if you've used chatroulette recently you know it's showing its age. the interface looks like it hasn't been updated since the obama administration. matching is slow. and the moderation is still hit or miss after all these years.
i spent the last month testing every major chatroulette alternative to find out which ones are actually worth your time. here's what i found.
the best chatroulette alternatives
tjub
yeah we made this so obviously we think it's good. but here's why: three chat modes (text, voice, video), ai moderation that actually catches stuff in real time, and proper age verification before you can video chat.
the free version gives you everything you need. tjub+ adds gender filter and priority matching if you want more control over who you meet. biggest downside is it's ios only right now.
recommendedometv
probably the biggest chatroulette alternative by user count. works on web, ios, and android. you won't wait long to match with someone because there's always people online.
the moderation exists but it's not great. expect to hit skip a lot. the gender ratio is also pretty skewed which makes it frustrating for everyone.
decent optionchatrandom
been around for years and still works. has country and gender filters which is nice. interface is cleaner than chatroulette but still feels dated.
moderation is meh. you'll see stuff you don't want to see. the filters help but aren't perfect.
it worksemerald chat
tries to be different with a karma system and group chat features. interesting concept but the execution is mixed. smaller user base means slower matching.
the karma thing can be gamed and the group chats are often dead. worth trying but don't expect miracles.
interesting but flawedshagle
another omegle/chatroulette clone with gender filters. decent sized user base. nothing special about it but nothing terrible either.
the free version is limited and they push the paid version pretty hard. moderation is average.
averagewhy people are leaving chatroulette
chatroulette was first and that matters for nostalgia. but being first doesn't mean being best. here's why the alternatives are winning:
- better moderation. chatroulette's moderation is still reactive, not proactive. newer apps use ai to catch problems before you see them.
- mobile apps. chatroulette is web-only. most people want an app they can use on their phone.
- modern interface. chatroulette looks old. newer apps actually look like they were designed in this decade.
- more features. text chat, voice chat, filters, interests. chatroulette is still just basic video roulette.
what to look for in a chatroulette alternative
not all alternatives are created equal. here's what separates the good from the garbage:
real moderation
if you see inappropriate content in the first five minutes, the moderation sucks. good apps catch this stuff automatically before it reaches you. ask yourself: how many times did you have to skip before having a normal conversation?
active user base
matching speed matters. if you're waiting 30 seconds between matches, the platform is too small. the best alternatives have enough users that matching is nearly instant.
age verification
any app that just asks "are you 18?" and takes your word for it isn't serious about safety. look for actual verification.
mobile support
unless you only video chat from your laptop, you want an app. web-only is 2010 vibes.
the reality of random video chat in 2026
random video chat has changed a lot since chatroulette invented it. the wild west days are over. platforms that don't moderate get sued now (rip omegle).
that's actually a good thing. the best apps today give you the random connection experience without constantly showing you stuff you'd rather not see. it's still spontaneous and exciting, just less traumatic.
if you're looking for a chatroulette alternative, try tjub or ometv first. both have enough users to match quickly and enough moderation to be actually usable.
chatroulette had its moment. time to move on.