Chitchat Review 2026: Is Chitchat.gg a Good Omegle Replacement for Text and Video Chat?

Chitchat is a browser-based site for talking to strangers one-on-one, by text or by webcam. It arrived in 2023, shortly before Omegle shut down, and has since grown into one of the busier replacements: the company reports more than 21 million visits from 190+ countries in the 90 days to mid-July 2026. If you are wondering what happened to Omegle and where its users went, Chitchat is one of the answers. This 2026 review covers how it works, what is free, how it handles safety and how it stacks up against other random chat sites.

Chitchat at a glance

What is Chitchat?

Chitchat is a free random chat site that connects you with a stranger for a private text or video conversation, then lets you skip to someone new at any time. It follows the classic Omegle formula — no browsing profiles, no swiping, just the next person — but adds interest tags (music, travel, gaming, anime, football, pets and more), optional filters and a friends list so a good conversation does not have to vanish when you hit skip. It is run by Befriendswith Ltd, a small UK company, and funds itself through optional paid extras rather than ads. If you mostly want typed conversations, our guide to the best random text chat sites covers more options in that style.

How does Chitchat work?

Chitchat works in four steps: pick a chat mode, add interests if you want, get matched and skip whenever you like.

1. Open chitchat.gg in any browser on your phone or computer — there is nothing to install.
2. Choose Text Chat (no account needed) or Video Chat (sign in with Google, Facebook or Apple and allow camera and microphone access).
3. Add interest tags or set gender and region filters, or leave matching fully random.
4. Chat one-on-one with your match by text or video, and share photos, GIFs or videos in text chat if you both want to.
5. Skip at any time to get a new match instantly, or add the person as a friend to talk again later.

Chitchat features

Chitchat’s feature set is built around better matches and keeping good conversations, not just endless skipping.

How much does Chitchat cost?

Chitchat is free: matching, text chat and video chat cost nothing and there are no ads. The site makes money from optional subscriptions and in-site coins that unlock extras, with payments handled by Lemon Squeezy and PayPal. Chitchat does not publish a public price list — prices are shown inside your account — and its refund policy notes that it does not refund filter mismatches, so treat paid filters as a preference rather than a guarantee. Recurring subscriptions keep charging until you cancel.

Chitchat pros and cons

Want to try live video right now without a sign-in? Our own free cam chat is free, needs no registration and is for adults 18+ only.

Is Chitchat safe?

Chitchat is safer than most random chat sites, because it moderates conversations in real time instead of waiting for reports. The company says it took more than 100,000 moderation actions in a recent 90-day window, over 89% of them before any user reported anything, and blocked more than 40,000 suspected under-18 attempts. Signed-in video chat also adds accountability that fully anonymous cam sites lack. Even so, Chitchat itself points out that it cannot vet strangers before you are matched, so your own habits still matter.

• Keep personal details private. Do not share your full name, address, school or workplace, phone number or social handles with someone you just met.
• Start in text mode. Text chat lets you get a feel for someone before you turn on a camera.
• Check your background. Assume anything on camera could be recorded, and keep identifying items out of shot.
• Use report and skip. Report anyone who breaks the rules and move on — you never owe a stranger a conversation.
• Be careful with links and payments. Never click links from strangers or send money, gift cards or coins to someone you met in chat.

18+ only: Chitchat’s terms require users to be at least 18, and anyone who signals they are underage must pass an age check to continue. For more general advice, see our roundup of safer websites to talk to strangers.

Tips for better conversations on Chitchat

The fastest way to better chats is to add two or three specific interests and open with a question about them rather than a plain “hi”.

• Use specific tags. “Football” works, but a team, game or band you love gives you an instant topic.
• Ask open questions. “What got you into anime?” goes further than “Do you like anime?”
• Listen and reply to details. Picking up on something your match said keeps the chat flowing naturally.
• Skip politely. If the conversation stalls, a quick “nice chatting, good luck” before moving on keeps things friendly.
• Save the good ones. Add people you click with as friends so you can pick the conversation up later.

Chitchat vs other random chat sites

Chitchat’s closest rivals are other Omegle-style sites that offer both text and video. Our Emerald Chat review covers the most similar option for interest-based matching, while how Uhmegle compares is worth reading if you want the most Omegle-like layout. For a wider shortlist, see our ranking of the best random video chat sites.

Who is Chitchat best for?

Chitchat is best for adults who miss Omegle but want better matches and stronger moderation. It suits people who like to start in text and move to video once they are comfortable, anyone using interest tags to find a specific crowd (gamers, anime fans, language learners) and users who would rather support a site through optional extras than sit through ads. It is a weaker fit if you insist on a native app or refuse to link a Google, Facebook or Apple account for video — in that case, OmeTV’s apps or a fully anonymous site from our list of Omegle alternatives may suit you better.

Frequently asked questions

Is Chitchat free?

Yes. Matching, text chat and video chat on Chitchat are free and the site carries no ads. It is funded by optional subscriptions and coins that unlock extras, but you never have to pay to get matched or keep chatting.

Do I need an account to use Chitchat?

Not for text chat, which you can start without registering. Video chat requires a quick free sign-in with Google, Facebook or Apple. An account also unlocks friends, chat history and saved interest filters.

Is Chitchat safe?

Chitchat is one of the more carefully moderated random chat sites: it reviews chats in real time with automated filters plus human moderators and publishes a transparency report. No site can vet strangers before a match, so keep personal details private, use the report button and skip anyone who makes you uncomfortable.

Who owns Chitchat?

Chitchat is operated by Befriendswith Ltd, a private limited company registered in England. The company says it launched Chitchat in 2023 with a small founding team and has not been acquired or rebranded since.

Is there a Chitchat app?

No. Chitchat has no official iOS or Android app. It runs in any modern browser on phones, tablets and computers, so there is nothing to download. Apps called Chit Chat in the app stores are unrelated products.

What is the minimum age for Chitchat?

You must be 18 or older. Chitchat’s terms say the service is not for anyone under 18, and users who signal they are underage must pass an age check before they can keep chatting.

The bottom line

Chitchat is one of the most thoughtfully run Omegle replacements in 2026. It keeps the instant, one-on-one format people loved, adds interest matching and a friends list, stays free and ad-free, and is unusually open about how it moderates. The social sign-in for video, the lack of an app and the hidden pricing for extras hold it back slightly, but for text or video chat with strangers who share your interests it is an easy site to recommend. Our rating: 4/5.