Chatroulette alternative: RandomHey, free random video and text chat
Chatroulette started random video chat in 2009, and “chat roulette” is now the name for the whole idea: press a button, meet a random stranger on camera. People look for a Chatroulette alternative or sites like Chatroulette when they want text chat in the browser, matching by interests, or simply a newer, smaller community.
RandomHey is a free random chat for adults: one-to-one video or text with a stranger, in your browser, with optional interest and language matching. This page compares the two using only what Chatroulette says on its own website, so you can decide which suits you.
RandomHey and Chatroulette at a glance
| RandomHey | Chatroulette | |
|---|---|---|
| Video chat | Yes | Yes |
| Text chat | Yes, in the browser | In the mobile app |
| Account needed | No | No (“no sign-up required”) |
| Where | Web, on phones and computers | Web, iOS, Android |
| Price | Free, no paid features | See its website |
“Not stated” means its website does not say. Features change, so check before relying on this.
What is Chatroulette?
Chatroulette is a random chat service at chatroulette.com. This is what its homepage said when we checked it on 23 September 2026, in summary:
- Describes itself as “the original free random video chat”, running since 2009.
- Offers random video chat with country filters.
- States it uses AI moderation and “24/7 moderation”, and asks you to confirm you are 18 or older.
How RandomHey is different
- Random text chat right in the browser, as well as video.
- Optional interest and language matching, free for everyone.
- You and your partner get the same conversation starter, so a chat never begins with silence.
- Report and Block are always visible, and reports are reviewed by people. Video is not recorded.
- No country filters: matching is by interests and languages instead.
Read how matching works and our safety features and their limits.
When Chatroulette may suit you better
- You want country filters.
- You want mobile apps for iOS and Android.
- You prefer a long-established service (running since 2009, it says).
No random chat is right for everyone. Whichever you use, never share your name, address, phone number or social media with a stranger.
Is Chatroulette safe?
We cannot vouch for another service, and no random chat can guarantee your safety: you are talking to someone you do not know. Before you use Chatroulette or any site like it, check that it:
- is for adults only and says how it keeps minors out;
- shows Report and Block during every chat, and explains what happens after a report;
- publishes clear rules and says how they are enforced;
- tells you what it records and keeps, and for how long;
- does not show the other person your IP address, account name or location;
- never pressures you to pay, buy coins or move to another app.
On RandomHey, Report and Block are always visible, blocks are enforced by our server, reports are read by people, and video is never recorded. What we do not have: age verification (being 18+ is self-declared) or automated video moderation. See safety features and their limits.
How to switch from Chatroulette to RandomHey
- Choose video chat or random text chat. Text never asks for your camera.
- Optionally add up to five interests and up to three languages. They help you meet someone with something in common, and they are free for everyone.
- Confirm that you are 18 or older. There is no account, email or app. For video, allow your camera and microphone when your browser asks.
- Say hello. Press Next whenever you want to meet someone new.
Can’t reach Chatroulette?
RandomHey is not Chatroulette and cannot help with its accounts, bans or outages. Its own website is chatroulette.com. If it does not load, the problem may be on its side, on your connection, or a block on your school or work network; its own website and support are the place to check. If you just want to talk to someone right now, RandomHey works in your browser on phones and computers.
Chatroulette alternative questions
Is RandomHey affiliated with Chatroulette?
No. RandomHey is an independent service. It is not affiliated with Chatroulette and does not use its name, logo or content. Chatroulette is a trademark of its owner.
Is RandomHey free?
Yes. Random video chat and text chat are free. There are no paid features, coins, shop items or paid filters.
Do I need an account to use RandomHey?
No. There is no account, profile or social login. You confirm you are 18 or older and start chatting.
Does RandomHey work on my phone?
Yes. It runs in modern browsers on phones, tablets and computers. There is no app to install.
When might Chatroulette suit you better?
Based on its homepage, Chatroulette may suit you better if you want country filters, or if you want mobile apps for iOS and Android, or if you prefer a long-established service (running since 2009, it says).
Guides
- Staying safe when you talk to strangers online, including sextortion
- How to talk to strangers from other countries online
- 200 things to talk about: topics for friends, strangers, text and video
Sites like Chatroulette
Other random chat services we have compared, each described from its own homepage:
- OmeTV alternative: Random webcam chat with no time limits, according to its homepage.
- Thundr alternative: Describes itself as a free one-on-one video or text chat with “zero sign-up”, and as “AI-safe”.
- Monkey alternative: Requires a “1-tap social login”, which it says keeps bots out.
- Chatrandom alternative: Free random video chat with a location filter and a choice to chat with “women, men, or couples”.
- Emerald Chat alternative: Free access includes interest matching, text and video modes and group channels; subscription tiers unlock gender, country and language filters, according to its homepage.
- Umingle alternative: Random video or text chat with strangers, with optional interests to match on shared topics.
- Uhmegle alternative: Describes itself as random video or text chat with strangers, with interest-based matching.
- Joingy alternative: Describes itself as a random webcam chat with a text-only section and a one-to-one video chat roulette.
- Chatspin alternative: Random video chat where you choose your gender (male, female or couple) and can filter by gender and country.
- Azar alternative: A video chat for meeting new people, with interest-based matches.
- Chitchat alternative: Random one-to-one text or video chat with strangers, free to use; optional subscriptions fund the site instead of ads.
- TinyChat alternative: Describes itself as free, anonymous random video chat in the browser, with no sign-up and no downloads.
The full list, including services without their own page, is in Omegle alternatives: sites and apps like Omegle compared.
Chatroulette is a trademark of its owner. RandomHey is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Chatroulette.