Chitchat.gg is one of the few random chat sites that does both text and video, adds filters and lets you keep people as friends. So when you look for an alternative, it helps to know which part you want to change: the signup for video, the paid gender filter, the browser-only setup or the random matching itself. This guide sums up what Chitchat says about its own service (checked October 12, 2026) and compares six alternatives by what each one does differently.

Quick answer: the best Chitchat.gg alternatives

  • Text and video with no signup: Umingle offers random text and video chat with interest topics, no sign-up and no app.
  • Free country filter and mobile apps: Chatroulette is free, needs no account, has a country filter and apps for iOS and Android.
  • Interest tags plus text mode: Thundr matches on interests in text or video; its extras are paid Boosts and Coins.
  • Interest tags in the browser: Camgo has free text and video chat with interest tags; reviews say its gender and location filters are paid.
  • Simple cam roulette: Shagle is free to start; gender and location filters need Premium.
  • Profile browsing in an app: Azar adds a Discover tab with free profile views per cycle; some preferences cost Gems.

What Chitchat.gg offers: free chat, paid gender filter

Chitchat describes itself as a global text and video chat platform where you talk to one stranger at a time. According to its homepage FAQ, matching, text chat and video chat are free, and optional subscriptions fund the site instead of ads. Text chat needs no registration; random video chat asks for a quick free signup, which its launch blog says is a Google, Facebook or Apple sign-in. An account also keeps your friends, chat history and saved interest filters.

The filter question needs a closer look. The homepage says you can filter by interests, gender and region, but Chitchat's own support article "What does Premium include?" lists the gender filter as a Premium Basic feature, with a "priority gender filter" in Premium PLUS. Premium also adds priority matching, image sending (and video sending on PLUS) and a badge, and you need a claimed account to subscribe. Chitchat's support pages don't show prices; third-party reviews (1v1videocall.chat, Fachat, both 2026) report $4.99 a month for Basic and $8.99 for PLUS, with cheaper yearly billing. Prices can vary by country and include VAT at checkout, so check the upgrade screen.

On safety, Chitchat says every chat is moderated in real time by automated filters plus human moderators around the clock, that the site is 18+, and that accounts signalling as underage must pass an age check. It reports more than 89% of its enforcement actions in the last 90 days came before any user report. Those numbers come from Chitchat itself.

Why people look for a Chitchat.gg alternative

Chitchat is a solid all-rounder, so the reasons to leave are usually specific:

  • The video signup. Some people don't want to link a Google, Facebook or Apple account just to start a video chat.
  • The gender filter is paid. If that was the reason you came, a subscription is part of the deal. Our guide to free vs paid gender filters compares how other sites handle it.
  • Browser only. Chitchat runs in any browser with nothing to download, but if you want a native app, you'll need a different service.
  • Pure randomness. Chitchat says filters "narrow the pool"; they don't show you a list of people to pick from. If you'd rather choose first, you need a browse-first app.

Chitchat.gg vs alternatives at a glance

ServiceText chatAccount for videoFiltersPaid extrasApps
Chitchat.ggYesFree signupInterest, region; gender with PremiumPremium Basic/PLUS, coinsBrowser only
UmingleYesNo sign-upInterest topicsTerms mention paymentsBrowser only
ChatrouletteIn video chatNo accountCountry (free)QuidsiOS, Android
ThundrYesOptional loginInterests; gender filter disputedBoost, CoinsVaries by report
CamgoYesDisputed in reviewsInterests; gender/location paid (reviews)Camgo PlusMobile browser
ShagleIn video chatNo accountGender, location with PremiumPremium, giftsNo app
AzarYesApp accountGender, region (Gems/premium)Gems, subscriptionsiOS, Android, web

All details are from each service's official pages unless the table says "reviews"; check the current terms before you pay.

Six Chitchat.gg alternatives compared

Umingle: the closest no-signup match

Umingle offers random video and text chat, interest topics such as gaming or YouTube, and says no sign-up is needed. It runs in any browser with no app, uses automated plus human moderation and has reporting tools. Its rules say it's 18+ only, with no parental-permission exception. Umingle is also where the old Uhmegle site now points; see our Uhmegle alternatives guide for what changed there.

