Is Omegle Back? What Happened and What to Use Instead

4 min read · By the Booick team

Omegle shut down on 8 November 2023. Here is what happened, why the sites using its name are not the original, and how to find a safer alternative.

Short answer: no. Omegle was shut down permanently on 8 November 2023 by its founder, who said the cost and stress of fighting misuse had become too much. If a site today says it is Omegle, it is not the original.

Why you still see "Omegle" everywhere

The name is still one of the most searched phrases about stranger chat, so many unrelated sites copy it, or call themselves "Omegle 2" or "the new Omegle". They have no connection to the original, and many are slow, full of bots or push you to turn on a webcam.

How to spot a risky clone

• It asks for your phone number, a payment or a download before you can chat.
• It forces video, or the first thing you see is a request for your camera.
• There is no way to report or block someone.
• There is no age rule, or it only asks you to tick a box and nothing else.
• The page is covered in ads that look like chat buttons.

What to look for in an alternative

1. No camera pressure: text or voice only.
2. Contact details hidden: numbers, links and social handles should be blocked until both people agree.
3. Working report and block, and real moderation.
4. Adults only, with a clear rule.
5. Real people online right now, not bots.

How Booick fits

Booick is a free chat for adults (18+) with text and voice, no camera at all, nicknames and masks instead of real names, and numbers, links and handles blocked until you both tap Reveal. You can start as a guest.

Try a stranger chat →