Best Chat Sites 2024 in the U.K.

flingster.com

Members 85,000
Gender proportion

30 %
70 %
  • An adult random chat site for all genders from all walks of life
  • Features the AR masks during chats to keep yourself anonymous
  • Personal information is needed to register for free
  • Has a simple and very easy to use interface
  • No app version but functional on a mobile browser
www.luckycrush.live

Members 100,000
Gender proportion

22 %
78 %
  • Random matching video chat platform
  • Users are only matched with members of the opposite sex
  • Women can use the site for free
  • Account verification takes 24hours
  • Mobile app not available
  • Auto-translation feature
shagle.com

Members 121,000
Gender proportion

32 %
68 %
20 %
  • A video chat site that allows you to talk to strangers worldwide
  • No personal information needed upon registration
  • Claims to be available in 70 countries across continents
  • No profiles to view
  • Has translation tools to address language barriers among members

What are Chat sites?

Chat sites are organized into distinct "rooms," and messages are exchanged swiftly. You can catch up with live chats and respond immediately when you join as a new user. Options range from free to paid chat sites, and they come in various forms (see below).

Chat sites have been a favourite for many years. On these sites, you'll meet individuals from all walks of life, whether they're looking to form friendships, find someone to converse with, or even rediscover love. Some users are just looking for a fun and adventurous time. Your visit to these chat sites will surely be enjoyable, filled with different games to play and many opportunities for flirting.

Female Chatting
  • Are you looking for social contacts?
  • Do you want to escape from everyday life and immerse yourself in a new world?
  • Do you want to look around the depths of the internet and have a nice chat with strangers?

Then chat sites are the right place for you.

There are chat sites that have gained international popularity and are also suitable for online dating. Others are equally popular but rather used for making new online friends than finding a partner.

While there are reputable chat sites, there are also those that don't do as well as others. Many chat sites can be used free of charge, while others incur costs for exclusive services. Some chat providers only offer chat rooms, while others provide wider options. The selection of chat sites is huge. Some sites are more suitable for the elderly, while others offer an environment that the younger people will like.
 

Which chat site suits me?

The question of which chat site best suits you depends on a variety of factors. First of all, you have to clarify for yourself which functions of a chat site you want..

Do you stand with both feet on the ground just looking for a chance to make new friends, to chat with nice people and to disconnect from the stressful everyday life?

People who want to use chat portals for online dating are using different sites than members who solely want to chat and keep it online. Also, there are many chat sites that lack reputability and you'll find many fake profiles there.

There are larger chat sites, smaller platforms and, of course, there are differences between these. Some sites don't only have chatrooms, but also a community section where members have profiles and you can connect with them via messages, gueatbook posts and so on. Those communities often offer extended functionalities like games, boards or other entertaining digital gimicks.

To find out which chat site is suitable for you, we recommend that you take a look at our chat site test winners. There you will find suitable chat sites for your needs, depending on what you look for.

Apart from that, we have compiled the most important chat portal types for you here:
 

Chat Graph English

To find the best suiting chat portal, you should pay attention to the following factors:

  • Seriousness
  • Age Structure
  • Costs
  • Features
  • Membership and Origin

Who is logged in to chat sites?

On chat sites, people of all ages are registered. There are portals where young people up to 25 years old are the majority and of course the internet also offers portals for people between 40 and 60 and above. The net is full of chat rooms for all kinds of purposes. The members of chat sites are looking for friends, fun and socializing. Likewise, some chat sites on the internet also provide particular dating functions to help people find a partner in real life.

Some chat portals are international, and you'll meet people from all over the world on them. Other sites focus on specific countries, regions or even cities.
 

