Omegle has relatively quickly emerged as one of the most popular services in the world — with SimilarWeb ranking it among the top 2,000 most visited websites.
Its pitch is rather simple – users visit Omegle to anonymously chat with other people they don’t know. This idea is apparently interesting to many folks with the website attracting millions of users on a daily basis.
However, Omegle is not available all around the planet and is even blocked in some democracies. The reason for this is the obscene content that sometimes appears in Omegle’s chatrooms — though the company did a good work of partly policing the content with its monitored chat feature.
We at VPN Reports are against all content restrictions and think users should be able to choose what they want to access/watch and what they prefer to skip. If you’re thinking between the same lines, you’ll need a VPN to access Omegle from any spot on the planet. Here are the best VPNs for that:
Pros
Cons
- 5,000+ servers in the network
- Easy to use - install it and forget it
- One license is good for up to 6 devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Chrome extension is just a proxy
- You can't pay with PayPal
Summary
Its network includes more than 5,000 servers spread across 60 countries, which directly translates into faster speeds. NordVPN is also very secure, relying on the strong 256-bit encryption combined with secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec). But as a user, you get a seamless experience with all this technology "doing its thing" in the background.
NordVPN is well suited to pretty much every task you throw at it — accessing Omegle, being just one of them. You can also rely on NordVPN to access other banned sites, torrenting, video streaming services, or just to keep a low profile on the web. It also doesn't keep any logs.
We highly recommend NordVPN to anyone looking for reliable service.
Pros
Cons
- Good for both torrenting and streaming
- Works in China
- Solid network with servers in 60+ countries
- Easy to use apps on multiple platforms
- Live chat isn't always available
- Fairly pricey
Summary
Astrill is not the most affordable option on the market, but it gets the job done and that, we think, matters the most.
In addition to Omegle, Astrill will have your back whether you need it for watching Netflix or Disney+ shows, or downloading files via BitTorrent — all while keeping your identity under the radar. And this is especially true if you live or work in China where the company's stealth protocols kick in to let you access all the popular sites that are by default blocked by the country's censors.
Astrill's apps are easy to use and available on all popular platforms. Nevertheless, they still manage to provide a host of advanced features tech-savvy folks are used to get. Highly recommended, again, especially if you're looking to bypass the Great Firewall of China.
Pros
Cons
- Feature-rich yet easy to use
- One of the best VPNs around
- Strong no-logging policy
- Reliable support you can reach 24/7
- Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
- Kinda pricey
Summary
There are a few other VPNs that come close — and even outshine ExpressVPN in some specific segments — but as far as the majority of users are concerned, this is the best VPN service they could sign-up for.
ExpressVPN has great desktop apps for Windows and Mac, mobile apps and browser extensions. Also, it is well suited for video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and others.
However, what makes it stand out is its ease of use. We can't emphasize this enough. One could tell a lot of time has been spent making sure even the advanced features are easily accessible. And we love it for that. Plus, let's not forget ExpressVPN's speed which tends to leave other services in the dust. So whether you need a VPN for Omegle or anything else - ExpressVPN won't let you down.
Pros
Cons
- Fast download and upload speeds
- Works with Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc.
- Great for torrenting
- Advanced privacy features (i.e. Tor over VPN)
- Relatively small number of servers
- There are no browser extensions
- Live chat support is not always available
Summary
You can also rely on PrivateVPN for both torrenting and streaming, without paying a premium. It is, in fact, one of the most affordable options in its league and we love it for that.
Customer support may not be on par with bigger players but it's not like you should experience many problems anyway. You will get the same level of security and privacy as with other services, and a single license will let you run PrivateVPN on up to 6 devices. Pretty cool.
Pros
Cons
- Works in China
- Many servers in Asia
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Advanced services like VyprVPN Cloud
- No browser extensions
- Torrenting could be better
Summary
It manages to bypass restrictions in high-censorship countries and elsewhere by relying on its proprietary Chameleon protocol, which can easily slide under the radar. The same capability lets VyprVPN users access Omegle from wherever life takes them.
VyprVPN is also great for accessing video streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, Hulu and so on — delivering the true buffer-free experience every single time. It will also work with BitTorrent, and consequently - Kodi.
VyprVPN has a strict zero-logs policy. Period.
What is Omegle?
Created by 18-year-old Leif K-Brooks of Brattleboro, Vermont, and launched on March 25, 2009 – Omegle is a popular, free online chat website that allows users to socialize with others without registering. Instead of picking up with whom you want to chat, the site randomly pairs users in one-on-one sessions where they chat anonymously using the names “You” and “Stranger”; or “Stranger 1” and “Stranger 2” in the case of the so-called “Spy Mode.”
In addition to text-based chat, Omegle also offers the video mode — which also has a built-in text window.
Omegle Features
Some of the more interesting features of Omegle include:
Spy Mode
The mentioned “Spy Mode,” introduced in 2011, provides users with two options: to be the “spy” and ask a question of two strangers, or to discuss a question with another stranger. As the spy, the user inputs any question for the two strangers to answer or discuss and is able to view the discussion as a third party, though without being able to contribute further to the conversation. The spy can quit at any time without ending the chat for the two other strangers. If a user chooses to discuss a question instead, as in normal text mode, the user is paired with another stranger and can discuss the question the spy has asked up until the point the other stranger decides to disconnect and/or move on to another question.
Interest tags
In 2012, Omegle added the option to input “interest” tags to let users be paired with a stranger who has something in common with the user. A user can input as many interests as he or she would like, and if no available match is found – the user is paired with a completely random stranger instead.
Dorm Chat
Introduced in 2014, the “Dorm Chat” mode requires users to provide an email address ending in “.edu” to verify that they are associated with a college or university. Dorm Chat allows users to chat with their classmates and colleagues on Omegle.
Why do you need a VPN to access Omegle?
For one thing, Omegle may not be accessible in every office so to bypass it, users have turned to VPNs and proxies. Furthermore, users from or traveling to China are having a hard time accessing Omegle. This started in late 2019 and early 2020 when Omegle began throwing jabs at the Communist Party of China, and expressing support for the Liberation of Hong Kong during the 2019/20 protests. The website had an image on the front page saying that Xi Jinping (General Secretary of the Communist Party of China) sure looks like Winnie the Pooh. This has, obviously, prompted China’s censors to ban access to Omegle. And today those in China have to use a good VPN in order to be able to chat on the service.
What to do if you get banned from Omegle?
Omegle identifies users by their IP address. So if for some reason, you get banned from the service, you could easily get back to the service with a new IP address. That part is easily solvable with a VPN — simply connect to a different server and visit Omegle’s website again. And voila — you are free to start a new conversation with strangers.
Omegle uses both software and human moderators to track activities on its platform. This practice, according to the company, ensures that users are safely communicating with each other.
There are a few different reasons why Omegle would ban one of its users; for instance, someone may have reported on the other user’s (inappropriate) behavior, other users frequently drop on them, or the user has violated the terms of service.
Whichever the case is, you can return to Omegle with a VPN.
Look beyond Omegle
You (all of us, really) need a VPN for many things, not just for accessing Omegle. A good VPN will:
- Protect your privacy from the government and big corporations
- Bypass restrictions imposed by the government or various organizations
- Change your IP address so you get unrestricted access to Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer, HULU, and other video streaming services
- Encrypt and protect private data from cybercriminals
- Download files with BitTorrent anonymously
The top contenders that check all these boxes — while also working nicely with Omegle — include the following:
