You can enter Asal Chat in a few seconds as a guest, or register a free member account in under a minute. Both are free. Which one suits you depends on whether you are looking around or planning to come back.
Entering as a guest
On the first page, leave the switch on "Guest", choose male or female, type any nickname that is free, tick "I am not a robot" and press "Start chatting". That is the whole process. No e-mail, no password.
As a guest you can read and write in the public rooms, open private conversations, and get a feeling for the community. A guest name, however, belongs to you only while you are using it. When you leave, someone else can enter with the same name, and nothing about your visit is kept as a profile.
What a member account adds
Registration asks for three things: a username, an e-mail address and a password. Press "Sign up" under the online counter on the first page. In return you get:
- A name that is yours. It is reserved and protected by your password, so the person others think they are talking to is really you.
- A profile. A photo, a short bio and, if you wish, your city. Other members can leave likes and comments.
- Continuity. People you have talked to can find you again, and your conversations are listed under "My conversations".
- Messages while you are away. If someone writes to you after you have left, the message waits for you.
- Features built around a profile, such as sharing a story with a photo or a short video.
If you are only curious, start as a guest. If you return a second time, register; it removes the small annoyances and costs nothing.
A short tour of the chat
Rooms
The chat is divided into rooms, each with its own conversation. You enter the main room first and can move to others from the room list. Take a minute to read what is being discussed before you join in; the etiquette guide explains why that small pause pays off.
Public messages
What you write in a room is seen by everyone there. You can reply to a specific message so that it is clear whom you are answering, add emoji, and correct your own message if you notice a mistake.
Private conversations
Tap a name in the list of people online to open a one-to-one chat. Private windows can be moved around the screen, and you can have several open at once. If someone you would rather not talk to writes to you, you can block them from the same window.
Voice and video messages
Besides text you can record a short voice or video message and send it in a room or a private chat. The browser will ask for permission to use the microphone or camera the first time; this is used only while you are recording.
Calls and voice conference
In a private conversation you can start a voice or video call with the other person. Rooms can also hold a voice conference, where several people talk live. A few simple adjustments make calls much clearer; see our call tips.
Stories
A story is a photo or short video that other users can open from your name in the online list. It is a simple way to share a moment without interrupting the conversation in the room.
Music
Rooms have a shared music player. You can listen to the playlist while you chat, and see which songs other people have added and liked.
Notifications
If you turn on message notifications inside the chat, your browser can alert you to a new private message while you are looking at another tab or app. You can switch this off again at any time.
Staying in control
- Block any user in a private chat so they can no longer message you.
- Report a message or a user to the moderators from inside the chat.
- Write to the management with the report button on the first page, for anything that needs explaining.
- Delete your account whenever you want: the same form has a "Delete my account" topic. Details are in the privacy policy.
On a phone
Asal Chat runs in the browser, so there is nothing you have to install; for Android phones there is also an app. On a phone, allow microphone and camera access when the browser asks, otherwise voice messages and calls will not work.
A few rules worth knowing before you enter
Respect for other users comes first. Insults, harassment, sexual content in public rooms, advertising and the sharing of personal details are not allowed, and moderators can mute or remove accounts that ignore this. The complete list is short and is on the rules page.
In one sentence: come in as a guest to look around, and register once you find people you would like to meet again.