Omegle made a huge splash when it was created back in 2009 with the out-of-the-box idea of pairing strangers from all over the world via chat. However, the website shut down without notice in November 2023 due to “persistent criminal activity” on the platform. If you’d like to continue connecting with others online, we’ve compiled a list of the top Omegle alternatives.
1. ChatHub
Like Omegle, ChatHub is an entirely free anonymous chatting site, where you can text or video chat with random people. It’s exceedingly easy to use, matches you within seconds, and requires no registration to get started.
Once you select your gender and agree to the website’s terms and conditions, you can choose from two types of chatrooms. The Main room is geared toward friendly conversations, while the Adult room is meant for flirting. You can toggle advanced settings to only match with people who appear on camera or speak to people using only voice. You can also filter matches based on language (English, Spanish, and Arabic) and origin country. There’s even a gender filter, but you’ll need to pay for a Plus subscription ($14.99/month) to use it.
Overall, the interface is easy to use. You can easily toggle your camera and microphone on or off, change filters, and leave a chat anytime. Also, the platform is optimized for mobile browsers, so you can use your computer or smartphone to connect. We also found the audio and video quality to be decent, regardless of connection speed.
2. Chatroulette
Chatroulette has been around almost as long as Omegle and is certainly one of the simplest chat sites around. The site has a currency system in place, which provides you with 15 coins to start with, and you’ll garner up to 50 more in each chat you stick with. You get three each time you match with someone, but you’ll lose one every time you search for another user.
When you visit the website, a brief tutorial will walk you through the basics of the platform. You must grant access to your camera and create an avatar (a selfie) to begin, as you choose matches based on these pictures. Also, you can decline a chat based on the selfie, but if you wait more than a few seconds, and the other person checks yes, it will automatically begin a video chat. Finally, you can also filter based on country, but there are no options based on gender or language.
Unlike some of the other Omegle alternatives on this list, Chatroulette does have an image recognition algorithm to block out indecent content and will ban users who fail to follow the platform’s rules regarding nudity and vulgar images. You do not have the option to use Chatroulette without your camera and microphone enabled, meaning you can’t begin with text chatting to get to know the person before diving in on camera.
3. Bazoocam
Bazoocam is another Omegle alternative that doesn’t require any registration. When you navigate to the Web-based platform, you will receive a prompt to allow the website to use your camera and microphone. After that, just acknowledge that you’re 18 or older and begin chatting!
One distinct advantage of Bazoocam over other Omegle alternatives is the features it offers within the chat. If you aren’t sure what to talk about with your new Internet friend, you can play one of the two-player online games built into the chat, such as Tic Tac Toe or Tetris. Also, Bazoocam takes location filtering one step further than other online video chat platforms, allowing you to match with people who live near you.
The platform looks outdated and doesn’t offer nearly as many features as other apps. Also, this platform is manually moderated, meaning you may encounter inappropriate content before a moderator catches it.
4. Tinychat
Tinychat is an online chat site that allows users to instantly create a room. Here you can talk to other people via text, voice, or video chat. It’s a fairly straightforward platform that works just as well on mobile devices as it does on a computer.
Most rooms do not allow simple guests in, so you’ll want to create an account, whether you plan on being a room creator or a joiner. You can also share your room on social media feeds, like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, to attract more participants. However, unlike other Omegle alternatives, this one is more about group chat – not one-on-one communication.
Tinychat has three membership tiers that start at $4.14 per month. The entry-level tier is called Pro. It grants you a green nickname highlight, high-quality videos, no ads, and Pro badges. The Extreme tier nets you the same things, plus a purple name, Extreme badges, priority listing, and the ability to join more than one room at a time. Finally, the Gold tier gets you all of the above, plus a gold nickname, badges, and unlimited video viewing in your room.
