Comparison

Colloquy vs Igloo

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Colloquy

This app brings the functionality of a popular desktop IRC client to your mobile device. It offers a full-featured experience optimized for on-the-go use with iOS multitasking and push notifications. Enjoy customizable settings, message highlighting, and robust IRC command support.

Highlights
  • Retina display support
  • iOS multitasking and split-screen
  • Push notifications with bouncer
  • Nickname and emoticon completion
  • Message highlighting and vibration
  • Customizable interface and behavior
  • WHOIS user information display
Features
Read full description

Colloquy for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch puts the power of the most popular IRC client for the Mac in the palm of your hand. Built atop the Chat Core framework, Colloquy Mobile is a full featured client optimized for the on-the-go experience with iOS multitasking support. Unique Features: • Support for retina devices, including iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and iPad Pro. • Support for iOS multitasking with local notifications and split-screen support. • Push notifications when using a compatible push bouncer. • Convenient nickname and emoticon completion popups. • Support for all the common IRC commands with completion. • Organized Colloquies view that shows all your conversations and rooms at a glance. • Highlights messages (and optionally vibrates) when your specific words or nickname is mentioned. • Highly customizable interface and behavior settings within the Settings application. • Visual display of user information (WHOIS) for any user. • Full support for landscape mode in the entire application. • Stays connected while iPhone is locked and when SMS alerts appear. • Searchable room member list. • Support for SASL authentication (required when connecting to Freenode over the cell network.) • A console for every connection. • Support for ignoring annoying users. Standard Features: • Multiple message styles to choose from. • Fully compatible with mIRC colors and formatting. • Large selection of graphical emoticons. • Allows you to join multiple chat rooms across many different servers. • Automatic identification with network services (NickServ). • Notification of common server errors as easy to understand alerts. • Automatically join rooms and send commands upon connect. • Solid support for secure connections over SSL and TLS. • Full support for room and connection text encodings. • Full IRCv3 compatibility, including the IRCv3.2 standard. • Open minded and Open Source, like it should be. ATTENTION: We can't provide support here to people leaving reviews, as much as we want to. We also can't discuss feature requests, since there is no way to reply to you here. If you have a problem or suggestion, please visit us in #colloquy-mobile on irc.freenode.net, click the support link below, or email us at support@colloquy.mobi.

About

Igloo

This IRC client has been completely re-engineered for enhanced performance and stability. It offers a refined user experience with a redesigned interface, simultaneous file transfers, and optimized bouncer integration. Enjoy secure communication, versatile file sharing, and extensive customization options.

Highlights
  • Multi-file DCC/XDCC transfers
  • Redesigned user interface with themes
  • Optimized for bouncers (ZNC)
  • Comprehensive network support
  • SSL/TLS encryption
  • Inline media viewing
  • VoiceOver accessibility
Features
Read full description

Introducing the new Igloo: a complete overhaul delivering an IRC Client with enhanced performance and stability. This latest version, reengineered from the ground up, offers a refined user experience while maintaining the simplicity and versatility you expect from Igloo. What's New: • Multi-File DCC/XDCC: Enhanced to support simultaneous file transfers, now conveniently stored locally for immediate access. • Redesigned User Interface: A cleaner, more intuitive UI paired with a selection of themes, elevating your chat experience. • Optimized for Bouncers: Advanced features tailored for a seamless experience with popular bouncers like ZNC. Core Features: • Comprehensive Network Support: Compatible with all IRC networks, including Freenode, Libera, Rizon, EFnet, and more. • Secure Communication: Ensured by SSL/TLS encryption. • ZNC Integration: Seamless integration with ZNC and a Push Notification module (https://push.igloo.app). • Versatile File Sharing: File, image, audio, and video sharing supported through platforms like Arxius.io and Imgur.com. • Enhanced Input Completion: For channels, nicks, and commands. • Inline Media Viewing: Experience inline media display for a more engaging chat environment. • Customization and Compliance: Customize your experience with inline nick coloring, full formatting with 99 color support, and adherence to IRCv3 standards. • VoiceOver Accessibility: Enhanced accessibility features including VoiceOver integration to support our vision-impaired users. We're committed to evolving Igloo based on your feedback. If there are features you'd like to see in future updates, please let us know at contact@igloo.app or join us at #igloo on iglooirc.com. Terms of Service: https://igloo.app/terms Privacy Policy https://igloo.app/privacy

