Omegle alternatives in India: what people use now, compared

Omegle shut down on 8 November 2023, and no single app has taken its place. In India, people looking for an Omegle alternative now mostly try random video-chat apps such as OmeTV and Azar, Indian calling apps such as FRND and Dostt, or listener apps where you talk to someone who has been checked. They differ a lot on cost, age limits and safety, so here's a sourced comparison, as of October 2026.

Why did Omegle shut down?

Omegle ran for 14 years. Its founder, Leif K-Brooks, closed it on 8 November 2023, saying: "Operating Omegle is no longer sustainable, financially nor psychologically" (NPR, NBC News).

It closed days after settling a US lawsuit, A.M. v. Omegle, brought by a woman who was matched with her abuser on the site at the age of 11 (NPR). Her lawyers say the shutdown was a term of the settlement (C.A. Goldberg).

Random matching was Omegle's appeal and its biggest risk. So when you compare alternatives, the useful questions are who you'll be matched with, what checks exist and what happens when you report someone.

What are people using instead of Omegle in India?

• Random video chat. OmeTV and Azar are the closest to Omegle: you tap, and you're on camera with a stranger.
• Indian calling apps. FRND and Dostt connect you with other users and hosts by voice or video, in Indian languages.
• Listener and peer-support apps. 7 Cups offers free chats with volunteer listeners (Google Play). Paid platforms, including Loret, let you choose a checked person and pay for the time.

Omegle alternatives compared (as of October 2026)

Who runs them and how do they charge?

What do they say about safety?

A dash means our sources didn't report a regulator action or published concern, not that none exists.

Is OmeTV safe?

We don't label other apps safe or unsafe, but here are the facts as of October 2026. OmeTV is run by Bad Kitty's Dad, a Portuguese company (The Daily Aus). It has 10 crore+ downloads on Google Play, is rated 18+ and needs no registration, and its listing says a system watches for rule violations automatically while moderators respond to complaints around the clock (Google Play).

In August 2025, Australia's eSafety Commissioner formally warned OmeTV over pairing adults with children (eSafety). In October 2025, Apple and Google removed it from their Australian app stores (The Daily Aus). If you use it, follow the safety rules further down this page.

What changed in 2026 for anonymous chat apps?

In February 2026, Apple updated its App Review Guidelines (MediaNama). Guideline 1.2 now says apps that end up being used mainly for Chatroulette-style experiences or "random or anonymous chat", alongside pornography and bullying, can be removed from the App Store without notice (Apple).

In June 2026, MediaNama reported that Apple had removed ShareChat's Vibely from the App Store under that guideline, over anonymous chat concerns (MediaNama). If you're on an iPhone, random-chat apps can disappear from the App Store with little warning. Apple's rule doesn't apply to Google Play, which has its own policies.

What do free random-chat apps offer that Loret doesn't?

It's worth being plain about this. Random-chat apps offer things Loret doesn't:

• They're free to start. Loret charges per minute once your ₹50 free credit is used up.
• They're instant and random. You can meet someone you'd never otherwise meet. On Loret, you choose a listener and pay for the time.
• They can be anonymous on both sides. On Loret, you stay private, but listeners are identified and checked.
• They're for fun and meeting people. Loret isn't a dating app; it's for conversation and support.
• They're huge. OmeTV and Azar each list 10 crore+ downloads on Google Play (OmeTV, Azar).

If you want a free, unpredictable chat with someone new, Loret isn't that. If you'd rather have a calm conversation with someone who has been checked, and you're happy to pay for it, it may suit you.

How do you choose an Omegle alternative?

Before you install anything, check five things:

1. Who runs it, and where the company is based.
2. How it checks age: a tick-box, or something stronger.
3. Whether you can report someone during a call, not only afterwards.
4. Whether it says it uses human moderators, automatic moderation or both.
5. How it charges: a subscription, coins or a rate per minute.

Then match the app to what you actually want:

How do you stay safe on any stranger-chat app?

• Never share your name, address, number, school or photos with strangers, and block and report anyone who makes you uncomfortable (CERT-In).
• Don't answer video calls from unknown numbers (Onmanorama), and remember that anything on camera can be captured.
• Treat an 18+ label as a promise, not a guarantee: most anonymous-chat apps MediaNama reviewed in June 2026 relied on self-declared ages (MediaNama).
• Don't move to WhatsApp or Telegram with someone you've just met.
• If someone threatens you, don't pay. Report it on 1930 or at cybercrime.gov.in (PIB).

Our guides to talking to strangers online safely and paid video call safety go further.

What if you're under 18?

OmeTV, Azar, FRND, Dostt and Loret are all meant for adults only, so stay off them. CERT-In's safety guide for children says not to share your name, address, number, school or photos with strangers, and to block and report anyone who bothers you (CERT-In). If something online has frightened you, tell a parent, a teacher or another adult you trust.

If you're turning to strangers because you feel low or alone, Tele-MANAS (14416 or 1800-89-14416) is free and open 24 hours a day (PIB). In an emergency, call 112.

Omegle, OmeTV, Azar, FRND, Dostt, 7 Cups, Vibely, ShareChat, Apple, App Store and Google Play are trademarks of their respective owners. Loret isn't affiliated with them. Details were checked on 29 October 2026 and may have changed.