What is Paltalk?
Paltalk is one of the leading instant messaging platforms out there. The company is owned by AVM software and predates big companies like Google and Skype. The platform currently boasts of having over 4 million global users and has been around since 1998. The company behind this insanely popular random chat app says it was the first company to combine video, instant messaging, and voiceover internet services. With Paltalk, users get to chat for free in thousands of chatrooms on different topics. And yes, there is no shortage of people to chat with as the platform has up to 98,000 – 100,000 active users online at any given time.
Paltalk allows users to stay anonymous and video chat up to 10 people for free while hosting thousands of free chatrooms. The platform has a lot of loyal users who’ve been using its services for years and it’s still growing in popularity.
How to use Paltalk
Paltalk has been around for many years now and has garnered over 70 million downloads from all app stores. To start using this wonderful app, you need to first download it from the iOS or Android Playstore and sign up for an account. Once your account has been registered, you can join existing chatrooms, view webcams streams (up to 10 simultaneously), participate in group chats, or chat one-on-one via instant messaging and text.
Major features of Paltalk
There are lots of exciting features waiting for you on Paltalk. Read on for a sneak peek of some of the brilliant features offered by this instant messaging platform.
Paid membership
While the majority of basic features available on Paltalk are free, the company offers fee-based memberships and paid upgrades. This option is suitable for users who want to unlock more exciting features to boost their experience.
Subscriptions are username based
All subscriptions on Paltalk is username based. This simply means that all subscriptions are attached to your username and you can access the benefits of your subscription on any device as long as you log in with the username.
Basic membership
Basic membership for new users displays the username in black. Users are limited to the number of webcam streams they can view and they also see ad banners in chats and instant messaging.
Extreme membership
Extreme members have their username in green print and can view unlimited live streams in chat rooms. They can also join up to 3 chat groups at the same time. And yes, they do not have to deal with annoying banner ads.
VIP members
VIP members are shown in purple. The benefit of having this membership is that users can view unlimited live video streams in chat rooms simultaneously. They do not see ad banners and can join up to 5 chat groups at the same time.
Prime members
Prime members have their usernames displayed in gold but can also change it to whatever color they want. One of the perks of having this membership is that users can view unlimited video stream windows simultaneously. And yes, they do not see ad banners. And just like other memberships we earlier highlighted, they can join 5 chat groups at once.
Note: Subscriptions come with other perks, such as stickers, emojis, badges, etc. Also, Paltalk users can gift subscriptions to other users.
Pros And Cons Of Paltalk
Pros
- Offers a free but limited version.
- Has a very large user demography & loyalty.
- Integrated video chat, instant messaging, and VOIP services.
Cons
- Unregulated activities, cyberbullying, and hate speech.
- Unauthorized charges on cards.
- Automatic renewal of subscription.
- May be involved in divulging user data to government security agencies.
Is Paltalk Safe To Use?
Paltalk has been involved in a lot of controversies and one of them is being part of the national security PRISM program of the NSA. This program targets user information from Google, Facebook, Skype, and also Paltalk. Although Paltalk has denied being part of this program, security research firms have linked terrorist groups like al-Qaida to the use of Paltalk. Al-Qaida schedules its meetings on other platforms and then uses Paltalk as a meeting place for recruitment drives. Other criminal activities such as organized racism, hate speech, and cyberbullying have been reported on Paltalk.
Conclusion
Video chatting platforms like Paltalk are becoming the rave of the moment, especially for people who are bored and looking to add some fun element to their life. Though the app offers paid subscription, you can always opt for the free version if you want to chat with a few random strangers.
Paltalk targets all kinds of people and boasts of having over 4 million users. While they offer a free basic feature, most of their premium features are paid for. If you want to kill your time by talking to strangers or you want to find a romance, Paltalk has everything in store for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paltalk
Is Paltalk a dating site?
No, Paltalk is not a dating app. It is a random video chat site that matches users with random strangers looking to kill boredom and build meaningful relationships.
Does Paltalk have an app?
Yes, Paltalk has both an Android and iOS app. And guess what, they have over 70 million downloads on different app stores. Besides the app, users can also access Paltalk via their favorite browsers.
Does the platform have a premium membership plan?
Unlike other random video chat sites that offer their services for free, Paltalk has both free and premium membership. While the basic membership isn’t all that bad, if you’re looking for an explosive experience, you’ll love their premium membership subscription plans.
Paltalk – What Does It Actually Mean?
Random video chat or Paltalk as it is often called is a unique chat app that allows users to connect with random strangers across the world, either using their mobile phones or operating systems.
While Paltalk gives users an option to chat with strangers from a country of their choosing, users can also go with the flow by allowing the platform to link them to random strangers from random countries who are ready to have a conversation. With Paltalk, you get a unique opportunity to connect with your better half or build a lasting friendship with a random stranger you met online.