Chat with strangers around the world
RandomHey pairs you with one random person somewhere in the world for a free video chat or text chat, in your browser, with no account. Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, Oceania: whoever is online and compatible with your languages and interests. In video chat you see their country as a flag before you say a word.
This page explains how countries actually work here, including the one thing many sites sell and we do not have: a country filter.
Start an international video chat
How countries work here
| You want to | What happens |
|---|---|
| Pick a country to chat with | Not possible. There is no country filter, free or paid |
| See where the other person is from | Video: their flag, from their connection, unless they hide it. Text: no flag, just ask |
| Chat in a particular language | Choose up to three languages. You are then only matched with someone who shares one, unless you allow others |
| Hide your own country | Tick “Hide my country” before you start. Your IP address is never shown either way |
| Meet people who share a hobby | Add up to five interests. Matching prefers people who picked the same ones |
| Reach a region on purpose | Chat during that region’s evening and set its language. That is what changes who is online |
How to reach Europe, the USA or anywhere else
- Chat during their evening. Most people use random chat between roughly 7 pm and midnight where they live. For the USA that is the early hours in Europe and Africa; for Europe it is the afternoon in the Americas. Work out that window for the region you want.
- Set the language. English reaches people on every continent. Spanish, French, Portuguese and Arabic each reach several countries. A language preference does more than a country filter would, because it also makes sure you can talk.
- Use the flag and Next. In video chat the flag appears at once. Moving on is normal in random chat and nobody is offended.
- Say where you are, and ask. “I’m in Spain, where are you?” is the most natural opener there is.
More ways to start, and questions that work across cultures, are in how to talk to strangers from other countries.
Talking across a language gap
- Start with text chat if speaking is hard. Both of you get time to think.
- Choose the “practise a language” goal. When you both choose it and share a language, the conversation starters are made for learners.
- Short sentences, no idioms, and “sorry, could you say that again?” whenever you need it.
- Offer a swap: half the chat in your language, half in theirs. See practising English with strangers.
Why there is no country filter
Two reasons. Country filters split the people waiting into small groups, so everyone waits longer and many leave; on other services the filter is often the paid feature that makes free matching slow. And a filter based on connection country is easy to fake with a VPN, so it promises more than it can deliver. Languages, interests and timing give you most of the benefit without either problem. Details on how matching works.
Stay safe with people you cannot check
- Keep your full name, address, workplace and phone number to yourself, however friendly the chat is.
- Never send money or gift cards to someone you met online, whatever the story about visas, customs or emergencies.
- Someone who wants to move to another app within minutes is asking you to give up Report and Block. Say no.
- Report and Block are always visible. Blocking ends the chat and stops any rematch, in either direction.
The full picture is on safety features and their limits and in staying safe when you talk to strangers online.
International chat questions
Can I choose a country, for example the USA or the UK?
No. RandomHey has no country filter, free or paid. You are matched with whoever is online and compatible with your mode, languages and interests. Chatting during the evening of the region you want, and choosing its language, are the two things that change who you meet.
How do I know which country the other person is from?
In video chat each person sees the other’s country as a flag, worked out from their connection, unless they tick “Hide my country”. In text chat no flag is shown. Nobody sees an IP address. The simplest way is still to ask.
Can I meet Americans or Europeans on a random video call?
Yes, when they are online, which is mostly during their evening. Set English as one of your languages, chat between about 7 pm and midnight in their time zone, and press Next until the flag you are looking for appears. There is no way to guarantee a particular country.
Is international chat free?
Yes. Random video chat and random text chat are free, with no coins, tokens or paid filters. Interest and language preferences are free for everyone.
Do I need to speak English?
No. You can choose up to three languages you speak. If you do, you are only matched with someone who shares one of them, unless you allow other languages. English simply reaches the most people.
Does a VPN change my country?
Yes. The flag comes from your connection, so with a VPN the VPN’s country is shown. It does not change who you are matched with, because there is no country matching.
Is it a dating site for meeting foreign partners?
No. RandomHey is a random chat for adults with no profiles, no gender filter and no way to find the same person again. Anyone who promises to introduce you to partners from abroad, asks for money, or wants to move quickly to another app is showing the usual signs of a romance scam.
Chat with someone in another country
Adults only (18+). Read the community guidelines before you start. RandomHey is not affiliated with Omegle.