It’s the end of an era. Since 2009, and more recently through the Covid lockdowns, Omegle has been hugely popular with social media users. Offering random video chats with a stranger from around the world, the platform has given us a lot of entertainment.
Now, Omegle has gone – shut down by a lawsuit that originated from a user who had a frightening experience. But sites like Omegle have continually appeared since 2009 due to its popularity. We researched the safest and best Omegle alternatives – here are the 14 sites like Omegle we settled on:
- Monkey: The best Omegle alternative for random video chats with strangers
- Tinychat: Another great Omegle alternative for group video chatting
- Chatrandom: Free site like Omegle, but with added functionality
- ChatHub: Omegle alternative with moderated behavior for safe chatting
- Emerald Chat: Omegle alternative offering both solo and group video chats
- Meetzur: A text-only Omegle alternative for those who don’t want video
- Chatroulette: Well-designed site like Omegle with random video chats
- Shagle: Share audio and image files, and delete offensive content yourself
- Camsurf: Site like Omegle with free one-to-one video chats
- Chatspin: Omegle alternative that lets you hide your identity with digital face masks
- Bazoocam: Best Omegle alternative for speaking to people from a specific location
- Fruzo: Alternative to Omegle with face mask filters and paid filtering options
- ChatMate: Video chat with specific streamers on this site like Omegle
- YouNow: An Omegle alternative with a different take
Crucially, you need to use a VPN to stay safe on Omegle alternatives. Sites like Omegle expose you to more internet risk than other websites you use day to day. Connecting with the wrong strangers could put your online security – or even personal safety – at risk.
Get NordVPN to anonymize your internet connection, hide your location, and keep yourself safe. You can get it now for 69% off, making it just a few bucks a month.
Want to see a detailed description of each of our Omegle alternatives? You’ll find it in the full article below!
Omegle was the video chat site that started it all. Today, there are loads of sites like Omegle – and never has that been more useful than now, after Omegle was shut down following a lawsuit. Looking for Omegle alternatives to scratch that social itch? We’ve got you covered.
Thousands of people used Omegle, and the site saw a resurgence in popularity during Covid lockdowns. That’s why we tasked our cybersecurity experts with researching, testing, and determining the best Omegle alternatives. These sites won’t risk your device’s security – though you still need to exercise common sense habits in using them safely.
Remember – the internet connects strangers, but not always for good. Omegle’s story needn’t be the end of video chatting with strangers. But it is a reminder of why online security is so important. We’re offering a 69% discount on NordVPN, which ensures your location and data are kept safe and anonymous while visiting our Omegle alternatives.
Why Use an Omegle Alternative?
In short, there’s no other choice. Omegle shut down following a lawsuit from a young minor who was connected with an older man through the platform. But loads of sites like Omegle exist, which is why we tasked ourselves with searching for the best Omegle alternatives.
People still want the option to video chat with random strangers, and that’s what our researched and tested Omegle alternatives let you do. Some of them even let you play multiplayer games! So, check out our research below.
The 14 Best Omegle Alternatives: Safe Websites to Talk to Strangers Online
Like us, you were probably disappointed when Omegle closed its doors. But sites like Omegle are thankfully not short in supply. We’ve spent hours researching and testing the best Omegle alternatives to bring you this list of 14 sites like Omegle you can use right now.
1. Monkey: The best Omegle alternative for random video chats with strangers
- Choose from solo, duo, or group chat room video chats with strangers
- Great user interface with no adverts
- Requires an email for login
We picked Monkey because: It’s a great Omegle alternative with a flashy interface and numerous options for random chatting.
What We Like
- Supports solo video chats like Omegle, but also doubles or groups
- You can sign up with an email to minimize data sharing
- There's an app on the Google Play Store
What We Don't Like
- Using your Google or Apple login isn't advisable
Visit: Monkey
After extensive testing, Monkey is our best video chat Omegle alternative. It even claims the same accolade when you search for it on Google! We’ve tested the website, as well as the mobile app on Google Play, and it works well on all platforms.
