The best apps to talk to strangers include Emerald Chat, OmeTV, Monkey, Chatroulette, Azar, and Chatspin. Emerald Chat is our pick if you want text, video, and group chats plus a free interest filter. Azar is strong for talks across languages. OmeTV and Chatroulette keep things simple.
Key takeaways
- The best apps to talk to strangers depend on what you want, whether that’s shared interests, translation, or plain random video.
- Emerald Chat offers text, video, and group channels, along with free interest tags.
- Most of these apps charge for extra filters, such as gender, country, or region.
- Safety tools help, but none of them catch everything. Keep personal details private and leave any chat that feels wrong.
Maybe you want someone new to talk to tonight. Not a big crowd. Just one person who might say hi back.
You’re not the only one who feels that way. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found that about one in six U.S. adults feel lonely or cut off from the people around them all or most of the time.
Apps that let you talk to strangers can help. They put you in touch with people you’d never meet in your own town. Some are fast and random. Others take a little more care to find you the right person.
This guide covers six apps worth a look. You’ll see what each one offers and where it falls short. Then we’ll help you pick the one that feels right for you.
Quick overview of the best stranger chat apps
A stranger chat app connects you with someone you don’t know. You can talk by text, by video, or in a group, based on the app. Most of these apps are free to start.
The big difference is how they pick your match. Some apps pair you at random. Others let you add interests, like music or games, so you meet people who like the same things. They also differ in what they charge for and which safety tools they give you.
Here are the six apps in this guide:
- Emerald Chat
- OmeTV
- Monkey
- Chatroulette
- Azar
- Chatspin
How we picked and compared these apps
We chose six apps people often name when they look for a place to chat with strangers, especially since Omegle closed. Then we compared them on the same points: ways to chat, how you get matched, what’s free and what costs money, safety tools, and where you can use each one.
This is a feature comparison. It’s based on what each company says on its own website, help center, or app store page. We did not run hands on tests for this post. Every detail was checked on September 25, 2026. Apps change often, so check the app itself before you pay for anything.
One more thing you should know. Emerald Chat publishes this blog. We list it first, so we’ve kept every claim to facts you can check. Each app name in the table links to the page we used.
| App | Ways to chat | How you get matched | Paid features or limits | Safety tools listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald Chat | Text, video, group channels | Random or by interests (free) | Gender filter (Gold); country and language filters (Platinum) | Report, block, karma, AI and human moderation |
| OmeTV | Video with text messages | Random; the gender you set may affect matches | None listed | Report button, message translation |
| Monkey | Video and text | Random or by interest tags | None listed (free to use) | Report, block, AI moderation |
| Chatroulette | Video | Random, with photo profiles | Search and skip use Quids; extra Quids can be bought | AI and human moderators |
| Azar | Video with live subtitles | Random, with gender and region choices | Gender and region filters | Cancels unsafe matches, blurs flagged content |
| Chatspin | Video and text | Random, with gender and country filters | Chatspin Plus adds more filters and removes ads | Automated moderation, reports, face masks |
Checked on September 25, 2026 against each app’s official site, help center, or app store page.
1. Emerald Chat
Emerald Chat pairs you with strangers in two ways. You can take a random match. Or you can type in a few interests, and the app looks for someone who listed the same ones. Emerald Chat’s subscription page lists the interest filter as a free feature.
You can talk in the way that feels most comfortable. If you’d rather stay off camera, use text chat. If you want to see a face, try video. And if one on one feels like a lot, group channels let a few people talk at once.
Interests change the whole feel of a chat. When you both love the same show or game, you don’t have to hunt for something to say. The words come easier.
For safety, Emerald Chat has a karma score. Its Safety Center says good behavior raises your karma and helps you match with other kind users. You can also report or block anyone, and the site uses AI moderation with human oversight. It’s for adults 18 and up.
Some extras cost money. Emerald Gold adds a gender filter. Emerald Platinum, an add on to Gold, lets you filter by country and language.
This app fits you if you want talks that go past hello. It can be a good choice for shy people too, since text chat takes the pressure off.
Pros
- Text, video, and group chat in one app
- Interest filter is free
- Karma score rewards kind behavior
Cons
- Gender, country, and language filters need a paid plan
- Random matches can still be hit or miss
2. OmeTV
OmeTV is a random video chat app. You tap start, and it puts you in a video call with a stranger. If you don’t click with them, you tap next.
You set your own country and gender. The gender you choose may affect who you get matched with. But OmeTV’s FAQ says matches are still random, and it doesn’t offer a gender specific filter.
OmeTV also has a translation tool for messages. That helps when your match speaks another language. If someone breaks the rules, you can use the report button to alert its moderators.
It works on the web and on mobile apps. OmeTV suits you if you like surprises and don’t mind a few skips before a good chat.
Pros
- Free, with no time limits
- Message translation built in
Cons
- No gender specific filter, so matches stay random
- Its site lists no way to match by interests
3. Monkey
Monkey is built around fast, face to face video. It pairs you with someone right away, and you can add interest tags to shape your matches. Monkey says basic chat is free, with no required subscription.
It works wherever you are. Monkey’s site lists apps for iPhone and Android, plus a version you can use in your browser.
Its Safety Center says Monkey is only for people 18 and older. It uses AI to spot rule breakers, and its safety team reviews the accounts it flags. You can report someone during a match or later from your match history. You can also block people so they can’t contact you again.
Pros
- Quick to start
- Interest tags to shape your matches
- Free to use
Cons
- No group chat listed on its site
4. Chatroulette
Chatroulette is one of the oldest random video chat sites. It launched in 2009. You sign up for free, turn on your camera, and it connects you with someone new.
It’s changed since the early days. Its app store page says it uses both AI and human moderators, and it’s rated for adults 18 and up. You can also see photo profiles before you chat.
