What happened to Omegle
Omegle closed in November 2023 after about 14 years. Leif K-Brooks launched it in 2009, when he was 18, and its whole idea was simple: open the site and get connected with a stranger at random.
In his closing note, K-Brooks wrote that running Omegle was no longer sustainable, financially or psychologically, and acknowledged that some people had misused it to commit terrible crimes. About a week earlier, Omegle had settled a lawsuit alleging it paired an 11-year-old with a sexual predator. The thing people loved, instant contact with anyone, was the same thing that made it so hard to keep safe.
Check these four things before you press Start
Every site that calls itself an Omegle alternative promises fun and safety. The way to tell them apart is to check how they actually work. The options on this page are adult-only and give you a way to report people. If a site can't answer these questions on its own pages, skip it.
- Who is it for? Look for 18+ in the terms, and check how age is checked: a tick box, a selfie age check, or ID.
- Can you report someone mid-chat? The Report button should be on the live screen, not buried in a help center.
- Does a person review reports? Automated filters miss things. Human review is what gets repeat offenders banned.
- Do both people agree before the video starts? Mutual matching cuts down the ugliest surprises of pure random chat.
Chatroulette: the closest thing to the original
Chatroulette is the other famous name from 2009, and it's the nearest thing to Omegle you can still use. Its terms say it's for people 18 and over. Random matching has changed, though: you're shown photos of potential partners, and the video starts only if you both agree. Country filters let you pick where your matches come from, which helps if you're practicing a language. It's free, with an in-app currency called Quids.
On safety, Chatroulette says it screens video samples automatically and runs moderation around the clock. It says there's a Report button on every live session, a human reviews every report, usually within minutes, and confirmed violations get an immediate ban. Be clear-eyed about one thing: on the website, the age gate is a box you tick, and you don't need an account to start. You are still seeing strangers' cameras.
Azar: one-to-one video with an age check
Azar is an app built around one-to-one video chat, and it's rated 18+ on the US App Store. Profiles need a name, a photo and a video selfie age check, though the listing notes the check may not be available in every country. Discover shows only people who are active right now, and a connection happens only when both of you choose it.
Azar says automated systems and human reviewers watch both video and audio, with support and moderation running 24/7. If its tools detect violating content, the video pauses and you're prompted to report. You can block anyone, and an Azar Badge marks people who have chatted for a while without breaking the rules. The app is free to download. Gem packs run from $0.99 to $37.99 in the US, and premium unlocks extra gender and country filters.
HMU: when you miss the conversation, not the roulette
A lot of people who miss Omegle don't actually miss the camera. They miss talking to someone new without weeks of swiping first. HMU is built for that, for adults 18+. Meet Now pairs you with one person for a five-minute chat, and you both start from the same opening prompt, so nobody has to break the ice from scratch.
When the five minutes are up, each of you privately chooses Keep or Pass, and the chat continues only if you both choose Keep. Your choice stays private. People use HMU for friendship, dating or both, and you can report or block anyone. It's free on iPhone and Android, with 3 Meet Now introductions a day on the free tier and optional HMU Premium.
Where HMU falls short
HMU isn't random video roulette, and it doesn't have an endless ‘next’ button. If what you want is face-to-face video with people from around the world, Chatroulette or Azar fits better. The free tier stops at three Meet Now introductions a day, so it isn't built for hours of rapid-fire chats. And because people come for friendship, dating or both, say early what you're looking for.
Who should pick which
Pick Chatroulette if you want the classic random video feel, from a browser, with country filters. Pick Azar if you want one-to-one video in an app with a selfie age check and moderation that can pause a bad call. Pick HMU if you want a real conversation with a built-in opener, and a private yes or no at the end.
Every option here is for adults only. If you're under 18, none of these sites are for you.
The risks don't disappear with a new site
Moderation catches a lot. It doesn't catch everything, and random video adds a risk text chat doesn't. The FBI has warned about sextortion cases where fake explicit images were made from photos people posted, sent on request, or that were captured during video chats. The usual demand is money, or real sexual images.
So set your own rules before you start. Don't do anything on camera you'd regret seeing recorded. Don't show your street, your workplace badge or mail with your name on it. Don't move to another app because a stranger asks. If someone threatens you, don't pay and don't send anything. Screenshot their username and the chat, report them on the site, and file a report at ic3.gov.
How to talk to strangers online safely
- Before: decide what's off-camera. Your room, your face, your name, your city.
- During: end the chat the moment someone pushes you to undress, switch apps or share details.
- After: if you're threatened, save the evidence first, then report. Don't delete the chat.
Related articles
- How to Talk to Strangers Online Safely (as an Adult) — What to keep private, the lines that should end a chat, how to check someone is real, and what to do if it goes wrong. Sourced from the FTC and FBI.
- Who Pays Doesn’t Decide What Happens After the Date — Discuss a date’s cost and bill clearly, accept or decline an offer to pay, and keep affection, another date, and consent separate from the receipt.
- How to Keep a Friend’s Confidence Without Guessing — Protect a friend’s privacy by asking what can be shared, keeping personal details out of group conversations, and repairing mistakes honestly.
- How to Tell a Friend You Need Alone Time — Ask for time to yourself with warmth and clarity, while helping a friend understand that space is not a rejection.