Ablo: the app that let you fly anywhere

Ablo was a free chat app that matched you with a random person in another country and translated every message both ways. It won Google Play's Best App of 2019, then closed on 30 September 2022 and sent its users to Azar. The original is not coming back. Below is everything we know, and where people chat now.

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Ablo at a glance

What it was: Random 1-on-1 chat with a stranger in another country, translated both ways, dressed as air travel
Made by: Massive Media (Netlog, Twoo) in Ghent, Belgium, part of Match Group
Launched: Early 2019 (Product Hunt, 22 January 2019)
Award: Google Play Best App of 2019
Reach: 6.5M downloads in 180+ countries (as reported)
Closed: 30 September 2022, users told to install Azar
Today: The original is gone. A 2025 app using the name is from an unrelated company

Timeline

Jan 2019Launches; #6 product of the day on Product Hunt.
Late 2019Named one of Google Play's Best Apps of 2019.
May 2020A cap of 10 free flights a day arrives as lockdowns begin.
Nov 2021New matches open straight into video; translation switches to Google Translate.
Feb–May 2022Live voice translation is removed from video calls.
30 Sep 2022Ablo closes and points users to Azar.
Jan 2025An unrelated app reuses the Ablo name on Google Play.

Full dated timeline →

Start here · the full story

Ablo App: The Complete Story of the Chat App That Let You Fly Anywhere (2019–2022)

What Ablo was, how its flights, miles and live translation worked, who built it, why it changed, why it shut down on 30 September 2022, and where its users went.

What to use instead of Ablo

People who miss Ablo usually miss the same things: a random person somewhere else in the world, text first rather than video, translation both ways, and not paying just to say hello. Olu is an independent app built around that idea. It works in your browser, and AI locals are always labelled as AI. Our apps like Ablo guide compares every option honestly.

Boarding pass · free

Tap, fly to a random country, and chat with someone who lives there.

Text first, translated both ways, no video, no coins to meet people. Works in your browser.

Take off on Olu

The Ablo story

What Ablo was, who built it, and how it ended.

Why Ablo Pointed Users to Azar in 2022Ablo shut down and redirected users to Azar in September 2022. Both apps shared a parent company. No accounts, friends or chats moved over. Here is how users reacted.Ablo Best App 2019: What Made It Win Google Play's Top PrizeAblo won Google Play's Best App of 2019. Here's what the app was like back then: free unlimited flights, no ads, and how the award changed everything.Why People Still Miss Ablo: Nostalgia for the Plane, Miles & TranslationExplore why users still miss Ablo years after shutdown: the flight animation, destination trivia, miles, language practice, and cross-border friendships.We Read 84,580 Ablo Reviews. Here Is What Users Loved and What Drove Them AwayOriginal research: every Google Play review of Ablo, read in date order, 2019 to 2026. The star ratings by year, the top praise, the top complaints, and the changes that caused each wave.Ablo Timeline: Key Dates from Launch to Shutdown (2019-2026)A month-by-month timeline of Ablo from its Jan 2019 launch, through major changes and outages, to the Sep 2022 shutdown and the zombie listing that followed.Is Ablo Coming Back? The Honest Answer in 2026No, the original Ablo is not returning. The 2025 copy is unrelated. Users still want it back. Here is what to do instead.What Happened to Ablo? The Shutdown, the Azar Redirect and What Came AfterAblo closed on 30 September 2022 and told users to install Azar. Here is exactly what happened, what users lost, what the reviews say, and what the 2025 'Ablo' app really is.Who Made Ablo? The Team Behind the AppAblo was created by Massive Media, a Belgian studio inside Match Group. Learn about the team, the launch, and the shutdown.Why Did Ablo Shut Down? What We KnowAblo never gave a reason for its 2022 shutdown. We examine the evidence: Match Group, moderation costs, user decline, and the Azar redirect.

Alternatives

Where to go now for the same kind of chat.

Ablo Alternative: 6-Point Checklist for Finding a ReplacementAblo shut down in 2022. Here is a short checklist for an alternative: text-first, free translation, random countries, clear moderation, web access. See how the options score.Why Downloading an Ablo APK Is Risky (and Won't Work)Old Ablo APK files from mirror sites carry malware and tampered code. The servers are gone, so the app can't run. Safe alternatives inside.Ablo vs Azar: What Happened After the Redirect?Compare Ablo and Azar side-by-side. Text-first travel chat vs video-first. Same parent company, different experiences. User reactions and who each suits.Ablo vs Omegle: What Made Them Different and Why Users Said "Ablo = OmegleCompare Ablo and Omegle: country-based chat with translation vs anonymous video. How Ablo's Nov 2021 video-first change blurred the line.Ablo Web Version: Why It Disappeared and What to Use NowAblo briefly had a web client, then removed it. Users asked for a PC version for years. Here is why browser chat matters and one app that works without installing anything.Apps Like Ablo in 2026: Where to Chat With Strangers Abroad, With TranslationAblo closed in 2022. These are the closest things to it now, compared honestly on what mattered: text-first chat, translation both ways, random countries, and what's free.New Ablo App: The 2025 Copy and What You Need to KnowA 2025 app called "Ablo" by Yancheng Binary Tree Technology has 100K+ installs but a 2.2-star rating. Here's how it compares to the original and what users say.

