"One night, I was hit by a wave of nostalgia and decided to revisit the old chat rooms that were a big part of my childhood, since I basically grew up on the internet. Chatroulette was the first thing that came to mind, but when I went to the site, I was disappointed to find out that the text box was gone. I rarely ever used the webcam when I was younger because of safety reasons. Still, I was really bored and figured I had nothing to lose, so I tried video chat. I don't know why I was still surprised when the first stranger I was paired with was a man fondling his crotch. And so was the third. And the seventh. They weren't all doing the exact same act, but the intent was similar. Instead of connecting with people, it became a stealth game of Avoiding The Penis as I disconnected from user after user. Out of 10 connections, I would only encounter one decent (and decently-clad) individual. And even those conversations were barely coherent. Oh well, childhood ruined." - Felisa, 23
Chatroulette Review UK October 2026
- Available in English and French
- No identity verification for profiles
Chatroulette UK in 10 seconds
- Chatroulette was one of the first roulette-matching chat rooms that rapidly rose to fame
- The website offers random text, video, and audio chat for all types of users
- Chatroulette became viral because of the gimmicks people would employ and the actual celebrities who would match with unsuspecting fans
- The website has no identity verification processes to filter fake profiles
- The website is available in English and French
- Users don't need to create a profile to register
- Requires access to users' microphone and camera
- No available mobile application - Learn more here
Find out if Chatroulette is the right service for you or if there are better options.
Better than Chatroulette
Who is Chatroulette for, and not for?
- Singles who are into casual flirting
- People who like to chat and meet strangers online
- For singles who are bored and want to be entertained by talking to random people online
- For people looking for serious relationships
- For singles who want to fall in love and get married
- People who don't enjoy getting random matches online
Chatroulette pros & cons
- Chatroulette is 100% free with no hidden charges
- The website still has millions of users worldwide
- Users don't need to create profiles or upload photos
- There are users who show their private parts on cam
- Chatroulette can be buggy at times
- User activity is not moderated and filtered
What Chatroulette really costs in the UK
You may use this site for free. But be careful with scammers when you are chatting. Since there is no registration here, it is very vulnerable to fake members who might use the site to lure other members in giving them money.
- Text and Video Chat
Who is signed up on Chatroulette in the UK?
Exclusively on DatingScout: online member numbers for dating services are usually far off, so we estimate how many people are really on Chatroulette from traffic data and interest, updated monthly, with history.
Four months after its inception in November 2009, Chatroulette quickly gained over a million and a half unique visitors daily. Word-of-mouth spread and in no time, even celebrities were flocking to the site to try it out. Users have shared screenshots of their Chatroulette experiences with these celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, and many more. Others also gained fame by employing their own gimmicks such as playing improv piano for their partners or wearing cosplay to entertain the stranger they're paired with.
The majority of users are in their early 20s and 30s who are just seeking fun and entertainment in random chats. Most users are males and some of them are blatantly showing their private parts on cam. Because of this, Chatroullete has gained a negative reputation in the online world.
Last data update: October 2026
How does Chatroulette work?
Chatroulette offers random video, text, and audio chats without requiring an account
Provides quick and anonymous interactions
Completely free with no hidden fees or registration
Unmoderated content, leading to potential inappropriate behavior
No mobile app, but accessible via mobile browsers
Signing up at Chatroulette
★★★★★ 1.0/5
Verification
No verification is required to sign up at Chatroulette.
While Chatroulette asks for your email address upon signup, they don't send you any link or code to verify your email. However, you will need to turn on your camera and microphone to start using their service.
Making contact on Chatroulette
★★★★★ 3.0/5
- Facial recognition is required to initiate contact
- Communicate through video chats
- Exchange thoughts through text chats
- Report users
- Only the webcam feature is available in the center of the page
- Everybody can send messages for free
Profile quality
★★★★★ 2.0/5
- There are no profiles on the website
- Users are not required to share their personal information
- No profile photos on the website
- Users don't need to upload any photos
- There are many fake profiles due to the site's lack of verification
- Chatroulette has no profile pictures
The Chatroulette app
- Chatroulette has no mobile application
- The website has a mobile version
- The mobile version can be used in any device
- The mobile site is accessible through any mobile browser
- The mobile version has the same features as the website
Chatroulette has no mobile application, but users can access its mobile-optimized version instead. The mobile version is compatible with any device and is accessible through any mobile browser. The mobile version is available in English and French and has the same features as the web version.