As far as sites like Omegle go, Monkey is a close match to the site we’ve all used and loved in the past. You can start immediate one-to-one video chats with random people. But you can also opt for duo chats or connect with a whole group on video.
While you can sign in with Google or Apple, we advise erring on the side of caution with your data. Use an anonymous email address from a good private email provider to sign up instead.
2. Tinychat: Another great Omegle alternative for group video chatting
- There’s a premium tier but can use Tinychat for free
- Adverts are minimal and don’t really get in the way
- Video chat with more than one person at once in an online video chatroom
We picked Tinychat because: It’s a site like Omegle that offers additional functionality Omegle didn’t have.
What We Like
- Both an Android and iOS app
- You can chat with multiple people
What We Don't Like
- To remove ads, you have to pay for premium
- Some Omegle fans might just want random video chat
Visit: Tinychat
Tinychat was one of the first sites we tested, but it also turned out to be one of the sites like Omegle we liked the most. It worked great in our browser, but we were also able to get the iOS and Android apps that are both well-optimized, too. Other online chat apps don’t often have mobile versions.
We were in two minds on whether to include Tinychat at first. It doesn’t serve you up a random video chat like Omegle. Instead, you can join video chat rooms with tons of other people, all sharing their videos. You can even create your own. But in our opinion, this is just an improvement on getting a single, 1-2-1 video chat feed. We launched a room and chatted with many people sharing their cameras.
So, in essence, if you like the idea of chatting with multiple strangers on video, Tinychat is the best alternative to Omegle we’ve found. Just remember that you are indeed chatting to a bunch of strangers who can see your face!
3. Chatrandom: Free site like Omegle, but with added functionality
- Random video chats with complete strangers that you can quickly skip through
- Filters that you can use to ensure you speak to people of a particular age, gender, and so on
- Can create a paid account to access filters and other features
- Available in 180 countries
We picked Chatrandom because: If you want a 1-2-1 random video chat, Chatrandom is an almost identical site to Omegle.
What We Like
- Get random video chats with strangers, like Omegle
- Quickly skip from one video to the next
- Simple interface that doesn't get in the way
What We Don't Like
- Website pushes you to enable video
- Filters locked behind a paywall
- Premium tiers aren't cheap
Visit: Chatrandom
Chatrandom is the closest site to Omegle that we found in terms of feature parity. We connected and instantly got matched up with another user who was sharing their video. At first, we didn’t enable ours – there was a bit of a delay while we tried to insist on starting a text chat, though the website clearly wanted to push us to enable video.
But once we got past that – blocking the browser’s access to our camera – we were in! Just like Omegle, we could skip from one video chat to the next – and indeed, people skipped past us quickly, but we always got connected to a new user within seconds.
Bear in mind that this site is very much like Omegle. We saw some things we didn’t necessarily want to see!
4. ChatHub: Omegle alternative with moderated behavior for safe chatting
- Site like Omegle offering one-to-one video chats with complete strangers
- Don’t have to create an account to start chatting
- Unwanted nudity or bad behavior is moderated, and violators are banned from ChatHub
We picked ChatHub because: You don’t need an account, and unfriendly or obscene behavior is moderated properly.
What We Like
- Omegle alternative that offers simple video chats with strangers
- Unwanted nudity is moderated and rule-breakers banned
What We Don't Like
- You can't seem to have a text-only chat
Visit: ChatHub
Compared to sites like Chatrandom, which have a very simple interface, ChatHub looked pretty professional to us. You simply set your gender and hit the Start button to get connected to a random stranger. We were also asked to specify if we wanted a general video call or one geared toward flirting.
As usual, we launched a chat with video disabled – ChatHub’s settings let us specify this. Yet, we couldn’t connect to a chat until we enabled our video feed. So bear in mind that the website doesn’t seem to let you have random text chats. Otherwise, it’s a great alternative to Omegle if you want to have video conversations with other users.
