Update: Omegle, the anonymous video chat site has shut down after 14 years after ongoing legal disputes. You can read the founder’s statement here.
Are you struggling to access Omegle because you’re caught in the web of school or university firewalls, facing stringent internet censorship, or being unfairly banned? You’re not alone; there’s a more reliable solution than hearsay or trial-and-error methods. After exhaustive research and rigorous testing, we’ve filtered out the noise to present you with the best Omegle VPNs.
Omegle’s lack of encryption is a playground for hackers and a goldmine for over-intrusive ISPs. Have you ever felt that eerie sensation that someone’s watching? They probably are. Your chat data is open to hackers, ISPs, and anyone with moderate tech skills, putting your privacy at grave risk. What’s worse is that your ISP dares to monetize your browsing habits by selling them to the highest bidder. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
A reliable VPN for Omegle allows you to bypass these hurdles and encrypts your network traffic, rendering it indecipherable to prying eyes. Do you wish for more global connections on Omegle? A VPN can virtually teleport you across borders, diversifying your chat pool. However, be warned not all VPNs are created equal. Many have already fallen victim to Omegle’s VPN-blocking tactics.
Fear not – we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Continue reading for our handpicked VPN services that work with Omegle and excel in speed, security, and reliability. If you’re in a rush, here’s a sneak peek of our best VPNs for Omegle that offer unrestricted and safer Omegle access:
- NordVPN: Our first choice VPN for Omegle. A premium VPN service with plenty of security features. The highest levels of military-grade encryption, secure VPN protocols, and a strict no-logs policy are included as standard. Also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Omegle. - PrivateVPN: A privacy-first VPN provider that boasts strong security and fast speeds, but has a smaller network of servers and fewer server locations. Works great with Omegle and has a strict no-logs policy.
- StrongVPN: Advanced security features for unrestricted access to Omegle. AES-256 encryption, WireGuard support built-in, and a no-logs policy. But only has a small number of VPN servers.
Many VPNs claim to work with Omegle but most (especially free VPNs) are often blocked.
We regularly test the top 70 VPNs with all major streaming sites and this list only includes VPNs which reliably unblock Omegle and offer a full money-back guarantee, allowing you to try them risk-free.
WANT TO TRY THE TOP VPN RISK FREE?
NordVPN is offering a fully-featured risk-free 30-day trial if you sign up at this page. You can use the VPN rated #1 for Omegle with no restrictions for a month—great if you want to chat privately or use the service in a country where it's usually unavailable.
There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if NordVPN isn't right for you and you'll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.
Best VPNs for Omegle- Our hands-on review
We’ve tested and compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice VPN for Omegle.
No value | NordVPN | PrivateVPN | StrongVPN |
Website | NordVPN.com | PrivateVPN.com | StrongVPN.com | Ranking for Omegle | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total number of servers | 6,000+ | 200+ | 950 | Devices Supported | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, FireTV, Routers, Linux | Avg Speed (Mbps) | 100+ Mbps | 74 Mbps | 74 Mbps | Activity logs | None |
---|---|---|---|
Best deal (per month) | $3.09 Up to 73% off 2 year plans + 3 EXTRA months | $2.00 Save 85% on a one year plan + 24-months free | $3.66 Save 63% on an annual plan |
The best Omegle VPNs
To find the best quality service that works with video chat platforms like Omegle, we researched VPN services with the following properties:
- Minimal impact on network speeds
- The ability to access Omegle securely
- Multi-platform support
- Strong encryption
- Clearly defined privacy policies and minimal data logging
From real-world testing, here’s our list of the best VPNs for Omegle:
1. NordVPN
Oct 2024 Works with OmegleTested Oct 2024
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
- FireTV
Website: www.NordVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
NordVPN is our top choice Omegle VPN. This provider has recently found a workaround for Omegle’s extremely strict blocking and is now, by far the easiest way to get unrestricted access to the service. We were able to use Omegle chat with randomly chosen servers in the US, Canada, and Australia. NordVPN happens to be one of the fastest providers on the market right now, too, so you should even be able to use the video chat function without any issues.
This service is packed with security and privacy tools so that your online activity is protected from snoopers. These include an app-specific kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, 256-bit AES encryption, and a feature that blocks ads and malware automatically. NordVPN follows a true no-logs policy and provides 24/7 support over email and live chat.