History of Chat Portals - From the Beginnings to Today

The history of the chat portals goes back to the 80s. There were the Usenet and the CB radio which were used as chat tools back then. The classic online chats started in the 90s. These rather simple chat rooms were a great way to spend time chatting with strangers. The chats at that time, however, were used differently than today. In the former digital space, the users tried primarily to be someone they were not with only little intention of moving chat contacts to the offline world. The joy of using computers, typing messages and sending them through cyberspace was enough excitement. Today, being used to using the internet in all of life's situations, chat rooms are also used to find new friends - or dates.

The chat sites in the 90s, however, have laid the foundation for today's social web. Whether MSN, AOL, ICQ or IRC chats - people have learned a lot through these sites. Also, the spelling in the chats has changed completely. Abbreviations weren't the same as today. Do you remember these?

brb = be right back / am right back
CUL8R = See you later / See you later
k3wl = Cool
 

90ies Chat

Others such as HDGDL, LOL, ROFL, ASAP or FML have survived to this day, others were added, e.g. "lb" on Instagram - standing for "like back".

The history of chat sites has therefore started very early, but is no longer comparable to the portals of the past. Here it has become clear that digital progress has not stopped.

Today, chat sites make a distinction between three forms, IRC, web chat, and instant messaging. IRC is the so-called Internet Relay Chat. This form only works with its own chat server and client software. Java is required for chatting on such portals. The web chat is the perfect for starters, as no additional software needs to be installed. Last but not the least, instant messaging should be mentioned. WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger,and other apps let you write directly to friends, acquaintances or huge WhatsApp groups (work mates, travel buddies...)
 

What is the "Chattiquette"?

Chattiquette is a set of behavioral rules for users. Also it's a compound word of “Chat” and “etiquette”, in case you were wondering. These rules make it very clear how you should behave as a member or user of a chat site. In order for the interaction between members to be at a comfortable level, users should respect these rules.

Chats are incredibly popular until this day. Aside from Whatsapp & Co., many younger and older people use other “classic” chat sites actively. Which is not surprising, as chatting is still one of the simplest ways of online communication. Depending on the chat site or particular chat room you'll find people to talk about sports, music and other favorite topics of yours. Regional chats also have an increased amount of members willing to connect with one another outside the web.
In chats, you do not have to pretend to be someone else, you can just be the way you really are. This is one of the main reasons why chat portals are still so popular.

Chat Portals and Dating - is it a match?

One of the frequently asked questions is: Can a chat portal be used for the purpose of online dating? It's actually not that easy to answer. Many chat portals have no special features, so only the chat room can be used. However, some chat sites offer different flirting and dating features. Popular functions, in particular, are picture voting, sending digital gifts or kisses, or direct messaging with other members outside the big chatrooms.
However, members of the majority of portals shouldn't hope too much. On many sites, there are lots of fake profiles and the chances of romantic success are not very high. Are you seriously looking for a partner and only want to meet people who are also looking for a partner? Then have a look at these:

What are the most important things to watch out for? Are there any dangers? Tips and tricks?

It is not hassle-free to use chat sites - they come along with a few dangers, especially for underage chatters. If you are under 18, you should talk to your parents in advance. If someone said something offensive to you, inform the support and avoid this portal from now on. Same goes for other demographic groups. The online world, with its anonymity, let's people lose all boundaries when it comes to inappropriate speech. Don't let this ruin your chat experience but ignore these folks as good as you can.

Alongside with that, keep in mind that there are many users on the internet who are impersonating someone else. For this reason, you should first think carefully about what (personal) information you give to whom.
 

Chat addiction

With regard to the other dangers, the topic of chat addiction must also be mentioned. Especially for people, who live in a difficult social environment outside the internet, it can become a problem.

Thus, it is important to spend enough time meeting with friends, family, or relatives on a regular basis and log out of all online devices.
 

Valuable Tips and Tricks

There are a lot of things to consider as a successful chatter. If you're on a chat site with profiles, it is highly recommendable to fill out your profile completely and not to lie about yourself.