One other feature worth mentioning is ChatHub’s warning that you’ll be banned for sharing nudity. While we don’t recommend breaking any rules if you find yourself banned from ChatHub, use NordVPN to bypass the ban. It’s based on your IP address – and you can change your IP with NordVPN.
5. Emerald Chat: Omegle alternative offering both solo and group video chats
- Video chat online with strangers without creating an account – just like Omegle
- Offers group chats to make more friends online
- Premium accounts cost $6 and give you more filtering and priority matching
- Can share files with users
We picked Emerald because: This Omegle alternative offers random video chats but added group functionality.
What We Like
- Simple, one-on-one video chats with complete strangers
- Group video chat rooms let you speak with multiple people
- Website isn't plagued with adverts
What We Don't Like
- Filters are only accessible for $6 per month
- Website suggests connecting via Google – we don't recommend it
Visit: Emerald Chat
We had a wholesome experience on Emerald Chat. It paired us with another text chat user called Kai at first, and they helped us test the website. If you chat via text, the interface is seamless, and messages come through without lag. Audio cues let you know when you’ve received a new chat.
We tested video next, and this site works just like Omegle. We could bounce from one video chat to the next. But where Emerald improves on Omegle is in letting you have group chats – like Tinychat – as well as random 1-2-1 video chats.
There are also additional options, including filters to specify who you want to match with and priority matching. But these require you to pay around $6 per month.
Also, if you’re asked to connect with your Google account, we recommend you don’t do it – use the CAPTCHA to connect instead. Your Google account is linked to your real name – avoid tracking by keeping it separated.
6. Meetzur: A text-only Omegle alternative for those who don’t want video
- Random text chats with strangers without the risk of unwanted imagery
- Photo-sharing in chats if you want to
- No need for an account or payment requirements to use Meetzur
We picked Meetzur because: It gives Omegle fans who want to use sites like Omegle the option to avoid video content.
What We Like
- Text-only chatting for people less comfortable with video
- Site like Omegle that doesn't require an account
What We Don't Like
- No option for video chats
- Photos can be sent without invitation
Visit: Meetzur
While Meetzur is an Omegle alternative that made our list, it doesn’t offer video chats. But maybe you liked Omegle for the ability to have a text conversation with strangers. If you’re uncomfortable with video, we think Meetzur is the best site like Omegle for you.
Chatting is simple – we hit the Chat Now button and got an instant connection. Swapping between chats didn’t feel as seamless to us as with Omegle alternatives like ChatHub though. You have to manually leave the chat and select “Confirm” before clicking another link to move on.
But if you do want to share something beyond simple text, you can send photos! Just remember that you’ve connected with strangers. Files can contain malware, and we don’t recommend downloading anything shared.
7. Chatroulette: Well-designed site like Omegle with random video chats
- Attractive but simple interface that doesn’t push adverts on you
- Longest-standing Omegle alternatives we’ve personally used in the past
- Draw pictures with your matches while connected
- Can be accessed in 135 countries worldwide
We picked Chatroulette because: This Omegle alternative gave us huge nostalgia vibes from our student days!
What We Like
- A popular Omegle alternative for 14+ years
- Random video chats, just like Omegle
- Draw in your chat windows for added fun
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't offer the same filters as some Omegle alternatives
Visit: ChatRoulette
Before researching our best Omegle alternatives, we hadn’t heard the name ChatRoulette in years! This site’s nearly as old as us – we got huge nostalgia vibes as people who used to mess around with ChatRoulette in our university days.
With such a long track record, ChatRoulette has a great user interface. We saw no adverts, and everything felt very intuitive. Just like Omegle, you can jump into random video chats. But you can also draw in your chat window to have a little fun with your partners!
8. Shagle: Share audio and image files and delete offensive content yourself
- Access to moderation tools, letting you delete content you find offensive
- Audio- or picture-sharing to the people you connect with
- Filters and other tools locked behind a premium subscription – but you can use Shagle free
We picked Shagle because: You can delete content if you don’t want to see it.
