Umingle is a random chat site with a useful twist: you can add interests, and it tries to pair you with someone who shares them. That small step changes a lot. Instead of opening with "so... hi," you already have something to talk about.

If you like that idea and want to see what else is out there, this guide looks at sites like Umingle and at how far interest matching can go when it is combined with profiles and communities.

Flat lay of a phone surrounded by a film camera, a vinyl record, paintbrushes, sneakers and a book

Why interest matching works

Random chat is exciting, but the first few seconds decide everything. Shared interests help in three ways:

  • A ready-made first topic. Music, games, travel or pets give you an instant opener.
  • Longer conversations. People who share a hobby tend to keep talking.
  • Fewer skips. When both people have something in common, there's less reason to move on.

The difference between sites is how much control you get. Some use interests as a soft hint for the random match. Others let you see people's interests before you connect.

Sites like Umingle

1. Kiss Live Chat

Kiss Live Chat takes interest matching a step further. Profiles show interest tags such as Movies, Fitness, Food and Photography, and you can filter by interests, language and country while you browse who's online in the For You, New and Follow lists. So instead of hoping the random match lines up, you can see the common ground first and start a 1-on-1 video call with the person you choose.

Communities add another layer. Groups like Travel, Music, Gaming, Pets and Languages bring people together around a topic, which is a natural place to find someone to call. You can read more in our Kiss Live Chat communities guide. When you want a surprise, Video Match is one tap away.

Kiss works in the browser with Guest mode, and every new call starts with 60 free seconds.

2. Emerald Chat

Emerald Chat is probably the closest in spirit to Umingle: text and video chat with interest-based matching. See our Emerald Chat review.

3. Chatroulette

Chatroulette is pure random video chat, with fewer ways to steer the match. It's a good contrast if you want to see how much interests add. See our Chatroulette review.

4. OmeTV

OmeTV focuses on fast random matching on web and mobile. Read What is OmeTV? for an overview.

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Interest hint vs interest filter

Interest hint (random) Interest filter + profiles
How it works Interests nudge the random match You see interests before you connect
Control Low to medium High
Best for Spontaneous chats Finding people who share a hobby
Example Umingle-style matching Kiss Live Chat

For a broader look at apps in this category, see our roundup of video chat apps with interest matching.

Making interests work for you

  • Pick specific interests. "Indie rock" or "hiking" starts better conversations than "music" or "sports."
  • Update your profile. People browsing can only find you through the tags you add. Our video chat profile tips help here.
  • Join a community. It's easier to start a chat with someone who's already talking about your favorite topic.
  • Open with the shared interest. "I saw you're into photography. What do you shoot?" beats a generic hello.

Find people who share your interests on Kiss Live Chat

A man in glasses stirs a pot of pasta while chatting to a phone on a small tripod in a warm kitchen

Final thoughts

Umingle showed that a shared interest makes random chat better. Kiss Live Chat builds on that idea with visible interest tags, filters and communities, so you can find common ground before the call even starts.

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