The following tips will help you, as a beginner and advanced, to get to know new contacts on chat sites:

First of all, it's wise to choose a good nickname - not offensive, not necessarily sexual - also avoid these oldfashioned sillyword-number combinations (lonelygirl15 was back in the early 00s!). An original name is better and it will optimize the chances of your chat success significantly. Next, be chatful! If you enter a chatroom, say hello, respond to other people and check out which of them you want to talk too. You've got absolutely nothing to lose. If you're an introvert in the offline world, use chat rooms to improve your small talk skills - it might really help you and you'll get more relaxed.
 

Chatroom Profile
Chris Pleines, Author at Datingscout.co.uk
Chris Pleines
Founder of Datingscout and Author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies"
Chris founded Datingscout 15 years ago, and today he is one of the leading Online Dating Experts. He is the author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies" and the author of the Internet's largest online dating study analyzing 20 Million Profile Pictures with artificial intelligence. Chris Pleines holds a master degree in media science and appeared in numerous television interviews and publications to give expert advice as well as tips about online dating.

FAQ

Facts

What is the best free online chat site?

Most online chat sites are free including offerings under Chat category. Some of these sites have a free messaging and video calling feature.

How to leave a group chat?

The process will depend on the platform you are using. But no matter if it's an app or a website, you will be able to control your settings on the top part of the bar where the group chat's name is shown.

How to chat on online dating sites?

You can easily join chat dating sites as most do not require a membership to join. The first thing you need to do is find a platform that suits your needs.

How to start chat on dating site?

You can either use the search tool to find someone to chat with or choose through the available chat rooms and groups where there will be online members who are having a conversation. Find a suitable chat site for you as they offer several unique features.

What is a free dating site with free chat?

You can try out several sites and apps we have tested in the Chat category if you are looking for a free chat dating site. What's great about chat sites is that they are usually free to use.

What are the best chat sites?

There are several great chat dating sites out there, but they have different features and costs. Check out Chat category to try one if you are new to chat dating.

What are chat sites like Omegle?

There are several a similar chat dating site like Omegle. The membership base is similar as you can find hot singles here who are up for a sexy night or two.

What are popular chat sites?

We have tested the most popular chat sites on the Chat category. These platforms have great maintenance teams which is important for the niche as several people use their features at once.

Everything About Chat Sites

Who chats on chat sites?

Chat sites have people of all ages. Some sites are more suitable for people between 40 and 60, while other sites suit an age group that is younger. You'll find all kinds of people here - scholars, students, working people from all professions. Very little is known about the ratio academic to non-academic users, but it is likely that you won't meet one PhD after the other here, to be honest.

Where do you find the best chat sites?

You can find the most popular chat site with the largest user bases here in our chat site winners category. But in the end, this always depends on many factors. With a little research, you might find a chat room for your area especially targeted to one of your main interests? Just “give it a google” and find out.

Is there anything to keep in mind when chatting as a teenager?

Young teens still like chat rooms, if you believe it or not. If you want to chat as a teenager, choose a site that is safe and reputable. As soon as a harassing message comes towards you, it should be clear that you're in the wrong place. Leave the site and find another. Also, make sure not to hand out personal information to someone you know nothing about. Especially for video chats, check the background for distinguishable elements before turning your webcam on.

Is there a difference between text and video chats?

There is definitely one. In a text, chat is written in real time; a video chat uses the webcam to let the chatters talk to each other directly.

Are chat sites trustful?

Like in every industry, there are also some black sheep among chat sites. But most sites are secure and great for chatting with other members. Nearly every portal has a support or reporting feature to report inappropriate behavior.

How to delete a profile on chat sites?

Normally one can delete his profile on the respective chat site. Of course, if you have completed a paid membership subscription, you must remember to cancel this contract as well.

Are the chat sites modern or outdated?

All in all, this question can not be answered. It is always better to compare between the pages. Many chat sites are outdated and technically offer no innovative solutions - but they're still around and have kept their popularity over the years. But there's also a variety of modern chat sites which were launched in the recent days.