the random video chat space has changed a lot. omegle is dead. new apps have popped up. old ones have improved (or gotten worse). if you're looking for the best way to video chat with strangers in 2026, here's where everything stands.
the ranking
1tjub
yes we made this so take that into account. but here's why it's at the top: ai moderation that actually works, three chat modes (text, voice, video), proper age verification, and a clean modern interface.
pros: best moderation in the game, multiple chat modes, anonymous to matches, free
cons: ios only for now, smaller user base than some competitors
9/102ometv
biggest user base of any omegle alternative. available on web, ios, and android. you'll match fast because there's always people online.
pros: huge user base, fast matching, works everywhere
cons: moderation is inconsistent, interface feels dated, gender ratio is rough
7/103chatrandom
established player with decent features. has country and gender filters. works on web and mobile.
pros: good filters, decent user base, reliable
cons: dated interface, moderation could be better, pushes paid features hard
6.5/104chatroulette
the original. still works but feels ancient. no mobile app. moderation has improved but still not great.
pros: still has users, iconic name, no account needed
cons: web only, outdated interface, weak moderation
6/105camsurf
markets itself as family-friendly which is weird for a random video chat app. moderation is strict but maybe too strict.
pros: strict moderation, clean interface
cons: smaller user base, can feel over-moderated, less spontaneous
6/106emerald chat
tries to be different with karma systems and group features. interesting ideas, mixed execution.
pros: unique features, tries to build community
cons: small user base, karma can be gamed, matching is slow
5.5/107chatspin
another omegle clone with filters. nothing special but nothing terrible. gets the job done.
pros: has filters, works
cons: generic, nothing stands out, average moderation
5/108shagle
gender filter is the main selling point. otherwise pretty basic. free version is limited.
pros: gender filter works
cons: very limited free version, basic features, not much moderation
5/10how we ranked these
we looked at five things:
- moderation quality. how often do you see inappropriate content? how fast does the platform respond to reports?
- user base size. how long do you wait between matches? are there enough people online at different times?
- features. what can you do beyond basic video chat? filters, modes, extras?
- interface. is it modern or does it look like it was made in 2010?
- platform availability. web only? ios? android? all of the above?
the state of random video chat in 2026
omegle shutting down changed everything. it proved that platforms can't just ignore what happens on them. the apps that survived are the ones that took moderation seriously.
that's actually good news for users. the experience is better when you're not constantly skipping past stuff you don't want to see. yes it's less "wild west" than the old days. but it's more usable.
the biggest remaining problem is gender ratio. most of these apps are 80%+ male. until that changes, the experience will be frustrating for a lot of people. gender filters help but they're usually paid features.
which one should you use
depends what you want:
- best overall experience: tjub (if you're on ios)
- biggest user base: ometv
- web only, no download: chatroulette or chatrandom
- strictest moderation: camsurf
try a few and see what works for you. they're all free to use at a basic level so you can test them without commitment.