Is Omegle back?
Omegle shut down on 8 November 2023, and as of 3 October 2026 we found no reliable report that the original service has come back. If you're here because omegle.com isn't working, that's why.
This page sets out what we know, what we couldn't confirm, and what to check before you use anything that carries the Omegle name. We run kynq, a different random video chat for adults in India, so we've named our sources and kept to what's published.
kynq: 18+ only, free to start, matches you with people in India.
The short answer
No. Omegle's founder, Leif K-Brooks, announced the closure in a note on omegle.com on 8 November 2023, and NPR and the Associated Press reported it the next day. We found no reliable news report of a relaunch, a sale or a new statement from him since.
What we know
- Omegle launched in 2009 and ran for about 14 years.
- It closed on 8 November 2023, and the founder said running it had become unsustainable, financially and psychologically.
- omegle.com was the only official site. Nothing we found shows that any other website is run by the same people.
What we couldn't confirm
A few small websites say omegle.com now shows a "launching soon" page under a new owner. We couldn't confirm that from a reliable news source, several of those sites promote competing chat products, and they don't say the original founder is involved. If it matters to you, check omegle.com and its public domain records yourself, and don't assume a relaunch would be run by the same people unless there's an official statement.
Sites using the Omegle name
Since the shutdown, many websites and apps have used the Omegle name or a look-alike. The original service closed, so any site using the name is not the original. Be careful about what you enter on one, and check how it handles age, safety and privacy before you use it, the same as for any random chat.
What to use instead
There are several random video chats now. We compare the main ones on our page about sites like Omegle. If you're an adult in India, kynq is one option: a free 18+ video chat that matches you with people in India. It asks you to sign in with Google and confirm your date of birth, so it isn't instant and anonymous the way Omegle was.
What to check in any replacement
- Does it state an age rule, and does it ask for a date of birth rather than just a tick?
- Can you skip, report and block in one tap, and does blocking stop you meeting that person again?
- Is video recorded or stored? Read the privacy policy, not just the homepage.
- Is it clear who runs it, and how to contact them?
Questions people ask
- Is Omegle coming back?
- We found no reliable report of a relaunch. The service closed on 8 November 2023. Some small sites claim omegle.com now shows a launching-soon page, but we couldn't confirm that.
- Why isn't Omegle working?
- Because it shut down on 8 November 2023.
- Is omegle.com still the real Omegle?
- It was the only official site while Omegle ran. Check it yourself for what it shows now, and don't assume anything on it is run by the original team without an official statement.
- Is Omegle banned in India?
- We found no ban or advisory about Omegle in India from reliable sources. The service itself closed worldwide in November 2023.
- Are Omegle clones safe?
- We can't vouch for them. They're separate services run by other people. Check their age rules, safety tools and privacy policy first.
- What replaced Omegle?
- Several random video chats, including OmeTV, Chatroulette, Azar, Monkey, Emerald Chat and kynq. We compare them on our sites-like-Omegle page.
Safe by design, for adults
kynq is 18+ only. Video and audio are never recorded or stored, Next person is always one tap away, and you can report or block anyone. Read more in our safety centre, or see whether random video chat is safe.