Hay is a random video chat app that also supports text chat, and it has a web version, so you can use it on a phone or a computer. It's built for quick, spontaneous conversations with people around the world.

Spontaneous is fun, but sometimes you want a bit more say in who appears on your screen. Maybe you want to talk in a particular language, meet people from a certain country, or simply look at someone's profile before you say hello. That's where Hay alternatives come in.

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What people like about Hay

  • Instant matching. Tap and you're talking to someone new.
  • Video plus text. You can type if you prefer.
  • Web and mobile. It works on whatever device you have nearby.

A good alternative keeps that speed and adds more ways to steer the conversation.

Hay alternatives worth trying

1. Kiss Live Chat

Kiss Live Chat gives you both styles in one place. Video Match offers the same instant, random-style connection Hay users enjoy. When you'd rather choose, you can browse who's online in the For You, New and Follow lists and filter by language, interests and country before starting a 1-on-1 video call.

Language is where Kiss stands out for international chats. English, Spanish, French and German are among the listed languages, and Kiss also offers real-time translation, which can help when you connect with someone who speaks a different language. You can read about how translation fits into video chat in our guide to video chat apps with built-in translation.

Beyond calls, there are Live Rooms with hosts, short Reels, Games and Chats to stay in touch. Kiss runs in the browser, Guest mode lets you look around first, and every new call begins with 60 free seconds.

2. Azar

Azar is a mobile-first video chat app that matches you with people worldwide. Our Azar vs Kiss Live Chat comparison shows how the two approaches differ.

3. HOLLA

HOLLA focuses on live random matching with social features. See our HOLLA alternatives guide.

4. OmeTV

OmeTV offers random one-on-one video chat on the web and mobile. Our Kiss Live Chat vs OmeTV comparison goes into detail.

5. Chatroulette

The original random video chat site, still focused on quick matches. Read our Chatroulette review.

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Random vs choose: which do you prefer?

Random-first (Hay style) Browse and choose (Kiss Live Chat)
Speed Very fast Fast, plus you can pick
Who you meet Whoever is next Someone whose profile you've seen
Language control Mostly random Language filter plus real-time translation
Keeping in touch Varies Follow list and Chats

Kiss Live Chat doesn't make you pick one style. You can use Video Match when you feel spontaneous and browse when you want to be more selective. If you want to understand the mechanics behind random matching, see how random video chat works.

Tips for better international video chats

  1. Filter by language first to find people you can talk to easily.
  2. Use country filters when you're curious about a specific place, like video chatting with Americans.
  3. Ask simple questions about food, music or daily routines.
  4. Follow people you click with so you can continue later.

Try Video Match or browse who's online on Kiss Live Chat

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Final thoughts

Hay is built for quick hellos. Kiss Live Chat keeps that speed with Video Match, then adds language and country filters, real-time translation and browse-and-choose calls, so more of those hellos turn into real conversations.

Updated November 1, 2026. Third-party features and pricing may change.