Chatroulette review

Chatroulette launched in 2009 and effectively created the category. More than fifteen years later it is still online, which by itself makes it unusual among random chat sites.

What it does well

• The core loop is intact: open the site, allow the camera, meet someone, click next.
• Matching still feels genuinely random rather than quietly steered.
• After its early reputation problems the site invested heavily in automated moderation, and the difference shows against the clones that skipped that part.

Where it falls short

• Sign-in is pushed much harder than it used to be, which cuts against the appeal of instant chat.
• The interface has aged and feels dated next to newer alternatives.
• The audience skews heavily male, so wait times vary a lot depending on what you are hoping for.

Worth trying?

Yes, if you want the original experience with adult-level moderation behind it. If the sign-in prompts put you off, video chat here needs no account at all.