What We Like
- Share files with your new friends within the chat
- Moderate files yourself – delete anything offensive from your chats
What We Don't Like
- Filters have to be paid for
Visit: Shagle
Shagle is another Omegle alternative that’s like Chatrandom. Some of the settings are similar enough that they seem to be run by the same company. But the angle here is different – this site is geared toward people with an interest in romance. We had to confirm and agree that the site features adult content before being allowed in.
As an alternative to Omegle, we found Shagle to have a good spread of features. You can have one-to-one video calls with strangers, and you can even aim for people who have similar interests. We noticed that you can even delete offensive content if you don’t want to see something.
Just be wary that dating sites can lead to romance scams and other social engineering scams. Never share personal information about yourself with strangers on the internet. Get NordVPN to make sure your identity and location can’t be stolen.
9. CamSurf: Site like Omegle with free one-to-one video chats
- Free video chatting with other people from around the world
- Can unblock additional filters for more fine-tuned matches – but you’ll have to pay
- Simple interface, not cluttered by many ads
We picked CamSurf because: You can video chat for free without creating an account.
What We Like
- Uncluttered interface that doesn't get in the way
- Like Omegle, you can have one-to-one video chats for free
What We Don't Like
- Seems to be another clone of Chatrandom and Shagle
- Premium features locked behind subscription
Visit: CamSurf
CamSurf is pretty much a clone of Omegle in terms of functionality. Like Omegle, you can start video chats with complete strangers. In our opinion, this is another of the sites owned by the same people as Chatrandom and Shagle – the interface makes that clear. But as far as sites like Omegle go, it works just fine for its purpose.
When testing CamSurf, we were encouraged to start our video in the same way as those other Omegle alternatives. But one thing that these three sites do well is that they let you move from one chat to the other very quickly. You can also pay a monthly subscription of just under $6 for additional filters, but we recommend keeping your payment details and data private.
10. Chatspin: Omegle alternative that lets you hide your identity with digital face masks
- Access to free video chatting or pay for advanced filtering options
- Narrow down your choice by country, speaking to people of a specific region
- Face masks to hide your identity while on video
We picked Chatspin because: We’re huge fans of any feature that helps you to protect your online identity.
What We Like
- Custom video options protect your identity while chatting
- Site features no adverts, letting you focus on the fun
What We Don't Like
- You'll have to pay for advanced filtering options
- Trying to start a text-only chat can be annoying
Visit: Chatspin
When testing Chatspin, we were impressed by the interface. It’s easy to navigate, and we saw zero third-party ads. The website did really push us to connect with video, though – starting a text-only chat meant closing several pop-up boxes, encouraging us to connect our camera.
So, what does Chatspin do well? We’re big fans of browsing the internet anonymously, obviously. That’s one reason why we loved Chatspin as an Omegle alternative. When you connect with video, you can enable a face mask to hide your identity. This is a huge plus in our eyes.
But pair those masks with NordVPN if you want full protection against tracking and identity theft when connecting with online strangers.
11. Bazoocam: Best Omegle alternative for speaking to people from a specific location
- Omegle alternative with a large user base and 1-2-1 video chat
- Free video chatting – create an account, but you don’t have to
- Combine Bazoocam with a VPN to speak to people in any location
We picked Bazoocam because: Paired with a VPN, you can speak to people from any specific location you like.
What We Like
- Speak to people from any country you like by using a VPN
- You don't have to create an account unless you want to
What We Don't Like
- Browser location tracking isn't our best friend
Visit: Bazoocam
Bazoocam appears to be a good Omegle alternative from our testing. The one thing we didn’t like was that you can speak to nearby people specifically by allowing Bazoocam to track your location. It’s never a good idea to share your location with strangers – that’s why we advocate VPNs. But pair Bazoocam with a VPN, and you can make the most of this feature.
Our advice? Don’t use this feature unless you’re connected to a VPN. It’ll make it much easier for any malicious strangers to track you. NordVPN offers a Threat Protection feature that safeguards you against online threats.
