About TwistedNET
Free IRC Since 2007
Our Story
// The origin of TwistedNET IRC
TwistedNET was born in 2007, during a time when Internet Relay Chat was the backbone of online community building. What started as a small IRC network among a handful of friends quickly grew into a thriving hub for real-time messaging, collaboration, and genuine human connection. From the very beginning, the vision was clear: build a free IRC community where privacy is not negotiable and every user is treated as an equal.
In the early days of the internet, IRC was the undisputed king of online chat. Developers coordinated open-source projects on it. Gamers formed clans around it. Activists organized through it. TwistedNET was created to carry that tradition forward, providing a secure chat network that respects the original spirit of the protocol: open, decentralized, and free from corporate control.
Over the past eighteen years, the landscape of online communication has shifted dramatically. Platforms have come and gone, each extracting more data from their users than the last. Through it all, TwistedNET has remained steadfast in its commitment to privacy-first IRC. We have upgraded our infrastructure, adopted SSL encryption on every connection, and expanded our server network, but our core principles have never changed.
Today, TwistedNET stands as one of the longest-running independent IRC networks on the internet. We are proud to be a free, community-driven alternative to the data-harvesting chat platforms that dominate the modern web. Whether you discovered IRC yesterday or have been chatting since the 1990s, TwistedNET is your home for secure, private, real-time communication.
Our Mission
// Privacy-first principles that guide everything we do
Our mission is simple: provide a free and secure IRC network where users can communicate privately and without fear of surveillance. In a world where every message, click, and scroll is monetized, TwistedNET exists as proof that online chat does not require sacrificing your privacy.
We enforce a strict zero-logging policy. Messages sent through TwistedNET are delivered in real time and are not stored on our servers. We do not track user behavior, sell data to advertisers, or build profiles on our community members. Your Internet Relay Chat experience on TwistedNET is private by design.
No message storage, ever
All connections encrypted
No gatekeeping, no barriers
No analytics, no profiling
By The Numbers
// Eighteen years of serving the IRC community
Years Online
Active Users
Channels
Uptime
Logs Kept
Support
Our Values
// The pillars that define TwistedNET
Privacy First
We never log messages or track users. Your conversations on our IRC network are ephemeral by design. When you disconnect, your chat history is gone from our servers. We believe private communication is a fundamental right, not a premium feature.
Open & Free
No premium tiers. No paywalls. No subscription fees. TwistedNET is a free IRC network supported entirely by its community and volunteer administrators. Everyone gets the same experience, whether you connected today or eighteen years ago.
Decentralized
The IRC protocol is open and not controlled by any single corporation. Unlike proprietary chat platforms, Internet Relay Chat ensures that no company can unilaterally shut down your communications, mine your data, or change the rules overnight. TwistedNET embraces this decentralized legacy.
The Team
// The people behind the network
TwistedNET is run by a dedicated team of volunteer administrators and IRC operators who are passionate about keeping open, decentralized communication alive. Our team members come from diverse backgrounds in system administration, network engineering, and software development, united by a shared belief that the internet needs spaces free from corporate surveillance.
Every operator on our IRC network volunteers their time and expertise because they believe in the mission. There are no shareholders to please, no advertising revenue to chase, and no investors demanding growth metrics. Just a group of people who think secure, private online chat should exist for everyone.
Want to help? Join #twisted and introduce yourself. We are always looking for like-minded individuals who want to contribute to the community, whether through moderation, development, or simply being a welcoming presence in our channels.
Become Part of the Community
TwistedNET is more than an IRC network. It is a community of people who value privacy, freedom, and real conversation. No sign-up required. No data harvested. Connect now and see what free, secure online chat looks like.
CONNECT NOWirc.twistednet.org:6697 (SSL)