5. EmeraldChat
EmeraldChat has no qualms about being a straightforward Omegle alternative. Although registration is not required, we recommend it so that you can pick a nickname and add extra info to your profile. Regardless, you can choose whether you want to communicate via text, video chat, or group chat.
The platform’s moderators regularly look for signs of spamming, harassment, and other items that go against the rules. Furthermore, all EmeraldChat users can flag conversations that they feel are inappropriate. If you hover over a message, you can click on the exclamation point to the right of the text to warn a moderator.
Although EmeraldChat has an intuitive matching system that pairs you with people who share common interests, some users may find that they don’t always get the best matches. For $5.89 per month, though, you can unlock Emerald Gold, access gender and karma level filters, and receive priority matching.
6. CamSurf
CamSurf is an excellent substitute for Omegle, super user-friendly, and boasts an inviting interface. Setting up an account is easy: you can immediately plunge into chatting. Filter chatters by country, so if you’d like to speak to someone from a particular region, you can with CamSurf. Don’t forget to set your gender before you start chatting.
CamSurf stands out from the competition in several ways. First and foremost, it’s one of the few Omegle alternatives with a smartphone app. Also, the platform allows users to specify that they’re part of the LGBTQ+ community when selecting their gender identity.
CamSurf offers a paid tier ($19.99 per month or $6.99 per week), unlocking a gender filter, private chat, and ad removal. It also lets you link your Instagram account to the service to get more followers.
7. Shagle
Shagle is a stylish chatting platform that instantly connects you to users from around the globe. Just select your gender, and start chatting. If you’re after anonymity, you’ll like that Shagle doesn’t require you to use the camera. You can go for the text-only version, and decide whether to accept the other person’s camera.
Shagle stands out from other Omegle alternatives with several interesting features. For example, you can send the people you chat with virtual gifts. You can also add interests to your profile to have a better chance of having something to talk about with the strangers you match with.
Shagle’s biggest marketing claim to fame is the lack of rules and moderation. The platform claims this lets users “have more fun and freedom.” However, during our testing, we found this attracts a crowd looking for “adult content.” If this bothers you, try a profanity filtering service to block it out.
8. ChatRandom
ChatRandom connects you to random people from all corners of the world. The platform provides a guide on how to chat with strangers and various other tips. Its interface is easy to operate and visually appealing, which already helps it stand out from other chat platforms.
ChatRandom allows you to choose your gender and chat preferences, and type out your interests before jumping in. Our testing showed that the “interests” hashtags are all centered around adult content, with very few other options for legitimate interests.
Other standout features of ChatRandom include the ability to use camera filters and an easy-to-find Stop button to quickly leave a chat if you feel uncomfortable. Finally, ChatRandom lets you upgrade to premium to unlock more features, including hiding your location and a “verified” badge.
9. Meetzur
Meetzur might not boast a dazzling user interface, but it’s still a great Omegle alternative. It’s solely text-based, so you won’t be able to connect with your camera. Starting a chat is super easy: you don’t need to sign up with an account or do other tedious stuff. Just press the “Chat Now” button, and you’ll be connected with a stranger in mere seconds. Meetzur’s minimalist look can be a breath of fresh air for people who prefer anonymous interactions with no faces involved.
Despite Meetzur only allowing users to chat via text, it does offer some enhanced features to spice up the conversation. You can use emojis (smiles) to express emotions or just have fun, or send pictures to your chat partner. Also, create a personalized nickname to let other users know something about you.
Meetzur is meant to be a minimalist chat that mimics old-school instant messaging platforms, so there aren’t any video capabilities or premium subscriptions. Also, there aren’t location or language controls, so you may end up with a chat partner who doesn’t speak the same language.
Stay Safe When Chatting Online
Using these Omegle alternatives can be a great way to meet new people and engage in fun conversations with strangers online. However, you should be careful and protect yourself when sharing information online. You can try using a disposable email address for greater anonymity, and ensure that you know how to find out whether someone is accessing your iPhone remotely.
Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Megan Glosson.
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