Conversations
Always connected
Keep IRC connections alive while your browser or device is offline.
Reviewed for Relay 0.11.5
Everything you need to stay in the conversation.
Stable capabilities reviewed for Relay 0.11.5. Availability can depend on your IRC server and Relay administrator settings.
Highlights
Designed around the way IRC is actually used.
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.
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.
Conversation history controls
Choose whether new channel or direct-message history is saved for your private account. Technical details.
Private saved messages
Keep message snapshots with notes and labels, and return to their original conversation when available. Technical details.
Recoverable drafts
Optionally restore unsent conversation and thread drafts after a reload on the same device. 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.
Shared conversation excerpts
Review and share up to 20 selected messages through one expiring public link. Technical details.
Automatic paste links
Keep long messages readable with managed paste links, raw text, and syntax highlighting. 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.
Snoozes and quiet hours
Pause alerts for a conversation or set daily quiet hours that synchronize across devices. 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.
Browser and PWA access
Open Relay in a browser or install its web client as a Progressive Web App. Technical details.
Themes and custom CSS
Choose bundled themes, browse an optional theme catalog, or import and export 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.
Authenticator and recovery codes
Add a second step to local password sign-in and keep one-time recovery codes. Technical details.
Optional email password recovery
Recover a private local account through a verified email address when the administrator enables it. 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.
Guided channel moderation
Preview kick and ban commands before submitting them from a private operator account. Technical details.
Calls and GIFs
Optionally connect Jitsi calls and a server-proxied GIF picker. Technical details.