Chatroulette also has Quids, its in app currency. Its app store page says you use Quids to search and skip profiles. You get some when you join, and you can buy more if you run out.
If you like a plain video chat with a long history, Chatroulette may suit you.
Pros
- Simple to use
- AI and human moderators
Cons
- Search and skip use Quids, and extra Quids cost money
- Video first, so it may not suit shy users
5. Azar
Azar is made to help you meet people in other countries. It’s a video chat app from Hyperconnect, a company based in Seoul, South Korea.
Its standout feature is live translation. Azar’s app store page says it turns speech into subtitles in real time. That makes it easier to chat with someone who doesn’t speak your language.
You can choose the gender and region of people you’d like to meet. But these filters cost money. The app store page says they come with a subscription, and its help center says some may use gems, the app’s paid currency.
For safety, Azar says it cancels matches that break its rules and blurs the screen when it spots bad content. You can block users too. It’s rated for adults 18 and up.
Pros
- Live subtitles across languages
- Tools that cancel unsafe matches and blur flagged content
Cons
- Gender and region filters cost money
- Mostly video, with little for people who prefer text
6. Chatspin
Chatspin is a random chat site and app for adults 18 and up. You can use video, or you can use free text chat with no camera at all.
It has filters for gender and country. Its help center says Chatspin Plus, the paid plan, adds more filters and removes ads. So check which filters are free before you upgrade.
Chatspin also has free face masks you can wear on camera if you’d like to hide your face. It uses automated tools to catch bad content, and it reviews reports. Rule breakers can be banned.
The filters help you choose who you meet by gender or place. Chatspin doesn’t list a way to match by hobbies or interests.
Pros
- Free face masks for more privacy
- Free text chat with no camera
Cons
- Some filters sit behind Chatspin Plus
- Its site lists no way to match by interests
What to look for in an app to talk to strangers
First, look at how the app matches you. Random matches are quick. Matches by interest take one extra step, but they give you something to talk about right away.
Next, think about how you like to talk. Text is calm and low pressure. Video feels more real, since you see a face and hear a voice. Group chat is nice when you want to join a talk but not lead it.
Safety tools are a big deal here. Look for a report button and a block button you can find fast. It also helps when an app explains how it reviews reports.
Then think about privacy. Can you turn off your camera? Can you hide your face? You should get to decide what people see.
And don’t forget to check the price. Most apps let you chat for free. Filters for gender, country, or language often cost money.
Why do people use apps to talk to strangers?
Your circle of friends can feel small sometimes. These apps open the door to people outside it.
Some people love the surprise. You never know who’s next, and that’s part of the fun.
Others want friends who share their hobbies. If nobody near you likes anime or chess, someone online might.
Many people want to learn about the world. A chat with someone in Brazil or Japan can teach you things a book can’t.
And sometimes you just want to talk. A friendly voice at the end of a long day is reason enough.
Are apps to talk to strangers safe?
They can be, if you’re careful. You still talk to people you don’t know, and not everyone online is kind.
Keep your personal details to yourself. Don’t share your home address, your passwords, or any bank or card info. Your school or workplace should stay private too.
If someone makes you uneasy, leave. You don’t owe a stranger an explanation. Tap next, block them, and report them if they broke the rules.
Moderation can help. Many of these apps use human moderators, AI filters, or both. Still, no system catches everything, and some people will slip through.
So trust that small feeling that says something is off. It’s usually right. You matter more than any chat ever will.
How to choose the right stranger chat app
Each app suits a different person. So start with what you want.
If you like surprises, random matches are fun. If you’d like an easy way to start a chat, matches by interest can give you a conversation starter.
Think about how you want to talk. Some apps are mostly video. Others give you text or group chats too.
Then check the safety side. Find the block and report buttons before you start. Make sure the privacy settings make sense to you.
Whatever you choose, try it for a few chats before you pay for anything.
Pick the app that fits you
The right app depends on what you hope to find. Azar helps when you want to chat across languages. OmeTV and Chatroulette are there if you like plain random video. Monkey and Emerald Chat let your interests shape who you meet.
Whatever you pick, take it slow. Keep your private details to yourself, and don’t be afraid to leave a chat that feels off.
Who knows? One of those strangers might end up a friend.
If you’d like to meet people who like what you like, try Emerald Chat. Add a few interests, and it will look for someone who listed the same ones.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app to talk to strangers?
It depends on what you want. If you’d like to match by interests and switch between text, video, and group chats, Emerald Chat is a strong pick, and its interest filter is free. If you want to talk across languages, Azar has live subtitles. For plain random video, OmeTV and Chatroulette are simple to use.
What apps are similar to Omegle?
Omegle shut down in November 2023. Popular options now include Emerald Chat, OmeTV, Monkey, Chatroulette, and Chatspin. OmeTV and Chatroulette focus on random video. Monkey and Emerald Chat let you add interests. Emerald Chat and Chatspin both have text chat, so they feel closest to the text and video mix Omegle had.
Can I talk to strangers online without video?
Yes. Some chat apps have text chat, so you can type and keep your face off screen. This is a good choice if you’re shy or want more privacy. Emerald Chat and Chatspin both have text chat, so you can meet new people with your camera off.
Are stranger chat apps free?
Most are free to start. You can usually chat by text or video for free. Extra features often cost money, though. Filters for gender, country, or region are a common paid extra on Emerald Chat, Azar, and Chatspin. Chatroulette uses Quids, its in app currency, to search and skip, and you can buy more.
How can I meet people with similar interests online?
Look for an app that matches by interests. You add a few topics you like, such as music, games, or movies. Then the app looks for people who picked the same ones. Emerald Chat and Monkey both work this way, so your chats can start with something you both care about.
Leave a Reply