NordVPN has its own iOS, Android, Linux, MacOS, and Windows apps. There is also a VPN extension for popular web browsers. If you’d prefer, it can be manually installed on supported routers, too.
Pros:
- Plenty of servers work with Omegle
- Steady, reliable speeds
- Top-notch security and privacy protection
- 24/7 customer support via live chat
Cons:
- Doesn’t let you disconnect in one click
BEST VPN FOR OMEGLE:NordVPN is our #1 pick for Omegle. It’s quick, secure, and makes chatting safely as simple as possible. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free.
Read our full NordVPN review.
2. PrivateVPN
works with OmegleTested Oct 2024
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.PrivateVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
PrivateVPN is a service that takes privacy very seriously and is packed with advanced security features. It’s completely logless, uses 256-bit military-grade encryption, and comes with built-in DNS leak protection. You can even choose to use a different protocol in case a specific service blocks VPN connections. We had success accessing Omegle with some of the US-based servers.
Although PrivateVPN has fewer servers than some of its rivals (roughly 200 worldwide), its internet speeds are above average. Omegle won’t be an issue since PrivateVPN is capable of handling 4K streaming, assuming your internet connection is fast enough. Users can now connect up to ten devices at a time.
This VPN has dedicated Android, MacOS, Windows, and iOS apps. It can also be manually installed on Linux systems and some routers.
Pros:
- Some US servers still work with Omegle
- Strong encryption, security, and privacy protection features
- Keeps no logs whatsoever
Cons:
- Fewer servers to choose from than other providers
- Live chat is not around the clock
Our score:
GREAT SPEEDS:PrivateVPN is a good family choice. Speeds were surprisingly good at this end of the market. Could do with having more servers. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full PrivateVPN review.
3. StrongVPN
works with OmegleTested Oct 2024
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.StrongVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
StrongVPN offers access to a network of over 950 servers but most of these won’t work with Omegle. That said, we were able to use this service while connected to a handful of East Asian and Middle Eastern servers. Given that StrongVPN is fairly speedy (averaging 71 Mbps in our latest tests), you should even be able to video chat without any issues.
One of the great things about this VPN is that it doesn’t overwhelm you with security options. There’s 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protocol selection but that’s about it. On the plus side, leak protection is present too, even though it isn’t listed in the menus. StrongVPN doesn’t keep any logs, and if you’re having problems, support is available 24/7 over email and live chat.
StrongVPN apps are available for iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS. Manual configuration is required for Linux systems and supported routers.
Pros:
- Fast enough for live streaming
- Strong security features including the option to use the Wireguard protocol
- 24/7 support
Cons:
- Some users might find minimalist design limiting
- Fairly small network
USER-FRIENDLY:StrongVPN makes it easy to start chatting safely, no matter where you are in the world. It’s quick, reliable, and even works in places like China. Not only that, but it offers unlimited bandwidth and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full StrongVPN review.
How to use Omegle with a VPN
Here’s how to use Omegle with a VPN:
- Start by signing up for one of the VPNs above. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
- Next, install the VPN app and log in.
- Connect to a server in the country of your choosing. If you’re not bothered about the location, most VPNs allow you to automatically connect to the fastest available server.
- Finally, visit Omegle and chat as normal. If you see a message saying “Error connecting to server. Please try again.”, it’s possible Omegle has blacklisted the server you’re using. In these cases, you’ll have to try different servers until you find one that works
Finding the best Omegle VPNs: Our methodology
There are very few VPNs that still work with Omegle and even fewer that are of sufficient quality for us to recommend. When we’re looking at whether a VPN is suitable for use with Omegle, we consider factors including the server speeds offered, standard of security, and more.
- Unblocking: First and foremost, any VPN included in this list must have at least some servers that work with Omegle. You may need to try multiple servers in order to find one that works, however. We also test each VPN against a wide range of other blocked content including streaming services like Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Netflix.
- Servers worldwide: While Omegle is available in most countries, it’s not available everywhere. Whether you’re in a country with internet censorship or you’ve been banned in error, having access to servers worldwide lets you bypass restrictions. The best VPNs for Omegle all have an extensive network that includes servers in dozens of countries.
