Sites Like Omegle: 12 Places to Talk to Strangers in 2026
Omegle closed in 2023. Here are 12 places to talk to strangers now, from random chat sites to communities and voice apps, and who each suits.
Last updated November 2, 2026
Omegle closed on 8 November 2023, and there is still no single site that is exactly like it. The closest sites like Omegle are random chat services such as Emerald Chat, Chitchat.gg, Uhmegle, OmeTV and Chatroulette. If you liked the idea but not the camera, text-first options such as StrangerYaar are nearer to the spirit of the original text chat.
Not every place on this list is a clone, and that is deliberate. Part of what people miss about Omegle is simply meeting someone new, and that can happen in a community, a voice app or a language exchange as easily as in a random pairing. So we have grouped twelve options by what they actually do, from close lookalikes to different ways of reaching the same goal.
Every service here is for adults, and we have left out sites mainly about explicit content. Any list of sites like Omegle ages quickly, so check each one's current rules, and remember that random pairing, by its nature, means you cannot control who you meet.
Disclosure: we make StrangerYaar, so it is on this list. We say so wherever it appears, we describe the others as fairly as we can, and apps change often, so check each one's current rules and features before you use it.
How we picked
- Is it still online and updated as of November 2026?
- Does it offer one-to-one random pairing, or another way to meet new people?
- Can you stay text-only, without a camera?
- Does it have clear rules, report tools and an adults-only stance?
- Is the core experience free to try?
Twelve sites like Omegle: at a glance
| # | Name | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emerald Chat | Close lookalike: random text, video and groups | The nearest all-round Omegle-style experience |
| 2 | Chitchat.gg | Close lookalike: browser random chat | A quick start in the browser |
| 3 | StrangerYaar | Text-first random chat | Omegle's text chat without the camera |
| 4 | Uhmegle | Close lookalike: browser random chat | A plain start-button pairing page |
| 5 | OmeTV | Video-first random chat app | Fast random video on your phone |
| 6 | Chatroulette | The original random video chat | Fans of the classic format |
| 7 | Azar | Video and audio chat with translation | Meeting people who speak other languages |
| 8 | Wakie | Voice calls with new people | Talking out loud without a camera |
| 9 | Discord | Community servers (not random pairing) | Joining people who share your hobby |
| 10 | Topic communities (not random pairing) | Slow, thoughtful conversations | |
| 11 | HelloTalk | Language exchange app | Chatting with people to practise a language |
| 12 | Meetup | In-person and virtual interest groups | Turning online curiosity into real-life friends |
1. Emerald Chat
Close lookalike: random text, video and groups · Best for: The nearest all-round Omegle-style experience
Emerald Chat is often the first service people name as an Omegle replacement. It pairs you one to one by text or video, adds group rooms and matches by interest. A karma system affects who you meet.
- Text, video and groups in one place
- Interest matching
- Karma that nudges people to behave
Worth knowing: Reports differ on what is free, so check its current plans.
2. Chitchat.gg
Close lookalike: browser random chat · Best for: A quick start in the browser
Chitchat.gg is a web-based random chat that supports text and video. Third-party reviews say text works without an account, and it has region and interest filters plus friends.
- Runs in a browser
- Text and video
- Region and interest filters
Worth knowing: Video needs sign-up and most of the praise comes from its own blog.
3. StrangerYaar(ours)
Text-first random chat · Best for: Omegle's text chat without the camera
StrangerYaar keeps the part of Omegle many people liked, a one-to-one chat with a stranger, and drops the camera. You get a random name and avatar, there is no sign-up beyond confirming you are 18 or over, and matching starts with interests, languages and place.
- Text, voice notes and GIFs
- 33 languages
- Friends list so good chats do not vanish
- Report and block in one tap
Worth knowing: No video at all, so it is not for anyone who wants a face-to-face call.
4. Uhmegle
Close lookalike: browser random chat · Best for: A plain start-button pairing page
Uhmegle is another browser-based random chat with text or video modes, interest matching and a country selector. It describes itself as for adults and free to use.
- Simple layout
- Text or video
- Interests and country selection
Worth knowing: Independent information is thin, so read its terms and report anything inappropriate.
5. OmeTV
Video-first random chat app · Best for: Fast random video on your phone
OmeTV is a random video chat available as an app and on the web. You tap to meet a stranger and tap again to move on. It also has text chat and filters.
- App and website
- Filters
- Very quick to use
Worth knowing: Video-first, so your face is visible, and random pairing is unpredictable.
