Twitch chat clients compared
There are a few good ways to read and moderate Twitch chat outside the browser. Here is what each one is best at, so you can pick the one that suits you, including when that isn't YappyChat.
The short version
| App | Runs on | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| YappyChat | Windows 10 and 11 | Moderators and streamers who want chats, streams and mod tools in one window, with one-click actions, undo and a helper that spots spam and raids. Free. |
| Chatterino | Windows, macOS, Linux | A fast, open-source desktop chat client with tabs and splits, loved by long-time chatters and mods. |
| Chatty | Windows, macOS, Linux (Java) | An open-source client with a huge number of settings, for people who like to tune everything. |
| DankChat | Android | Twitch chat on your phone, with third-party emotes. |
| Twitch Mod View | Your browser | Moderating one channel on twitch.tv without installing anything. |
| 7TV, BetterTTV, FrankerFaceZ | Browser extensions | Adding emotes and extras to chat on twitch.tv itself. |
What YappyChat does differently
YappyChat is a Twitch chat client for Windows built around moderation. A few things set it apart:
- Streams and chats together. Up to four live streams in Twitch's own player and up to six chats side by side, with up to 50 channels open. See watching several streams at once.
- Mod tools in one click, with undo. Delete, time out, ban and warn from buttons on each message or a key press, act on several messages at once, and undo straight after.
- Mod activity. Every ban, timeout, delete and warning across your channels, with who did it and the message behind it, even when a mod used Twitch's own Mod View.
- Copy-paste spam folds into one line with a count you can click to act on everyone who sent it.
- AutoMod in chat. Held messages show in place with Allow and Deny, plus a history of who decided what.
- A record on every user card: messages, warnings, timeouts, bans and your private notes.
- Yappy, your chat buddy. He points out spam waves, raids and repeat offenders and suggests what to do. Nothing happens without your click.
- Every emote, live. Twitch, 7TV, BetterTTV and FrankerFaceZ emotes, and new ones work the moment a streamer adds them.
- Official Twitch API only, and it keeps you inside Twitch's sending limits and explains in plain words when Twitch refuses a message.
When another app suits you better
- On a Mac or Linux: Chatterino or Chatty. YappyChat is Windows only for now.
- On your phone: DankChat on Android, or Twitch's own app.
- You moderate one channel now and then and don't want to install anything: Twitch's Mod View in the browser.
- You only want emotes on twitch.tv: the 7TV, BetterTTV or FrankerFaceZ browser extension.
Many people use more than one. YappyChat is free, so it costs nothing to try it beside what you already use.
Questions
Is YappyChat a Chatterino alternative?
Yes, for Windows. Like Chatterino it is a desktop Twitch chat client with every channel in one window and 7TV, BetterTTV and FrankerFaceZ emotes. YappyChat adds Twitch's stream player, Mod activity with undo, spam folding, AutoMod in chat and Yappy's suggestions. Chatterino also runs on macOS and Linux.
Is YappyChat free?
Yes. Every chat and moderation feature is free. Optional perks only change how your name looks to other YappyChat users.
Does YappyChat replace Twitch Mod View?
For most moderators, yes: mod buttons, AutoMod, unban requests, warnings, Shield Mode, polls, predictions and Mod activity are all there, across all your channels at once. A few channel-owner settings still live on Twitch.
Is YappyChat made by Twitch?
No. It is an independent app that uses Twitch's official API. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Twitch.