Screenshots

Colloquy4 screens
Igloo3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Igloo at Free against Colloquy's $1.99. Igloo also leads on rating (3.7 vs 1.8) and ratings volume (119 vs 32). Colloquy's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and chart position (#71 vs unranked). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Igloo is free to download; Colloquy costs $1.99 up front. Igloo sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Colloquy asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Igloo holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 1.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 119 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Colloquy's written reviews are positive against 43% of Igloo's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Colloquy ships an update fortnightly, Igloo every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Colloquy versus Igloo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterColloquyIgloo
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating1.8 (32 ratings)3.7 (119 ratings) — better
Positive reviews39.3% of reviews43.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings32119 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#71 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperColloquy ProjectEskimo Software

Customer experience

Colloquy

All ratings32 ratings
Positive15.6%
Neutral9.4%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews308 reviews
Positive39.3%
Neutral8.8%
Negative51.9%

Igloo

All ratings119 ratings
Positive68.9%
Neutral2.5%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews79 reviews
Positive43.0%
Neutral3.8%
Negative53.2%

User reviews

Colloquy

From 32 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Reliable connection
  • 👍 Thoughtful design
  • 🔒 Handles bouncer setup well
  • 📱 Works great on iOS

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • 🔍 Difficult to use for new users
  • 🔋 Disconnects after inactivity
  • 🔍 Confusing interface

Igloo

From 119 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎨 Clean, minimalistic, and modern interface
  • 🚀 Fast and responsive app performance
  • 🔗 Seamless bouncer integration with IRCv3 support
  • 📱 Best IRC client available for iOS/iPadOS
  • 💬 Active developer with responsive support

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive pricing compared to competitors
  • 🔄 Forced upgrade from previous version with license non-transfer
  • 😤 Developer has dismissive and snarky attitude in responses
  • 📵 Cannot stay connected in background (Apple limitation)
  • 🚫 Misleading 'free' app store listing (trial only)

Bugs and requests

Colloquy

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • Text entry box issues
  • Inconsistent user list display
  • Broken features after updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Longer background timeout
  • Improved search and user list
  • Better file transfer support

Igloo

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • App disconnects when screen turns off or app backgrounded
  • Theme selection not persisting between app launches
  • User list menu jumps unexpectedly on tap
  • Link opening requires multiple taps instead of single tap
  • Copy/paste functionality hidden and unintuitive
Show 5 more
  • Some servers fail to connect
  • Cannot open certain IRC networks
  • Whois/whowas functionality issues with saved conversations
  • Trial license not showing in Apple account for cancellation
  • iPad view support initially broken in V3

Requested features

15 requests
  • Restore /ignore command for blocking users
  • IRCv3 CHATHISTORY extension implementation
  • DCC file transfer support
  • Ability to hide/disable Slap function
  • Color customization for usernames
Show 10 more
  • Disable part/quit message spam
  • Customizable timestamp formats
  • Multi-line copy/paste selection
  • Long-term chat log retention
  • Reorderable server lists
  • Icon selection for servers
  • Hideable user list in portrait mode on iPad
  • Automatic configuration sync across devices
  • Keep screen from timing out during sessions
  • Theme selection persistence

In-app purchases

None

Colloquy

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Igloo

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly License$0.991 Month
  • Yearly License$7.991 Year
One-time3
  • Free TrialFree
  • Lifetime License (Upgrade)$9.99
  • Lifetime License$19.99

Questions

Is Colloquy free?
Colloquy costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Igloo free?
Igloo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Colloquy or Igloo?
Igloo is rated higher. Colloquy averages 1.8 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Igloo averages 3.7 from 119 ratings.
Do Colloquy or Igloo have ads?
Neither Colloquy nor Igloo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Colloquy or Igloo?
Colloquy ships an update fortnightly, and Igloo every 2 weeks. Most recently, Colloquy was updated on October 8, 2026 and Igloo on October 7, 2026.

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