Whether bored or looking for new friends, you can find like-minded people in a chatroom. However, there aren’t as many chatroom apps available like in the past since instant messaging apps replaced them.
But, new apps emerged, and some have improved over time. Here are the best live chatroom apps for Android and iPhone that can help you find new friends and interact with people in your favorite community.
1. Discord
Discord is a popular chat app among gamers, since you can find communities called servers that suit you. However, most of the servers are invite-only, so you might have to find one that is public. Once you find the best Discord server for you, you can interact with anyone on servers via text, audio, and video chats, provided you have the permissions.
Discord also allows you to add bots to the servers; some can help you automate many things, while others might add some fun to the server. A Discord server has admins and moderators that keep a check on everyone and make sure you follow the server rules.
Furthermore, you can join as many servers as you want without paying a penny. However, if you wish to stand out from the crowd, you can sign up for its Discord Nitro subscription plan, which gives you access to custom emojis, bigger file uploads, the ability to boost a server, and more.
Download: Discord for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
2. Amino
If you’re searching for specific topic-based communities like anime, K-pop, gaming, and others, Amino is your best bet. What differentiates it from Discord is that it focuses on all communities instead of just gaming. If none of the existing topics interest you, you can create one for yourself using the Amino Creator Manager.
You can chat with others in the community using text, voice, and the screening room feature (which allows you to watch videos and chat simultaneously). Moreover, you can post links, images, and more in the community, and it might get featured in the community by the admins.
There’s an Amino+ premium membership that unlocks additional features like custom chat bubbles, exclusive stickers, and others. You can get this membership from Amino coins.
Download: Amino for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
3. ICQ
When it comes to classic chatroom apps, you can’t miss out on ICQ. You can find different channels and groups here, like students, movies, teens, new ICQ joiners, and many others. If you find those interesting, you can chat with others or make voice and video calls if you like.
On top of that, you can send photos, videos, voice messages, stickers, and GIFs to keep your conversation going. It's mostly used by Russians, but you can also use it for yourself, and the content is in Russian.
Moreover, ICQ maintains a stable connection even with a weak internet connection. Furthermore, you can be anonymous here without sharing your phone number. The best part about ICQ is that it doesn’t contain ads or in-app purchases. You can use it on multiple devices entirely free.
Download: ICQ for Android | iOS (Free)
4. Telegram
Telegram is one of the best free messaging apps that doubles as an excellent chatroom app. You can create communities called channels here, where you can chat with anyone via text, voice, and video chat. Furthermore, you can interact within the channel using stickers, animated emojis, GIFs, and reactions.
Most of these channels aren’t public, but if you’re lucky, you can find some fantastic Telegram channels. There are channels for specific communities, like anime, Netflix, quotes, and others. If you don’t see the one you like, you can create one and invite others with the link.
Telegram is free, but it also has a premium option. If your usage demands are high, you can opt for the Telegram Premium subscription. It adds some extra features, but you may question whether Telegram Premium is worth the price.
Download: Telegram for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
5. Viber
Viber is another classic chatroom app on this list that focuses on private messaging. You can join different communities and channels based on your interests, like sports, movies, gaming, and many more. You can chat with people within the community or channels via text, voice, and video chat.
Other interactions include reactions to messages, sending GIFs, and stickers. If you don’t like the existing stickers, you can create your own sticker pack on Viber. The best thing about communities on Viber is that it supports unlimited members while keeping everyone’s details private.
On the other hand, you can initiate a chat with the community members while keeping your details hidden. Channels work similar to communities, but the only difference is channel owners can select who can send messages. Moreover, Viber is free to use, but you can choose to pay for additional items like sticker packs.
Download: Viber for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
6. Clubhouse
Clubhouse is the perfect chatroom app for you if you prefer audio discussions to video ones. You can create or join rooms that can fit thousands of people. You can find different rooms as soon as you open the app or search for specific topics, like sports, finance, or movies. Furthermore, Clubhouse is launching some private communities called Houses.
Once you join a room, you’ll be on an audio conference call with others in the chatroom. Some chatrooms allow anyone to talk, while you must raise your hand if you wish to speak. Usually, you’ll see experts, journalists, or celebrities hosting these chatrooms. Clubhouse is entirely free to use without any in-app purchases.
Download: Clubhouse for Android | iOS (Free)
Make New Friends in Chatrooms
You can find and join your favorite community and meet like-minded people with these chatroom apps. You might find new interests and discover new things you didn’t know before.
However, it’s best to use these apps in moderation. In one way or another, you’re still going online, so it’s best to keep yourself as anonymous as possible. You can find yourself experiencing adverse effects from using social media apps if you aren’t careful.