Looking for a Chatroulette alternative?
Updated
Chatroulette is where random video chat went mainstream. If you're looking for a Chatroulette alternative, you probably like the core idea, meeting a stranger on camera with one click, but want a version that fits how people use the internet in 2026: on phones, with filters, and with something to do besides stare.
Free, in your browser. Adults 18+.
A quick history
Chatroulette launched in 2009, built by Andrey Ternovskiy, a 17-year-old in Moscow. It became a viral hit in 2010 for its pure 'click Next, see a stranger' design and was soon famous for unpredictable, often unwanted content. It's still online as of November 2026 and, according to its website, has added moderation over the years.
Most of the random chats that came after, including Omegle's video mode and the sites that replaced it, borrowed that same Next-button idea.
What's changed since 2010
Phones first
In 2010 you needed a laptop and a webcam. Today most people chat on a phone, so a site has to work well in a mobile browser.
Randomness with a dial
Fully random is still fun, but people now expect to steer it a little, by interest, by place, sometimes by gender.
Safety tools in plain sight
Users expect a report button they can hit mid-call, not an email address in the footer.
Shared activities
Games and prompts make the first 30 seconds easier, which is when most chats live or die.
What momos keeps, and what it adds
momos keeps the Chatroulette core: tap Start, see a real person, tap Next whenever you want. Then it adds the dials.
- Match area: your state, the United States or worldwide.
- Interests: music, gaming, movies, anime, memes, fitness and more.
- Seven in-call games, from Tic Tac Toe to Emoji Story.
- Text chat with GIFs if you'd rather type a line than say it.
- Duo mode: bring a friend and match with another pair.
- Optional gender filter, as a time-limited pass paid with Coins.
Side by side
| Chatroulette | momos | |
|---|---|---|
| Around since | 2009 | New |
| Audience | Worldwide | US-focused, worldwide optional |
| Age rule | 18+ per its terms | 18+, under-18 birth dates blocked at sign-up |
| Sign-in | Check its site | |
| Games | Check its site | 7 built-in |
| Records calls | Check its policy | No, momos keeps no video or audio recordings |
Good habits carry over
Whatever site you use, the same rules apply. Keep personal details to yourself, assume the other person could record, don't move to another app on a stranger's request, and reach for report and block whenever someone crosses a line. On momos, both buttons are in the call controls the whole time.
Making random feel less random
The magic of Chatroulette was surprise. The downside was that most surprises were skips. On momos you can keep the surprise and still tilt the odds in your favor: pick a single interest like movies, set your match area to United States, and open with a prompt card.
If you're in college, try study or career on a weeknight and you'll often meet people grinding through the same midterms. On weekends, memes and gaming tend to bring a looser crowd. None of this is guaranteed, but small choices add up.
Night-owl tips for the US
Random chat traffic swings with the clock. Across the US, evenings tend to be the busiest. If you're on the West Coast at midnight, the East Coast is already asleep, so setting your match area to My state can help you find someone who's actually awake and in the mood to talk.
Early mornings and weekday afternoons are quieter. That can mean slower matches but longer chats, since people aren't skipping as fast. Try a couple of different times and see what fits you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chatroulette still around?
Yes. As of November 2026, Chatroulette is still online.
Who made Chatroulette?
Andrey Ternovskiy launched it in 2009 at age 17, in Moscow.
Does momos work like Chatroulette?
The basics are the same: you're matched 1-on-1 with a stranger on video and can tap Next any time. momos adds interests, state or US matching, games and Duo mode.
Is momos free?
Yes, video chat is free. Coins are optional and used for gifts, the gender filter pass and extras.
Can I bring a friend into the chat?
Yes. Duo mode pairs you and a friend with another pair for a 2-on-2 video chat.
Adults only. Never recorded.
momos is for people 18 and older. We don't record or store calls, and report and block are always one tap away. See the safety center.