6. Chatroulette
The original random video chat · Best for: Fans of the classic format
Chatroulette predates most of the other names here and is still running, with a web version and a mobile app. It is video-based, and you move to the next person with a click.
- Historic and simple
- Web and app
Worth knowing: Reviewers note inappropriate content, so skip and report quickly.
7. Azar
Video and audio chat with translation · Best for: Meeting people who speak other languages
Azar, from Hyperconnect (part of Match Group since a 2021 acquisition), offers video and audio chat with translation of speech and text. That makes it unusually good for conversations across languages.
- Live translation
- Audio as well as video
Worth knowing: It is not a plain text chat and is built around live video.
8. Wakie
Voice calls with new people · Best for: Talking out loud without a camera
Wakie is built around voice conversations with people you do not know, with no video. It is a good answer for those who found Omegle's text too slow and its video too exposed.
- No camera
- Real conversation
Worth knowing: Voice reveals more than text, so protect your personal details.
9. Discord
Community servers (not random pairing) · Best for: Joining people who share your hobby
Discord is a different idea: instead of being paired, you join a server about something you like and talk in its text and voice channels. Many servers are welcoming to newcomers.
- Communities for every interest
- Text, voice and video
- Server-level moderation
Worth knowing: Servers vary widely, and the platform allows younger teens, so choose adult, well-moderated servers.
10. Reddit
Topic communities (not random pairing) · Best for: Slow, thoughtful conversations
Reddit has communities for finding friends, pen pals and chat partners, along with every hobby imaginable. You use a username rather than your name, and move to private messages when you are comfortable.
- Pseudonymous accounts
- Huge range of communities
Worth knowing: Replies are slower than real-time chat, and your post history is public.
11. HelloTalk
Language exchange app · Best for: Chatting with people to practise a language
HelloTalk connects people who want to learn each other's languages. You message, send voice notes and correct each other. It is not random, but it is a friendly way to meet people from other countries.
- Built-in correction tools
- Many languages
- Free basics
Worth knowing: Most users are there to practise, so conversations lean towards language learning.
12. Meetup
In-person and virtual interest groups · Best for: Turning online curiosity into real-life friends
Meetup lets you find local groups built around an interest and RSVP to events in cafes, parks and other venues. Some events are online. Unlike an Omegle-style site, you meet people in a structured setting.
- Real-life events
- Shared interest built in
- Free to browse, with many free events
Worth knowing: It is not anonymous and not instant, and some events charge a fee.
What to look for in a replacement
Decide what you actually missed. If it was the thrill of random video, go for OmeTV, Chatroulette or Emerald Chat. If it was the text conversations, choose a text-first service. If it was meeting people from around the world, a language app or a community may serve you better.
Then check the boring but important things: an adults-only rule, a report button, and a privacy policy you can understand.
Why Omegle closed, in brief
The founder announced the shutdown in November 2023, writing that running the site had become unsustainable financially and psychologically, and acknowledging that some people had misused it. The episode is a reminder that open random video pairing is hard to keep safe, which is why safety tools matter when you pick a replacement.
Staying safe on any of them
Some simple rules apply on every site in this list.
- Keep your name, address, school and workplace private.
- Do not send money, codes or photos to anyone you have just met.
- Skip, report and block without guilt.
- Be wary of anyone who asks to move to another app straight away.
- Use text first. You can always share more later.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest site to Omegle?
Emerald Chat, Chitchat.gg, Uhmegle and OmeTV are the nearest lookalikes in format. For the text side of Omegle without the camera, StrangerYaar is closest. No site is identical.
Is Omegle still online?
No. Omegle shut down on 8 November 2023. Sites using similar names are copies, not the original, so be careful with them and check their rules.
Are there sites like Omegle without video?
Yes. StrangerYaar is text-first with no camera, and Emerald Chat and Chitchat.gg both have text modes. Voice-only options include Wakie.
Are sites like Omegle safe?
No random pairing site can guarantee every person is kind. You can reduce the risk by choosing services with clear rules and report tools, staying on text, and keeping personal details private.
Are there free sites like Omegle?
Most let you start for free. Paid extras usually add filters or remove limits. Check each service's current pricing before relying on a feature.
Can I use these sites on my phone?
Yes. The browser services work on a phone, and OmeTV, Azar, Wakie, Discord, HelloTalk, Meetup and StrangerYaar have mobile apps.