Our field test
★★★★★ 2.0/5
"I got bored, so I used it. And I never tried it again. That was a very traumatic experience!" -Tracy, 20
Design & usability
Upon visiting chatroulette.com, the layout that we were used to back in 2010 is now radically different. Gone is the familiar structure of two tiny screens on top of each other with a chatbox mostly dominating the screen on the right. Now, users are presented with only the webcam screens. Text chatting is now unavailable, so users are left to chat visually and verbally with each other
Controversies
- Inappropriate and pornographic content became rampant on the site
- Controversial connections such as the staged suicide by artist duo Eva and Franco Mattes
- Security was almost nonexistent; as Chatroulette didn't ask for personal information
- Individuals used to be unable to report perverted users who would harass their chat partners
- You were more likely to encounter naked or masturbating men more than any other type of user
The spontaneity of Chatroulette quickly became its doom. Soon enough, users were exhibiting offensive and obscene behavior on the site. A survey by RJMetrics found that in 2010, one out of eight connections would yield something R-rated "or worse" (Moore, 2010). Due to the lack of authentication and monitoring, the site was labelled "a predator's paradise". There was also a controversial online performance by artist duo Eva and Franco Mattes where they would connect to strangers, only to show a messy room and the corpse of a man hanging from the ceiling. User reactions varied from terror to disgust to mockery. The performance, titled "No Fun", was banned from YouTube.
In response to the public outcry, Chatroulette implemented the facial recognition system. Up until the time of writing, the site can still reject users with the message "Search rejected due to the detection of a possible under-age face." However flattering this might be to the writer if this system shows faulty results for a most-definitely-legally-aged individual, who's to say it will not erroneously approve an actual minor trying to use it? You can now also report inappropriate users on Chatroulette. If you click on the report button, you will see the message "User reported" and you are redirected to your next connection. However, it is unclear whether the reported user gets banned from the site or not.
Special features
Chatroulette is a very simple and straightforward site. Here are the features that make up the site:
Messaging and contact 1
Video ChatFree
Since text chat was already removed from the services offered by the site, this feature is now the only way to communicate with other members. Turn on your camera and microphone and wait for another member pop up on your screen and start chatting.
Safety and privacy 1
Face RecognitionFree
The site claims that it verifies the face of the user first before he/she gets a match. This is to prevent users from faking their identities or hiding their real faces from the camera. However, during the testing, a photo was just placed in front of the webcam, then the video chat started right away.
Final results
“Even though its popularity has waned, the demographics remain the same: Chatroulette is still a landmine of naked and masturbating men. It lags sorely behind its competition by not having Chatroulette android and iOS supported apps.”
Alternatives: Better than Chatroulette
Compare Chatroulette with other dating sites
Chatroulette experience reports
Chatroulette FAQ
When did Chatroulette come out?
Chatroulette began its operations in November 2009.
Who owns Chatroulette?
Chatroulette is created and owned by Andrey Ternovskiy.
Is there Chatroulette iPhone version?
Unfortunately, it is not supported on iOs and macOs.
Is Chatroulette still popular?
Chatroulette still gets 3 million monthly unique visitors.
Is Chatroulette legal?
Yes, Chatroulette is legal. It is the activity of the members using it that could be illegal. If you see anything suspicious, report the user and contact Chatroulette.
Is there a Chatroulette for Android tablets/iPhones/iPad minis/Windows phones?
Chatroulette doesn't have a mobile app for these different operating systems, but it is accessible through your mobile browser. Just type in the URL.
How does Chatroulette make money?
Chatroulette gains revenue through advertising.
Who uses Chatroulette?
Chatroulette is used by all types of individuals around the world, though it is now mostly occupied by men.
Is Chatroulette still working?
Yes, Chatroulette is still operating and functional to this day.
Can I go on Chatroulette without registration?
Yes, Chatroulette does not require registration.
Can I use Chatroulette without using my camera?
You have to show your face in order to get connected to other users. But after that's done, you can cover the camera if you want. but we can't guarantee that users will want to stay connected to you for long.
How do I fix my Chatroulette connection issue?
Your connection is most probably due to your internet connection. You can also contact Chatroulette at support@chatroulette.com.
Can I use Chatroulette without my face?
Yes, you can. A lot of users also go on Chatroulette without showing their faces.
Can I filter users by interest on Chatroulette?
No, you can't. That feature, however, is available on Omegle.
Why does Chatroulette keep disconnecting?
That means your chat partners keep disconnecting with you.
How do I enable my camera on Chatroulette?
Click on the button titled "Grant access to camera and microphone".
Is Chatroulette safe from viruses?
Chatroulette is safe from viruses, as long as you don't click on any suspicious links.
Are there lots of Chatroulette girls?
The site is open for anyone. However, it's current demographics lean more towards the male population. There are still Chatroulette girls but you'd be most likely paired with men.
You did not find your question? Ask us!
Thank you for your question. We will answer it as soon as possible.
Security
- Does Chatroulette sell your data?
- No, Chatroulette does not sell your data.
- Was Chatroulette hacked in the past?
- No, Chatroulette was never hacked.
- How accurately does Chatroulette track your location?
- Chatroulette does not track your location.
- Do your Chatroulette profile pictures or profile information appear in Google Search Results?
- No, your Chatroulette photos and personal information will not appear in Google Search Results.
- Who can view your pictures on Chatroulette?
- Chatroulette has no profile pictures.
- Is your phone number required for signing up at Chatroulette?
- No, you can sign up at Chatroulette without a phone number.
- Can you erase your personal data on Chatroulette?
- Yes, Chatroulette provides an option for users to erase their data.
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