Ventrilo
Ventrilo is group communications software for gamers, available as Windows and macOS clients with self-hosting options.
What Ventrilo is
Ventrilo is group communications software for gamers, available as Windows and macOS clients with self-hosting options. It provides multi-user voice, private voice and text conversations, server or channel chat, comments, and hyperlinks. Users can create channels and subchannels with limits, filters, passwords, and transmission permissions. Voice controls include activation, push-to-talk, sound ducking, recording, playback, and configurable audio devices. A server browser and remote administration cover server features, users, and persistent properties. Version 4 adds file transfers to selected users and client themes. Ventrilo says its client-server connection is always encrypted, that it does not collect or store user data, and that chats and recordings remain on the client computer. Hosted servers from Ventrilo4.com offer instant setup after payment, worldwide locations, snapshots, restore, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Hosted capacities range from 15 to 400 simultaneous users. A 15-slot server costs $9 a month, with longer billing options also listed.
Good
- Multi-user voice and private text conversations
- Configurable channels, permissions, and passwords
- Voice activation, push-to-talk, and recording
- Encrypted client-server connection
- Hosted servers from 15 to 400 users
Watch out
- No mobile apps
- Self-hosting instructions target version 2.x
- Hosted plans are paid
- Windows and macOS clients only
Who it suits
It suits gaming groups that need configurable voice channels, text chat, and server administration on Windows or macOS. Teams choosing hosting or self-hosting can use the corresponding server options.
Verdict
Ventrilo focuses on configurable voice communication with local data storage and encrypted connections. Its desktop support and hosting choices suit gaming groups, while mobile users are not covered.
Plans and prices
From Ventrilo's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| 15-slot Ventrilo server — 1 month | $9 a month | 15 slots (max users) · 1 month |
| 15-slot Ventrilo server — 3 months | $24.30, paid once | 15 slots (max users) · 3 Months |
| 15-slot Ventrilo server — 6 months | $43.20, paid once | 15 slots (max users) · 6 Months |
| 15-slot Ventrilo server — 12 months | $64.80, paid once | 15 slots (max users) · 12 Months |
| 15-slot Ventrilo server — 24 months | $86.40, paid once | 15 slots (max users) · 24 Months |
The facts
Each one read from Ventrilo's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Administration
- Features include a built-in server browser and remote administration of server features, users, and persistent server properties.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Channel controls
- Users can create channels dynamically and configure subchannels, channel limits, filters, passwords, and transmission permissions.checked 8 Oct 2001
- File transfer and themes
- Version 4 includes file transfers to selected users and themes that change the client window’s look and feel.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Hosting
- Ventrilo4.com offers hosted servers with instant setup after payment, worldwide server locations, snapshots and restore, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Integrations
- The About page says Ventrilo can display song information from Windows Media Player, Winamp, iTunes, and Spotify on Macintosh.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Product
- Ventrilo is group communications software for gamers, known for sound quality, low CPU use, and a simple interface.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Security and privacy
- Ventrilo says its client-server connection is always encrypted, it does not collect or store user data, and text chats and audio recordings are stored locally on the client computer.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Self-hosting
- The setup documentation describes running a Ventrilo server on Windows or Unix platforms, but states that the instructions are for version 2.x systems.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Server capacities
- The hosted server size selector lists options from 15 to 400 users, and the pricing page defines slots as the maximum users who can connect simultaneously.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Support
- The hosting page advertises live customer support, and the Ventrilo4.com support page provides client and server administration guides and troubleshooting topics.checked 8 Oct 2001
- System requirements
- The About page lists Windows XP 32/64-bit or higher with DirectX 9.0c or higher and macOS X 10.7 or higher as client requirements.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Voice and chat
- Features include multi-user voice, private voice and text conversations, per-server or per-channel chat, and user comments or hyperlinks.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Voice controls
- The client supports voice activation, push-to-talk, sound ducking, recording and playback of voice streams, and configurable audio devices.checked 8 Oct 2001
Where it runs
- Desktop platforms
- The current download page lists Version 4 clients for Windows and macOS, with Windows 32-bit and 64-bit downloads and universal 64-bit macOS downloads.checked 8 Oct 2001
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