- Speed: In order to video chat on Omegle, you’ll need good, consistent connections. Otherwise, you’re more likely to suffer from low-resolution video along with performance problems such as lag and buffering. We test VPN speeds in order to find the fastest VPNs, all of which include unlimited bandwidth.
- Security: A VPN provides you with security by encrypting your data and protecting you from leaks. In connecting to a VPN server, your real IP address (and thus your approximate location) is hidden, so your online activity has an extra layer of protection. Needless to say, this is important when using video chat with complete strangers, some of whom may have questionable intentions.
- Privacy: There are, of course, some privacy concerns that come with online chat platforms. The best VPNs for Omegle provide some protection through encryption. A quality VPN should also operate a no-logs policy. We’ve studied 140 VPN logging policies to find those that truly don’t keep any identifying data.
- Ease of use: Some VPNs are just easier to use than others. Much of this comes down to how well (or how poorly) designed the apps are. The good news is that we have extensive hands-on time with each VPN to find out if it’s beginner-friendly. We also expect each VPN to provide customer support via live chat and email.
- Value for money: There are many VPNs that don’t work with Omegle that are actually more expensive than the VPNs listed in this post. We’ve found VPNs that we feel offer the best value for money. Indeed, all of them include money-back guarantees of at least 30 days so you can try them out risk-free.
We’ve found VPNs that offer all of the above. Our VPN testing methodology post explains how we evaluate each VPN, ensuring it meets all of the key criteria.
Why did Omegle shut down?
Omegle officially shut its doors on the 8th of November, 2023. The popular online chat service which allowed individuals to connect and talk with strangers, ceased operations after more than 14 years.
The site’s founder, Leif K-Brooks, cited the stress and expense of operating Omegle and fighting its misuse as reasons for the shutdown. He stated to the press that operating Omegle was no longer financially and psychologically sustainable. The closure of Omegle was also a condition of a settlement from a lawsuit.
Are there any Omegle alternatives?
Yes, we have found plenty of Omegle alternatives for chatting online. Some popular ones include Emerald Chat – also known as the new Omegle, and ChatHub, which offers free video chat. CamSurf and Bazoocam are also good options that we found, with user-friendly interfaces and fun features.
A lot of people find ChatRandom and Shagle are similar to the old Omegle, while Tinychat and YouNow offer interest-based groups and live streaming.
Just remember to stay safe online – don’t share your personal info, report any inappropriate behavior, and always consider using a VPN for extra security.
Facts About Omegle in 2023
- 18-year-old Leif K-Brooks from Brattleboro, Vermont created Omegle. It was launched on March 25, 2009.
- As of January 2023, users aged 18 to 24 were the largest Omegle audience base, accounting for over 38 percent of all users.
- Omegle reached over 50 million monthly visitors in 2022.
- India has the highest number of Omegle users, accounting for around 28% of the global traffic share, followed by the United States at 17%, and Brazil at 8%.
- Omegle’s audience is 68% male and 32% female
- Users spend an average of 5 minutes on the site across all devices. Mobile accounts for the most use.
Can I use a free VPN with Omegle?
Many guides suggest using a free VPN to stay safe on Omegle, but we strongly advise against this for several reasons. Firstly, Omegle has taken steps to prevent VPN users from connecting at all, so there’s a good chance free VPNs (which are incredibly popular) won’t work.
Further, free VPNs are usually far slower than their premium counterparts because they generally have fewer servers struggling to provide for more users. Free VPN companies try to compensate for this by imposing user data limits and queues, but ultimately, the demand is greater than the supply, and as such, you can expect an inconsistent and unsatisfying experience.
Unfortunately, this isn’t just speculation: free VPNs have been caught abusing their user’s trust in the past. High-profile examples include VPN companies that come bundled with malware, sell their users’ bandwidth and mislead users about the logs that they keep. To keep yourself and your personal information safe, we recommend using a reputable VPN service with clearly defined privacy policies.
Omegle and privacy
Although Omegle hasn’t publicly admitted that they’re trying to block VPN users, all the evidence points to the contrary. In fact, this has been an issue since at least 2014, according to posts on the Omegle subreddit. So why would Omegle want to stop people from using a VPN?
