Find your kind of conversation.
The best Monkey alternatives depend on how you want to meet people. Choose quick one-on-one video chats, profiles built around shared interests, or a live room you can watch before joining.
These seven options cover different ways to connect. Start with the format you want, then check the features and costs that matter to you.
The shortlist
Monkey alternatives at a glance
Pick by chat format, access, and optional extras.
| Platform | A good fit for | Chat format | Free & optional extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIGO LIVE | Watching first and joining a community | Livestreams, guest seats, and voice rooms | Free download; optional gifts and in-app purchases |
| Yubo | Meeting people through profiles and interests | Swipes, chats, and group Lives | Free core features; optional paid features |
| Chatroulette | Browser video chats with partner selection | One-on-one matches by mutual choice | Free chat; some choices use earned Quids |
| Azar | International conversations with translation | One-on-one video and profile discovery | Free features; some filters require gems or a plan |
| HOLLA | Casual introductions with new people | One-on-one random video chat | Free basic matching; Plus adds filters |
| Camsurf | A simple browser chat with language filters | Random video with text chat | Free basic chat; optional paid features may apply |
| OmeTV | Random chats on the web or a phone | Video chat, translation, and social profiles | Free random video chat |
U.S. availability, sign-in steps, and paid options can vary by device and app version. Compare the chat format first, then check the current features and price before paying.
A closer look
Seven ways to meet someone new
01 / Live communities
BIGO LIVE
Watch first. Join when you're ready.
BIGO LIVE is a strong choice among Monkey alternatives for live communities and group video chat. Browse music, gaming, and casual conversations, choose a host who interests you, and start by watching. You can join the text chat and follow creators whose broadcasts you'd like to visit again.
A shared activity gives the conversation a starting point. Ask about a song during a music stream, discuss a strategy in a gaming room, or respond to the topic a host is talking about. If you want to meet new people online without opening with a private video call, this format gives you time to get involved at your own pace.
- Start as a viewer. Watch a livestream, read the conversation, and leave a comment when you have something to add.
- Take a guest seat. In a Multi-Guest room, request an open seat. After the host approves, you can participate through the room's available audio or video format.
- Try voice rooms. Listen to an audio conversation or join in when you prefer to keep your camera off.
Keep in mind: BIGO LIVE centers on public broadcasts and communities. Guest seats depend on the room and host approval; gifts and other paid extras are optional.
Yubo
For profiles, shared interests, and group chats
Yubo gives you several ways to meet people through profiles, interest tags, swipes, messages, and group livestreams called Lives. Among apps like Monkey, it suits adults who want a little context before starting a conversation. A person's interests can give you something more specific to ask about than a general greeting.
You can start with profile discovery and move into a chat, or watch a group Live before joining as a participant. That mix is useful if you want both individual conversations and a place to spend time with a group. Add a few interests you actually enjoy to your profile, then use one of them as the basis for your first message.
Yubo became an 18+ platform in November 2025 and requires age checks at sign-up. Verification adds a screening step, but it does not guarantee someone's intentions or behavior. Core features are free, with optional paid features available. Try the main ways to connect before deciding whether any extras would help you.
- Why choose it
- Profiles and interest tags give you a starting point for a chat.
- Before you join
- Allow time to create a profile and complete verification. Extra features can cost money.
Chatroulette
For browser chats with a say in who you meet
Chatroulette is one of the Monkey alternatives you can use in a browser. It offers one-on-one video chat with country and language preferences. You see photos of potential partners, and a conversation starts when both people agree to match. That gives you a chance to choose who you talk to before the call begins.
This format suits short introductions, casual conversation, or practice speaking another language. Choose a language you're comfortable using and bring one simple topic, such as a favorite movie or a hobby. Preferences can help narrow your choices, but the quality of a conversation still depends on the people who join.
Basic video chat is free, and the service uses an earned currency called Quids for options such as its Top Users filter. Start with the standard matching options to see whether the format suits you. Chatroulette is for adults 18+; review the matching-photo requirements and camera permissions before your first session.
- Why choose it
- You can try browser video chat without a separate app download.
- Before you join
- It is for adults 18+. Review how your photo is used in matching.
Azar
For one-on-one chats across languages
Azar pairs live video calls with profile browsing in its Lounge. It is a useful Monkey app alternative for international conversations, with translation tools to help when you and the person you meet speak different languages. You can explore profiles as well as try one-on-one video chat.
The appeal is the chance to talk about everyday life with someone whose experiences differ from yours. Food, music, and hobbies make accessible starting points. Keep your sentences short when using translation, give the other person time to reply, and rephrase a question if a response seems unrelated. Slang and jokes can be harder to translate accurately.
Azar has free features, while gender and region preferences can require gems or a subscription. Check which filters are included in the offer on your device. A preference helps shape who you may meet; it cannot promise a particular response or a lasting friendship. Try the core chat experience before paying for more control over matching.
