnow.org/index.php
Servers: irc.ircnow.org, irc.planetofnix.com, irc.oddprotocol.org
Information:
IRCNow provides internet services for the free and open source community. IRCNow is a federation of servers that govern themselves, each one with its own team of sysadmins who provide different services. (Started at 2020)
NightStar
Server Locations: UK, US
Support Channels: #Nightstar
Servers: irc.nightstar.net, Deepthought.Nightstar.Net, Traal.Nightstar.Net, Golgafrincham.Nightstar.Net
Information:
Started March 1997
Shadowfire
Server Locations: ZA, US, EU
Services: NickServ, ChanServ, AresServ
Servers: irc.shadowfire.org, za.shadowfire.org, us.shadowfire.org, eu.shadowfire.org
Information:
Quake players, among other things… Started March 1998
SomeNet
Support Channels: #tuwien
Servers: irc.somenet.org
Information:
A small chat network.
SorceryNET
Support Channels: #square
Servers: irc.sorcery.net
Information:
An ambitious project to create a new network which will be “the best network on IRC”, running on guidelines similar to DALnet, managed by experienced admins of former DALnet servers. Started at January 1997
StarLink
Webchat: https://kiwiirc.com/nextclient/webchat.starlink.org/?nick=web|?#fringe
Server Locations: US, GB
Support Channels: #fringe
Servers: https://www.starlink.org/connect-servers.php
Servers: irc.starlink.org
Information:
Started July 1996
WorldIRC
Servers: http://www.worldirc.org/index.php?page=servers
Servers: irc.WorldIRC.Org
Information:
nix
Wunder-Nett
Server Locations: DE
Support Channels: #Wonderland
Servers: irc.wunder-nett.org
Information:
Wunder-Nett is a small German network and one of the older local ones. Last time I checked, it looked like its days were numbered due to lack of users and/or interest… Started July 1995
Zeolia
Webchat: https://k.zeolia.chat/
Server Locations: France
Services: Nick (NickServ), Channel (ChanServ), Memo (MemoServ), Help (HelpServ)
Servers: irc.zeolia.chat (Hub / Round Robin), bds.zeolia.chat, avalon.zeolia.chat
Information:
French speaking generalist network (until 2022 irc.zeolia.net)
starlink-irc
Server Locations: US
Servers: http://www.starlink-irc.org/index.servers.html
Servers: irc.starlink-irc.org, PHELPS.KY.US.STARLINK-IRC.ORG, DALLAS.TX.US.StarLink-IRC.Org, STOPOVER.KY.US.StarLink-IRC.Org
Information:
Not to be confused with StarLink, which is older and larger.
Started January 1997