Live right now
Omegle chat alternative, live and moderated
Omegle shut down in November 2023 and hasn't come back. Chitchat does the same thing, with the moderation Omegle never had. Live text or video with a stranger, one click.
Text Chat Video ChatFree to start.
What happened to Omegle?
It closed for good on 8 November 2023. Founder Leif K-Brooks' farewell note gave the reasons: the cost of fighting misuse, and mounting legal pressure. It was not sold or paused. It ended.
Anonymity was the appeal and the problem. One button, one stranger, no profiles. With almost no moderation, users were left to police each other.
The demand didn't close with the site. People still want a low-stakes conversation with someone outside their own circle. What's changed is that a platform now has to answer what Omegle couldn't: who is watching while this happens.
Omegle vs Chitchat, side by side
The parts that made Omegle worth using, and the parts that ended it.
| Criterion | Omegle (2009-2023) | Chitchat |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Closed November 2023 | Running |
| Matching | Random, one-on-one | Random, one-on-one, optional filters |
| Moderation | User reports only | Reviewed during the chat, humans on appeals |
| Age checks | Self-reported checkbox | Face-based verification when age is unclear |
| Starting | No account | None for text; social sign-in for video |
| Cost | Free, ad-supported | Free, no ads |
| Enforcement data | Never published | Published in our transparency report |
The part worth keeping
What people liked about Omegle was simple. You talked to a stranger you'd never have met otherwise, live and unscripted. Chitchat keeps that: text or video, one-on-one, randomly matched.
The part we refused
What made Omegle fail was everything around that: no real moderation, no accountability, nowhere to turn when a chat went wrong. Chitchat is actively moderated and monitored while you're chatting, rather than after the fact.
Our moderation and age-verification systems are built and reviewed by the Chitchat Trust & Safety Team, with the enforcement numbers published in our Safety & Moderation Transparency Report.
18+ note: Chitchat is an adult platform, built and moderated for users 18 and older. It isn't designed or marketed for minors.
Random when you want it, filters when you don't
Matching can still be fully random, or you can narrow it with interest, region, and gender filters. Video chat requires a sign-in so people who break the rules can be removed and kept out; text chat can start without one, or with a guest account.
Want the fuller story of what happened to Omegle? Read our alternatives guide, or browse our video chat guides.
Live means moderated while it happens
Live is where moderation matters most. There's no delay between a bad interaction and the next person. Chitchat reviews activity in real time during conversations, with human moderators handling the judgment calls.
1 / 30s
actions taken every day, around the clock
We won't pretend that makes every chat risk-free. No system screens a stranger before you're already talking to them. Keep the instincts you'd use meeting anyone new: nothing identifying up front, and the report button the moment something feels off.
Starting takes about a minute
1
Open Chitchat
Mobile or desktop browser. It's free.
2
Pick text or video
Both are live and one-on-one. Video needs a sign-in; text doesn't.
3
Talk
Skip to the next person any time, or leave whenever you want.
FAQs
What is Omegle?
Omegle was a random chat site that paired strangers for live text or video conversations. One person at a time, with no profiles to browse and no picking who you got. That simple idea is what people still search for when they look up "Omegle live."
Is Omegle back?
No. The original site hasn't returned, and its founder was clear the shutdown is permanent. That's why searches like "is Omegle back" mostly lead to alternatives now. The idea outlived the site, just on different platforms.
What are the best Omegle alternatives in 2026?
Chitchat, if you want the live stranger-chat core with real moderation during the conversation. Text or video, random or filtered matching, and accountability when someone breaks the rules. For a fuller comparison of sites like Omegle, see our Omegle alternatives guide .
Is Chitchat free?
Yes, Chitchat is free to start on both text and video. You don't need a paid plan to get matched, and there's no download.
Is Chitchat safe to use?
No chat site is risk-free, but Chitchat is safer than unmoderated chat. Activity is reviewed in real time during conversations, humans handle judgment calls, and we publish enforcement numbers in our transparency report . No system screens a stranger before you're talking to them, so keep the usual instincts: nothing identifying up front, and report anything that feels off.