Lag vs Ventrilo
Lag
trylag.comVentrilo
ventrilo.comSide by side
| Figure | Lag | Ventrilo |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $9/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 5 |
| Spec score · Game Voice Chat Software | 8.0 (#12) | 7.1 (#22) |
| Self-hosting | Lag offers an open-source, MIT-licensed self-hosted deployment with a bundled web UI, API, PostgreSQL, and voice server; its current voice engine is LiveKit. | The setup documentation describes running a Ventrilo server on Windows or Unix platforms, but states that the instructions are for version 2.x systems. |
| Support | Lag’s contact form accepts support, legal requests, security concerns, and self-hosting questions. | The hosting page advertises live customer support, and the Ventrilo4.com support page provides client and server administration guides and troubleshooting topics. |
Plans
Ventrilo
- 15-slot Ventrilo server — 1 month$9 a month
- 15-slot Ventrilo server — 3 months$24.30, paid once
- 15-slot Ventrilo server — 6 months$43.20, paid once
- 15-slot Ventrilo server — 12 months$64.80, paid once
- 15-slot Ventrilo server — 24 months$86.40, paid once
In their own words
Lag
Lag is a free, voice-first communication platform for gaming, with server- and room-based voice channels plus text messaging. Rooms support messages, emoji reactions, and replies. Lag reports median round-trip latency under 50 ms and 99.2% packet recovery using redundant audio encoding. Native iOS and Android apps include voice rooms, messaging, push notifications, and background audio. The Tauri and Rust desktop app supports Windows and Linux, with system audio capture, a system tray, and global push-to-talk hotkeys; the desktop page says macOS support is coming soon. An open-source CLI supports voice chat over SSH on macOS and Linux. Lag also offers an MIT-licensed self-hosted deployment with a bundled web UI, API, PostgreSQL, and voice server, currently using LiveKit. Official Python and TypeScript SDKs cover the public REST API, but not WebSocket or voice. Lag says it does not run ads or sell user data, and that voice data is never recorded or stored. Its free plan has no per-seat pricing, tiers, or feature gates.