Paltalk

Every chat app now requires adding a friend before anyone can speak, which leaves nowhere obvious to practise a language with a stranger, play a game or just listen to music with people. Paltalk keeps the older internet arrangement of public chat rooms: thousands of them sorted by language, country and interest, and you walk in and can watch, listen and talk without knowing anybody first.

A room carries video, voice and text at the same time, with the room list on the left, members on the right and the current speaker in the middle. Beyond group rooms there are one to one direct messages, plus the usual virtual gifts and stickers.

The interface is traditional but the layout is plain. The Windows client is free and mobile apps exist as well.

Features

Public chat rooms: Thousands of rooms by language, region and interest, open to join directly.

Group video and voice: Many participants on camera and microphone in one room, with the speaker shown centrally.

Text chat: A public text channel alongside the member list in each room.

Direct messages: One to one messaging and video calls with people met in rooms.

Create rooms: Open your own public or private room with its own topic and permissions.

Gifts and stickers: Virtual gifts, stickers and emoji for interaction.

Multi platform: A Windows desktop client plus iOS and Android apps.