- Why choose it
- Translation support adds another way to keep a cross-language chat going.
- Before you join
- Use short, clear sentences. Translations may miss slang or the tone of a joke.
HOLLA
For casual, one-on-one introductions
HOLLA focuses on the spontaneous introductions people often look for in random video chat apps like Monkey. You meet one person at a time, start talking, and decide whether to continue the conversation. You can move to another match or end a call when you're ready.
It suits casual chats when you are open to meeting someone without a set topic. A specific opener can give both people something to respond to: ask what music they're playing lately or which movie they'd recommend. Leave space for an answer, and treat a short conversation as a complete interaction even if you do not stay in touch.
Basic matching is free, while HOLLA Plus adds filters. Try several conversations with the basic options before deciding whether those extras match your preferences. The service is for adults 18+. Keep personal contact details private until you have a reason to share them, and use the available reporting tools if an interaction crosses a boundary.
- Why choose it
- A direct format for meeting one person at a time.
- Before you join
- HOLLA is 18+. Try basic matching before deciding whether extra filters are useful.
Camsurf
For a simple browser chat with language preferences
Camsurf suits people looking for sites like Monkey with browser video chat and language preferences. The main steps are simple: review the rules, allow your camera and microphone, and start a conversation. You can move to another person when you choose. Location and language filters give you additional ways to select potential chat partners.
Text chat sits alongside the video, which is useful for typing a word, a name, or a short question during a call. If you're practicing a language, choose one you can already use for a basic introduction and keep your first topic familiar. Typing can support the conversation, but it does not turn a video call into an anonymous text-only chat.
Camsurf is for adults 18+. Basic chat is free, while some features may require an account or a purchase. Reporting tools and moderation are available, but the service states that it does not monitor every interaction. You can leave immediately and report a user if a conversation becomes inappropriate.
- Why choose it
- Language preferences help narrow the pool of potential chat partners.
- Before you join
- Camsurf is 18+. Some features may require an account or a purchase.
OmeTV
For random video chat on the web or a phone
OmeTV is a free Monkey alternative for random video chat on the web or a phone. It offers country selection, a built-in translation feature, and the option to change chat partners. It is worth comparing if your priorities are one-on-one conversations and a choice between browser and mobile access.
The service also has social features, including photos, profiles, and followers. Those options may be useful if you want a way to reconnect after an introduction. Before using them, decide how much information you want to make visible on your profile. Someone you meet in a random chat can choose whether to continue the conversation, so keep requests to stay in touch low-pressure.
Random video chat is free, but sign-in steps and available social features can differ by device or app version. Check the controls before starting, particularly the options to end a call or report a user. OmeTV limits access to adults under the applicable local age rules; review the current eligibility requirements where you live.
- Why choose it
- A familiar random-chat format with web and mobile access.
- Before you join
- OmeTV restricts use to adults under the applicable local age rules. Check sign-in requirements on your device.
Which Monkey alternative fits you?
Choose what you want from your next conversation.
BIGO LIVE suits live rooms, Yubo suits profile discovery, Azar adds translation, and Chatroulette offers browser matching.
Compare the optionsA few useful answers
Monkey alternatives: common questions
Which apps are most similar to Monkey?
If you want one-on-one random video chats, compare Chatroulette, Azar, HOLLA, Camsurf, and OmeTV. For shared-interest profiles, try Yubo. For livestreams and group conversations, BIGO LIVE offers a different way to meet people.
Are there free Monkey alternatives?
Yes. The platforms in this guide offer free access or core features. Paid filters, subscriptions, virtual gifts, or other extras may still apply. A free download does not mean every feature is free.
Can I meet people without turning on my camera right away?
On BIGO LIVE, you can watch a livestream before requesting a guest seat, or explore voice rooms. Yubo also lets you watch a Live before joining as a participant. Random video chat services may require your camera to start matching.
Which options work without an app download?
Chatroulette, Camsurf, and OmeTV offer browser video chat. Open the official website and review its camera, microphone, and account requirements. Supported browsers and mobile features can differ.
Is any random video chat app completely safe or private?
No service can guarantee every interaction or prevent someone from recording what you share. Age checks, moderation, and reporting tools help address risk. Keep identifying details private and leave any conversation that makes you uncomfortable.
Are these recommendations suitable for teens?
This guide is for adults. BIGO LIVE, Yubo, Chatroulette, HOLLA, and Camsurf specify 18+ access. OmeTV requires users to be adults under local rules. Check each service's current eligibility policy; an app-store rating alone is not permission to join.
Prefer a room you can come back to?
Try BIGO LIVE. Find a host you enjoy, join the conversation, and follow them for the next stream. Start as a viewer and take a guest seat when you're ready.
Free download · In-app purchases · 18+
