Push-to-talk · Android
bolTALKa is a push-to-talk messenger in the spirit of Zello: press and talk. But the server is yours — no Google, no ads and no third-party cloud.
Free · Android 8+ · no Google Play needed
Familiar walkie-talkie features — plus what Zello doesn't have.
A big talk button: your voice goes out instantly to a channel or a private chat. Hold it or tap once — or use your headset button.
Open, approved-talkers, closed and broadcast channels. Moderators, bans, temporary talk bans and an audit log.
Everything is kept in the history: swipe to seek, play everything in a row, unheard messages are marked.
Photos just like in Zello — plus videos, straight into a channel or private chat. Zello can't send videos.
Online, busy and your own status message. Private chats by voice and text.
Messages arrive even with the screen off. Lock-screen privacy options and an unread count on the app icon.
Opus codec up to 48 kHz, automatic quality by network, noise suppression and Bluetooth headsets.
Share your spot on the map with a single tap.
True black saves battery on OLED screens.
Switch between accounts and servers with one tap.
New versions arrive in the app, straight from your server.
Interface in Russian, Ukrainian, English and German.
bolTALKa works just like Zello — switching takes a minute:
| bolTALKa | Zello | |
|---|---|---|
| Voice in channels and private chats | ✓ | ✓ |
| Channel types and moderation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sending photos | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sending videos | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free self-hosted server | ✓ | ✗ |
Zello is a trademark of Zello Inc. bolTALKa is an independent project and is not affiliated with Zello.
Your conversations belong to you — not to ad networks or someone else's cloud.
Voice, messages and photos are stored only on your own server.
All traffic runs over HTTPS/TLS with an automatic certificate.
No Google services, Firebase, ads or trackers. Even this website loads no third-party services.
Passwords are stored only as Argon2 hashes; the login token sits in Android's secure keystore.
Show everything, only the sender, or nothing — your choice.
Roles, bans, talk bans and a moderation log.
bolTALKa is “Zello for everyone”: a family, a club, a company or a village can run its own server and depend on no one.
The smallest server (1 core, 1 GB RAM) for a few euros a month is enough.
Server, database and HTTPS certificate start with a single command.
Enter the server address in the app. Manage users, channels and updates in the web panel.
cd boltalka/deploy # server folder
docker compose up -d # server, database and HTTPSOpen this website on your phone and tap Download.
Android asks to allow installs from your browser — allow it.
Open bolTALKa and choose a username and password. The server address is already filled in.
Allow the microphone and notifications and turn off battery optimisation. On Xiaomi, enable autostart — the app shows you how.
Updates arrive right in the app — no manual reinstalling.
Yes. The app is free and has no ads.
No. You install the APK, and updates come straight from the server.
Not yet — Android 8.0 and newer only.
Yes. Enter its address when signing in; you can keep several accounts at once.
The people in the conversation and the administrator of your server. No third-party companies.
It's all in the history: unheard messages are marked and can be played back in a row.
Yes: the headset microphone and its button can be used to talk.