ChatControl vs DeluxeChat vs VentureChat
Comparison of ChatControl, DeluxeChat, and VentureChat for Minecraft server chat formatting, channels, filtering, and moderation features.
Chat formatting and moderation plugins define how players communicate on your server. The chatcontrol vs deluxechat debate has expanded to include VentureChat, which takes a channel-first approach. Each plugin handles formatting, filtering, and channels differently, and the right pick depends on how much control you want over player communication.
ChatControl (Red)
ChatControl Red is the most feature-dense option. It combines chat formatting, anti-spam, anti-swear, ad blocking, chat channels, join/leave messages, tab-list formatting, and boss bar announcements into a single plugin. The configuration is extensive, hundreds of YAML nodes across multiple files. Operators who want one plugin to handle everything chat-related will appreciate ChatControl, but the learning curve is steep.
ChatControl Red includes a regex-based filter engine with per-rule actions (warn, mute, kick, ban). You can build sophisticated moderation pipelines without additional plugins. The chatcontrol vs deluxechat comparison often comes down to whether you need built-in moderation or just formatting.
DeluxeChat
DeluxeChat focuses on chat formatting and PlaceholderAPI integration. It excels at creating rank-based chat formats with hover tooltips and click actions. If you want a player's message to show their rank, level, faction, and a custom hover card, DeluxeChat handles that cleanly. It does not include anti-spam, swear filtering, or chat channels out of the box. You will need separate plugins for moderation.
DeluxeChat's strength is simplicity. The config is short, the format syntax is intuitive, and PlaceholderAPI compatibility means you can pull data from almost any plugin into the chat format. For servers that already have a moderation plugin and just need pretty chat, DeluxeChat is the lightest path.
VentureChat
VentureChat takes a channel-centric approach. Players join channels (global, local, trade, staff) and messages route accordingly. It supports BungeeCord and Velocity for cross-server chat, includes basic formatting with JSON hover/click events, and has built-in anti-spam with configurable cooldowns. VentureChat sits between ChatControl and DeluxeChat in complexity.
If your server runs a proxy network, VentureChat's native BungeeCord support is a strong advantage. Cross-server channels work without additional configuration beyond installing the plugin on each backend server.
Comparison table
| Feature | ChatControl Red | DeluxeChat | VentureChat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chat formatting | Full | Full (PAPI focus) | Full |
| Chat channels | Yes | No | Yes (core feature) |
| Anti-spam / swear filter | Built-in (regex) | No | Basic cooldown |
| BungeeCord / Velocity | Addon | No | Built-in |
| PlaceholderAPI | Yes | Yes (primary) | Yes |
| Config complexity | High | Low | Medium |
Which one fits your server?
Pick ChatControl Red if you want an all-in-one solution and are willing to invest time configuring it. Pick DeluxeChat if you only need formatting and already handle moderation elsewhere. Pick VentureChat if cross-server channels or a channel system are core requirements. The chatcontrol vs deluxechat decision often boils down to scope: do you want moderation bundled in, or do you prefer dedicated plugins for each job?
See plugins in action: Astroworld MC, IP play.astroworldmc.com, Java + Bedrock.