What Emerald does

Emerald Chat, operated by Connected Software Inc. — a Delaware-incorporated, privately held company founded in 2016 — is a consumer random video and text chat platform that positions itself as the leading free alternative to Omegle following Omegle's November 2023 shutdown. The core product is a single web platform paired with official Android (Google Play) and iOS applications, offering 1-on-1 video chat, 1-on-1 text chat, and group chat modes. The platform's distinguishing technical components include an interest-matching algorithm that prioritizes pairing users with shared hobbies, a karma-based reputation system that lets users assign positive or negative ratings and can trigger automatic bans, AI plus human moderation operating 24/7, anti-bot detection, and an 18+ age verification process. Authentication is self-serve via Google OAuth or CAPTCHA, with no account required to access core features.

The company operates a freemium business model. Free users retain core random chat functionality, while three paid monthly subscription tiers — Premium Badge (profile status marker), Gold (gender filters, priority matching, picture sharing in private chats), and Platinum (adds country and language filters) — monetize feature gating. Go-to-market is product-led growth, with no sales involvement; user acquisition is driven by SEO positioning for "Omegle alternative" queries, an active content-marketing blog covering dating, friendship, safety and platform guides, and organic word-of-mouth from a community that formed around the Omegle vacuum. Emerald serves adult consumers globally with no disclosed geographic restrictions, is bootstrapped (no venture or PE funding recorded), has a headcount of 11-50, and is registered at a Delaware address under Connected Software Inc. No management team, partnerships, M&A activity, or regulatory actions are publicly disclosed.

Name

Emerald

Legal name

Connected Software Inc.

Website

https://emeraldchat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Emerald Chat is a consumer random video and text chat platform operated by Connected Software Inc., positioned as the leading Omegle alternative with interest matching, 24/7 AI and human moderation, and a freemium subscription model serving adult users worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Freemium Subscription Model: Core platform features are free to use with no account required. Three paid subscription tiers (Premium Badge, Gold, Platinum) offer enhanced features and are billed monthly or quarterly. The free tier provides basic random video and text chat, while paid tiers unlock gender filters, priority matching, picture sharing, and country/language filters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Emerald operates Emerald Chat, a freemium random video and text chat platform that connects adult users (18+) worldwide for 1-on-1 video calls, 1-on-1 text chat, and group chat. The platform differentiates through interest-based matching, a Karma reputation system, 24/7 AI plus human moderation, anti-bot measures, and strict age verification. A free tier is available without account creation, and paid subscriptions (Premium Badge, Gold, Platinum) unlock gender, priority, country, and language filters.

Product overview

Emerald Chat is a single-platform random video and text chat service designed as an Omegle alternative. The core product is the Emerald Chat Platform (web-based) and Emerald Chat Mobile App (iOS/Android), which provide 1-on-1 video chat, text chat, and group chat modes. The platform is enhanced by subscription tiers (Premium Badge, Gold, Platinum) that unlock advanced filtering and matching features. Key differentiating features include an Interest Matching System that pairs users based on shared hobbies, and a Karma System that rewards good behavior and filters out bad actors. The platform operates on a freemium model where free users retain core features while paid tiers add gender/location filters and priority matching.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emerald Chat Platform A web-based random video and text chat platform for adults 18+ that connects users worldwide for 1-on-1 video chat, 1-on-1 text chat, and group chat. Features interest matching, a karma reputation system, 24/7 AI and human moderation, anti-bot measures, and gender/karma/country/language filters. Accessed without an account via Google OAuth or CAPTCHA.
• Emerald Chat Mobile App

Quantifiable outcome

• Most popular free Omegle alternative
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/emerald_chat
• Facebookfacebook.com/theofficialemeraldchat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emerald-co-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Emerald