The most obvious reason is to help track down people who abuse the platform. When a regular user connects to Omegle, their IP address is logged. This can easily be traced to a rough physical location. VPN users, on the other hand, use a temporary substitute IP address that would return to a completely different location. As long as you abide by the terms of service (which do not expressly forbid VPN use), however, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be allowed to connect as normal.
In our tests, we found that Omegle often displayed “Error connecting to server. Please try again.” when using a VPN. This was solved by switching servers, but finding one that isn’t blocked can be a challenge.
If you find an IP address that works, don’t forget to turn off automatic IP switching for the duration of your chat. This will prevent you from being disconnected part-way through.
Which countries block Omegle?
Generally, any country that blocks VoIP services like Skype, WhatsApp, and FaceTime will also block access to Omegle. The reason for this is simple: these platforms allow users to communicate in a way that can’t be as easily monitored by the government.
As you might expect, places where Omegle isn’t available include China, the UAE, Libya, Jordan, Oman, and Qatar. Despite this, you can get around regional censorship and access your usual services from anywhere using a VPN.
Is it legal to use Omegle with a VPN?
It’s perfectly legal to access Omegle with a VPN (although only a handful can get around the service’s VPN-detection measures). These are, first and foremost, privacy tools, after all; why shouldn’t you take steps to protect yourself when speaking to strangers?
There is one caveat, though: VPNs just help keep you anonymous online; they don’t suddenly make it okay to do illegal things online. For instance, if you used a VPN to harass someone, you’d still be committing a crime and could still end up in hot water.
Disclaimer: Although we’ve researched this topic thoroughly, nothing we’ve said above should be taken as legal advice. If you’re unsure whether VPNs are legal in your country, we encourage you to research local laws before attempting to use one.
How to use Omegle safely
First of all, you should be aware that video chat sites like Omegle and Chatroulette have something of an adult content problem. Chats are moderated, but Omegle stresses on the homepage that this isn’t foolproof. For this reason, we’d advise against using Omegle if you’re under 18 years old.
Omegle has recently overhauled its privacy policy to shed more light on the kind of information it records. This includes:
- The contents of your Omegle chat (provided one or both participants saves the log)
- The user’s IP address and a unique cookie ID
- The name of your college (if using college mode)
- Which pages you visit on the Omegle website
- Which country you’re from
- Screenshots of any video chats you might have
This information is usually deleted after 120 days unless otherwise required by law. If a chatlog is saved, the cookie IDs and IP addresses of both users will be kept indefinitely.
With this in mind, it’s important that you don’t reveal any identifying information. This includes your full name, place of work, email address, and phone number, but even the view out of your window, coupled with the city you live in, can give someone a general idea of your location. Ideally, you wouldn’t even show your face on camera; however, this defeats the purpose of video chat. Essentially, as long as you’re sensible about the information you share and disconnect whenever you feel uncomfortable, you’ll be fine.
VPNs for Omegle FAQ
Why might Omegle ban someone?
In the small print on Omegle’s home page, there’s a fairly lengthy list of things that you aren’t allowed to do on the service. This includes harassing other users, sharing other people’s private information, making defamatory statements, using software to begin chats automatically, or violating intellectual property rights (for instance, by sharing links to pirated material with another user).
However, the terms of use go on to say that “You may be denied access to Omegle for inappropriate behavior, or for any other reason”. In other words, you could be banned simply for having too many people end their conversations with you quickly. For the most part, though, as long as you aren’t behaving in an illegal or inappropriate way, you should be fine.
How can I use Omegle to practice my foreign language skills with native speakers?
Omegle uses a few different tricks to match you with people. First, it takes your interests into account. However, if there aren’t any other users with the same interests, it’ll usually attempt to pair you with someone in the same country or simply someone who speaks the same language.
So how can you use this to sharpen your foreign language skills? Well, you could add relevant terms to your interests, change your language in the top-right of the screen, and use a VPN to connect to a server in the appropriate country. This should greatly increase your chances of being matched with someone speaking the language you’d like to practice.
What is the minimum age to use Omegle?
The small print on the Omegle homepage specifically says not to use the service if you’re under 13. Additionally, it asks users who are under the age of 18 to get a parent’s permission before speaking to anyone.
Is Omegle safe?