12. Fruzo: Alternative to Omegle with face mask filters and paid filtering options
- Leverages the Chatrandom platform to offer one-to-one video chats like Omegle
- Face mask filters to partially obscure your identity
- Additional options to filter by gender and country require payment
We picked Fruzo because: It’s a simple, one-to-one video chatting app that works just like Omegle.
What We Like
- Use face mask filters to hide your face before you're comfortable
- Connect free with other video chat users from around the world
What We Don't Like
- You'll have to pay if you want to filter who you talk to
- The same UI complaints as Chatrandom
Visit: Fruzo
We connected to a video chat with somebody in India using Fruzo. At face value, this site felt like a good Omegle alternative – it works in pretty much the same way. But it’s clearly another website that’s using the same platform as Chatrandom, which means we had the same annoying pop-up boxes about enabling our video from the offset.
Still, as an Omegle alternative, it’ll let you do what Omegle was built to do – chat over video with strangers worldwide. You can use the platform entirely free, including the face mask filters. But if you want to chat to a specific region or gender, it’s locked behind a paywall.
13. ChatMate: Video chat with specific streamers on this site like Omegle
- Romantic match finding by following specific streams
- One-to-one video sessions, though there is a fee
- Text, video, and voice chat options supported
We picked ChatMate because: It offers something a bit different to Omegle while still allowing video chat.
What We Like
- Good Omegle alternative for people interested in romance
- Tons of streams to choose from
What We Don't Like
- Riskier, in terms of potential romance scams
- No 1-2-1 random video chatting
Visit: ChatMate
We included ChatMate on our list of Omegle alternatives because you can join video chats with other streamers. However, the focus of this site is on male and female models who stream to groups of users. One-to-one sessions are possible, but you do have to pay.
We found ChatMate similar to Omegle in this way, but it’s a little different from the sites above. There’s no random matching feature – instead, you can choose from loads of existing live streams with ChatMate users.
Think of it as a bit of a blend between Twitch and OnlyFans. Since this site allows a lot more interaction with specific streamers, we encourage you to remember online security and use a top VPN to protect your identity.
14. YouNow: An Omegle alternative with a different take
- Connect with streamers across the world, a little like Discord or Twitch
- Huge range of streams on different subjects and from different cultures
- No random chat-matching feature
We picked YouNow because: It offers something a little different to Omegle for people who want more choice.
What We Like
- Access to tons of unique streams from around the world
- Watch and chat with users you choose
What We Don't Like
- Lacks random video chat matches like Omegle
- You have no choice but to create an account
Visit: YouNow
We deliberated on whether to include YouNow in our list. While it’s a site like Omegle, it’s not exactly the same in the way that others we’ve found are. YouNow lets you browse through live streams from popular users on the platform – you can even create your own if you want to.
But unfortunately, there’s no random video chat matching feature. While you can talk to and watch your favorite streamers as you would on Twitch, you can’t have 1-2-1 video chats. You also have to sign in with Apple, Google, or Facebook.
Given Apple’s reputation for stellar security, we recommend choosing your iOS account if you really want to try YouNow – but make sure you use NordVPN to protect yourself from data and location tracking.
How We Selected the Best Omegle Alternatives
There are plenty of Omegle alternatives out there – more than we’ve included on this list, in fact. But we searched for the best sites like Omegle and cut out any that we thought didn’t make the cut. During our testing, we thought about several factors like:
- Does the site match Omegle’s functionality? Omegle offered random video chatting – almost every site we included offers at least that function.
- Can you use the site for free? Omegle was free, so we looked for free sites like Omegle. While you can pay for extra features, you don’t have to.
- Is it stuffed with advertising? Ads aren’t just annoying. They can be malicious. We tossed out any online platform that was too ad-stuffed.
Throughout all of our testing, we were connected to NordVPN. It made sure that our IP address and location were untraceable, and it protected us from malware in the event that somebody tried to share a file.
For the sake of a few dollars with our 69% discount applied, it’s not worth risking your online privacy by venturing onto sites like Omegle without a VPN.
Important!
