If you used Ablo, you remember the moment: a country name appears on the screen, and a few seconds later you're chatting with someone in Brazil, Indonesia, or Morocco. You never knew what you'd talk about. Sometimes it was over in five minutes; sometimes it turned into a friendship that lasted months.
Then one day the app stopped opening. Plenty of people still search "Is Ablo back?" and stumble on look-alike apps in the stores. Here's a quick look at what happened, and a comparison of apps like Ablo you can actually use today.
What happened to Ablo?
Ablo launched in 2019 and let you have one-to-one text and video conversations with people anywhere in the world. Google Play named it its best app of 2019. The app shut down on September 30, 2022, and its official site pointed users to Azar, an app from the same corporate family.
You may still see apps called "Ablo" in the stores. They are not the original Ablo, so check the developer name and reviews before installing.
What did you love most about Ablo?
The right alternative depends on which part of Ablo you miss:
| What you miss | Where to look | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Picking a country and talking to someone new right away | Kiss Live Chat | App and web |
| Making friends abroad while learning a language | HelloTalk, Tandem | App |
| Slow, thoughtful conversations | Slowly | App |
1. Kiss Live Chat: Choose the country, start talking
Ablo's magic was the curiosity of "Who will I meet today, and where are they from?" Kiss Live Chat offers one of the closest experiences: random one-on-one video chat with real people around the world.
The difference: instead of waiting for a random country to come up, you steer it yourself with the country filter. The language filter matches you with people who share a language with you. Practice English one evening, have a relaxed chat in Turkish the next.
On the web you can start in guest mode, with no registration: start chatting in your browser. On your phone, download the Kiss app.
Curious how country filters work across sites? See our guide to video chat sites with country filters.
2. HelloTalk: Friends abroad through language learning
If you mostly used Ablo for language practice, HelloTalk is a sensible stop. You can text, voice chat, or video call with people who speak the language you're learning. You can also post in the community feed, get corrections, and join voice rooms.
Friendship here usually grows slowly: a few messages, a correction, then a call.
3. Tandem: A more focused language partner
Tandem is also built on language exchange: you help with your language, they help with theirs. Messages, voice notes, and calls make regular practice easy. It's a good fit if you want a long-term "language buddy", though it may feel a bit planned if you're after a spontaneous chat.
4. Slowly: For people who found Ablo too fast
Slowly works on the opposite idea: pen pals. You're matched by shared interests and language, and letters arrive with a delay based on the distance between you. Someone far away might read your reply hours or days later. It sounds slow, and for some people that's exactly the charm.
Three questions to ask before you pick
Talk or type? Ablo's best moments were live conversations. If that's true for you, pick a platform with video chat.
How much do you want to choose who you meet? Total surprise, or a country and language you choose? A country filter keeps the "travel the world" feeling and puts you in control.
Can you try it right now? Long sign-up forms kill the mood before the first hello. Start with a guest-friendly option and decide later.
A small tip for the first chat
"Where are you from?" still works, just like on Ablo. But following up with their city, favorite food, or the last song they played keeps things lively. For more ideas, see our 25 first video chat conversation topics.
Don't share your home address, ID, or financial details with someone you've just met. If something feels off, end the chat and use the block and report tools.
Final thoughts
No single app may fill Ablo's shoes completely. If you want to learn a language, HelloTalk or Tandem may suit you; if you want to write without rushing, try Slowly. But if what you remember is that "pick a country, meet someone new right now" excitement, choose your country and language on Kiss Live Chat and start your first chat as a guest. For more ways to meet people abroad, see our apps to make international friends and video chat with strangers pages.
Updated November 3, 2026. Third-party products may change.
Add Kiss to your home screen
No download needed: the Kiss web app opens full-screen from an icon, like an app.
- Android · Chrome: ⋮ menu → “Install app” or “Add to Home screen”
- iPhone · Safari: Share → “Add to Home Screen”
Prefer the app? Get the iPhone app
Quick answers
FAQ
Did Ablo shut down?
Yes. The original Ablo app shut down on September 30, 2022. Apps showing up under the same name in the stores are not the original Ablo.
What can I use instead of Ablo?
If you want to pick a country and video chat with someone new right away, try Kiss Live Chat. For language practice there's HelloTalk and Tandem; for slow letters, Slowly.
Can I video chat with strangers from a specific country?
Yes. On Kiss Live Chat, the country filter lets you choose the country, and the language filter lets you choose a shared language.
Do I need to sign up to use apps like Ablo?
Yes. On the Kiss Live Chat website you can start in guest mode, without registration. On your phone, download the app.
Can I meet Turkish-speaking people too?
Yes. Select Turkish in Kiss Live Chat's language filter to match with people who speak Turkish.