It’s important to remember that Omegle connects you to random internet users from around the world. This means that you may well see offensive language, hurtful statements, or adult content (assuming you’re using the video functionality). That said, a new conversation is only ever two button presses away, and the moderated video chats offer a little more protection than the adult ones. As long as you don’t share any personal information, Omegle isn’t dangerous.
How do I deal with harassment from a random stranger on Omegle?
Harassment is explicitly forbidden in Omegle’s terms and conditions. Despite this, the service goes on to include various statements designed to deflect responsibility (“Understand that human behavior is fundamentally uncontrollable”, “people you encounter on Omegle… are solely responsible for their own behaviour”).
To its credit, Omegle moderates some of its video chats. However, there are no such guarantees for text-only conversations or chats that take place in the 18+ section. Unbelievably, this service doesn’t actually have any kind of a report function. This means that, in the face of harassment, all you can really do is end the chat and move on.
How long do Omegle bans last?
The length of an Omegle ban seems to vary pretty wildly from one user to another but there’s little to suggest that they’re ever permanent. Generally, you can expect to be banned for anything from a few days to a week or two.
Why doesn't my VPN work with Omegle?
Omegle has extremely strong VPN-detection features and as a result, most VPNs won’t work. In fact, even those that do often only have a few servers suitable for Omegle, and finding these usually involves a lot of trial and error. The one exception we’ve found is NordVPN, which allowed us to access Omegle first try with servers in several different countries.
Can you be tracked on Omegle with a VPN?
This really depends on a couple of things. First off, if your VPN keeps activity logs and collects device identifiers, there’s a strong chance it’ll be able to link a specific chat to you directly.
Let’s say your VPN follows a strict no-logs policy. This will not protect you if you reveal personal information in your conversations. It is, after all, unlikely that anyone else would be handing out your email address or phone number.
If your VPN keeps no logs, you’re careful about what you say, and you use a busy server, there’s no easy way for anyone to tell which conversations you were part of.
Which country server is best for Omegle?
Omegle is available in most countries, but most VPNs and their servers don’t work with it. We found that there’s an element of trial and error when it comes to finding a server that is able to unblock Omegle. Nevertheless, we had the most success when connected to servers located in the US. We recommend you connect to a server in the US, get a US IP address, and then try your luck with a few different servers.
Can I unblock Omegle from school?
Yes, you can unblock Omegle from your school location with a VPN.
You need a VPN because many schools block access to Omegle due to its potential for inappropriate content or unsafe interactions. With a VPN, you can bypass the website blocks set by your school and easily access Omegle from wherever you are.
You should also exercise caution when using Omegle since there is a well-known risk of encountering inappropriate content or individuals using the app.
Will a VPN help to protect me with abusive users on Omegle?
Using a VPN can be a great way to help protect yourself from abusive users on Omegle. A VPN will change your IP address, making it much harder for someone to find out where you are located and thus reducing the chance that you may encounter an abusive user in real life.
Additionally, since all of your data is encrypted with a VPN, any potentially malicious actors won’t have access to sensitive information such as passwords or financial data.
Is Omegle dangerous without using a VPN?
Using Omegle without a VPN can be dangerous due to various privacy and security issues. While it is true that every website has access to your IP address, Omegle’s anonymous nature makes it an attractive platform for individuals with harmful intentions, such as hackers, predators, and cyberbullies. The platform’s lack of registration and age verification also raises concerns about the safety of children and teenagers.
To protect yourself while using Omegle, it is recommended to use a VPN to block individuals from discovering your real IP address. Additionally, you should be cautious about sharing personal information, avoid clicking on external links, and be prepared to disconnect from inappropriate or harmful conversations.
Are bots a problem on Omegle?
Bots are a big headache on Omegle. They’re computer programs that mimic human conversation. Still, on Omegle, they’re often used to spam users with unwanted messages, ads, or even random words. This can be frustrating if you’re looking for a genuine chat. Moreover, creating these bots has become easy, thanks to readily available APIs and tutorials. Some people even use them to drive website traffic or promote products. There are some tools out there, like the Omegle Anti-Spam and Dark Mode extension or the Anonymaz app, that can help filter out spam, but they’re not perfect. Unfortunately, bots are a significant part of the Omegle platform.