Remember to use common sense on these platforms. While we can review each Omegle alternative, we have no control over the people that use them. During our testing, we occasionally saw video streams of people performing adult acts on camera. If you’re uncomfortable with a platform, you can stop using it at any time – and you should never disclose personal data with somebody you don’t know.
Best VPN for Omegle Alternatives: NordVPN
You should always use a VPN to connect with people on sites like Omegle. While the internet lets us connect with friendly strangers, it can also pave the way for scammers or even cyberstalking. And if somebody takes an interest in you online, with the right skills, they could figure out your location.
But connect to a VPN, and your IP address – and location – are hidden. Everything you send or visit on the internet is encrypted, so you’re far safer than you’d be simply visiting these Omegle alternatives on your usual internet connection.
Personally, we choose NordVPN for protection on websites that pose a greater risk than your average site. Omegle alternatives expose your face to complete strangers, so there’s a higher degree of risk than there is when you’re simply streaming or reading emails.
There can also be a malware risk if you’re using an Omegle alternative that allows file sharing. Choose NordVPN, and:
- Your location will be untraceable in the event a stranger takes an unhealthy interest in you.
- The built-in Threat Protection feature will scan every file to ensure it doesn’t contain malware like a computer virus.
- The VPN provider will block malicious websites before you can visit them in case an Omegle alternative is compromised.
Since Omegle’s shutdown, we know people will be flocking to Omegle alternatives in droves to video chat with strangers. That’s why we’ve prepared a time-limited 69% discount on NordVPN – to keep you safe on sites like Omegle.
Want to get started right away? It’s incredibly easy to download and install NordVPN. Check out the video below for instructions.
Omegle May Be Gone, But Omegle Alternatives Live On
Omegle had a long life, but it doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing it again. But Omegle alternatives will almost certainly fill the gap – there are more than enough of them around. We recommend sticking to our tried-and-tested chat sites similar to Omegle, like Monkey, Tinychat, and Chatrandom, to ensure you’re as safe as you can be.
For new subscribers, the 69% NordVPN discount means there’s no better time to begin chatting safely. Aside from keeping you safe on Omegle alternatives, NordVPN will bolster your online protection against other cyber threats, including malware and hijacked websites. It’s not just for sites like Omegle – it’ll protect you on all websites you visit.
Check out our bedtime reading list below to find out more about alternatives to popular social media platforms and how to enhance your privacy.
If you have any lingering questions after reading our Omegle alternatives roundup, check out our frequently asked questions below. If you’re still in the dark, drop us a comment and we’ll get back to you!
Some of the sites that have replaced Omegle are:
- Monkey: Good if you’re looking for a like-for-like Omegle replacement
- Tinychat: Choose this if you’d like the option to have group video chats
- Chatrandom: A good choice for added matching filters, though they’re not free
- ChatHub: If you’re sick of seeing vulgar content, ChatHub is one of the few moderated platforms
- Emerald Chat: A decent user interface that lets you solo or group video chat
Remember that you’re connecting with strangers. A good VPN like NordVPN is essential to stay safe.
Omegle has shut down following a lawsuit. A young woman filed claims against the company after being matched with a much older man while she was still a minor. However, for people who still want to find safe websites to talk to strangers, there are plenty of Omegle alternatives.
But remember that “safe” in this context means you shouldn’t be at risk of malware or tracking if you use a VPN. You still need to exercise common sense in talking to strangers – avoid sharing personal details or private photos.
Omegle has shut down, but plenty of sites offer the same functionality as Omegle did – Monkey is our best Omegle alternative, while Chatrandom offers pretty much the same experience.
Our cybersecurity experts tested Emerald Chat and had no cause for concern. That’s why we’ve included Emerald in our list of the best Omegle alternatives.
However, always use a VPN on video chatting websites to protect yourself from tracking. You can check out our NordVPN review to understand how a VPN protects you from strangers online.
Great insights on the best Omegle alternatives! I appreciate the detailed recommendations and your perspective on each platform. As someone who enjoys connecting with new people, I'm excited to try out these alternatives. Thanks for the valuable suggestions!