Best for: people who liked Chitchat's text-or-video choice but don't want to sign in for video. Cost: free to chat; its terms say any payments are final. Caveat: no friend list like Chitchat's.

Chatroulette: free country filter and apps

Chatroulette says it's free with no account required, has a country filter, 24/7 moderation and apps for iOS and Android. It now also uses photo-based mutual matching, and sells Quids for extras. Like Chitchat, it's for adults only.

Best for: video-first users who want to choose a country for free and use a phone app. Cost: free; Quids optional. Caveat: no gender filter is advertised.

Thundr: interest matching in text or video

Thundr's homepage says "Skip the profiles or log in and start talking", and its FAQ covers text chat, interest matching, Match History and blocking. Paid extras are Boosts and Coins; Thundr doesn't publish a price list, and third-party figures differ. User posts from November 2025 say its gender preference was removed, while some reviews still list it. Our Thundr alternatives guide covers the details.

Best for: fast interest matching with a text option. Cost: free core chat; Boosts optional. Caveat: refunds are excluded if you're banned for breaking the rules.

Camgo: interest tags and face filters

Camgo offers free text and video chat, lets you say whether you're male, female or a couple, matches on interest tags, and lists AI safety tools, no ads and face filters. It says it has "millions of users from 180+ countries", which is its own claim. Reviews say gender and location filters need Camgo Plus, with prices that differ by source (PinkPinkChat lists $19.99 a month; DatingScout says from $6.99 a week).

Best for: browser users who want interest matching with extras. Cost: free core; Plus optional. Caveat: whether you need an account is reported differently by reviews.

Shagle: simple cam roulette

Shagle is a free browser video chat with no account needed. Its site says gender and location filters come with Premium, and it lists users from 70+ countries plus virtual gifts. There's no official app.

Best for: a quick Start/Next experience. Cost: free; Premium for filters (Shagle doesn't publish the price on its homepage). Caveat: no text-only mode and no friends list.

Azar: profile browsing in an app

Azar is a mobile-first app (also on the web) where many features are free and optional premium features cover gender and country preferences. Its Discover tab gives a set of free profile views per cycle, refreshing every 12 hours, and Gems pay for more. Azar's help center says spent Gems are non-refundable.

Best for: people who want to see a profile before a call. Cost: free core; Gems and subscriptions optional. Caveat: the best filters cost money.

How to choose a Chitchat.gg alternative in four steps

  1. Pick the mode. If you want text first, choose Umingle or Thundr. If video is all you need, Chatroulette or Shagle are simpler.
  2. Decide on accounts. No signup at all: Umingle, Chatroulette, Shagle. Happy with an app account: Azar.
  3. Check which filters are free. Country is free on Chatroulette; gender filters are paid on most sites, including Chitchat. Interest matching is free on Umingle, Thundr and Camgo; see our interest matching guide.
  4. Read the payment terms. Most paid extras are non-refundable once used, so try the free version for a few sessions first.

A different approach: choose before you call

Chitchat's filters narrow a random pool, but you still don't see who you'll get. Kiss Live Chat works the other way round. You can see who's online, filter by language and interests, and start a one-on-one video call with someone you picked. If you'd rather warm up first, there are live rooms, Reels, games and chats, plus block and report tools and moderation.

Want to choose instead of skip? See who's online on Kiss Live Chat and start a 1-on-1 call with someone you picked.

Still comparing classic roulette sites? Our list of the best random video chat sites covers the wider field.

Safety tips when you switch from Chitchat

  • Check the age rules: Chitchat, Umingle, Chatroulette and Thundr all say they're 18+ only.
  • Don't share your full name, socials, school or location, even after you add someone as a friend.
  • Be wary of anyone who asks for money, gifts or to move to another app.
  • Remember that gender and region filters rely on what users enter, so they're never a guarantee.
  • Use the report button; it's there on every service in this list. For a full checklist, read is random video chat safe?

Conclusion: keep what you liked, change what you didn't

If you liked Chitchat's text-or-video choice but not the video signup, Umingle is the closest swap. For a free country filter and phone apps, try Chatroulette. Thundr and Camgo keep interest matching, Shagle is the simplest cam roulette, and Azar adds profile browsing. And if you're done with random matches and want to pick the person yourself, try Kiss Live Chat.