How Ablo worked

Flights, miles, coins, translation and the rules behind them.

Ablo Flights Limit: From Unlimited to 10 Free Flights a DayHow Ablo's free unlimited flights in 2019 became a 10-flight daily cap by May 2020, and how skipped matches counted from Dec 2021.Ablo Live: Streaming, Battles, Top Fans & Video FeedAblo Live added streaming with guests, battles, top fans, and diamonds. Also the 15-second video feed. Harassment complaints grew.Ablo Coins: What They Cost, What They Bought, and Why Users ComplainedHow Ablo's coins worked for gender/continent filters, reconnects, and extra flights. The 2020 price hikes, rewarded ad problems, and the shift from free.Why Ablo Free Flights Kept Landing in the Same CountriesWhy Ablo's free flights always matched you with the same countries. It was a liquidity problem, not a conspiracy. How paid filters made it worse.Ablo Translation: How Real-Time Translation Made the App SpecialAblo's translation was its core feature. Learn how it worked, from in-house text translation to the controversial Google Translate swap and removal of voice translation.Ablo Video Call: From Optional to Forced and the BacklashHow Ablo's video call evolved from optional to mandatory in Nov 2021, the accidental call fix in Jan 2020, and why the change drove users away.How Did Ablo Work? Step by Step Guide to the AppStep by step: tap to fly, plane over globe, trivia card, land on a stranger, translated chat, optional video with subtitles. How Ablo worked from start to finish.

Problems & fixes

Bans, logins, lost friends and why the old app stopped working.

Ablo Age Rating: Why the 12+ Store Rating Confused EveryoneAblo was rated 12+ on Google Play but required users to be 18+. Russian teens were banned. Why honest age ratings matter for safety.Why Ablo Bans Were the App's Biggest ProblemAblo's instant bans from a single report, no appeals, and lost friends drove away loyal users. What fair moderation should look like.Ablo Friends: How to Find Them After the ShutdownLost contact when Ablo shut down? Learn how to find old friends from the app, plus why keeping a second channel matters.Ablo Login: Magic Links, SMS Errors & What to Use NowAblo login had magic-link loops, SMS failures, and false duplicate blocks. The app is gone. Here is a free text-chat alternative with no login needed.Ablo Not Working? Here's What HappenedIs Ablo showing "something went wrong"? The app shut down on 30 Sep 2022. Learn about past outages and what to do now.

Chat across borders

Talking to people from other countries, safely and well.

Chat with People from Other Countries with Translation: How It WorksHow live translation in chat apps works, where it goes wrong with slang and idioms, and how to write clearly for better translations.How to Start a Conversation with a Stranger: 20+ Opening Lines20+ opening lines that work across languages and translate well. What to avoid, how to keep the chat going, and tips for genuine connection.Language Practice with Native Speakers: How Translated Chat Bridges the GapLearn how translated chat apps like Ablo helped language learners practice with native speakers. Read the original, write a line, and ask for corrections.Make Friends from Other Countries Online: A Practical GuideLearn how to turn a random chat into a real friendship abroad. Curiosity, daily life, photos, and respect. No dating, just connection.Text Only Omegle Alternative: Safer Random Chat in 2026Omegle closed in 2023. Why text-only chat is safer than video. What to look for in a replacement. Try Olu for free, translated conversations.Random Chat Safety: How to Protect Yourself on Stranger Chat AppsLearn how to stay safe on random chat apps. Spot scams, avoid sharing personal info, and use blocking tools effectively.Talk to Strangers From Other Countries: A Practical GuideHow to talk to strangers from other countries online. Compare random chat, language exchange, and pen pals. First messages, time zones, and safety tips.Virtual Travel: Talk to Locals from Your SofaHow to explore cities, food, and daily life through real conversations with locals. No plane ticket needed.

Ablo questions

What was the Ablo app?

Ablo was a free mobile app, launched in early 2019, that matched you with a random stranger in another country and machine-translated every message both ways. You tapped to "fly", a plane crossed a globe, and you earned miles for chatting.

Is Ablo still working?

No. The original Ablo was discontinued on 30 September 2022. An app with the same name appeared on Google Play in January 2025, but it is made by a different company and is not the original.

Why did Ablo shut down?

Ablo never gave an official reason. Its owner, Match Group, also owned the video chat app Azar, and Ablo sent its users there when it closed, which points to consolidation.

Who made Ablo?

Massive Media, the Belgian team behind Netlog and Twoo, which was part of Match Group.

What is the best alternative to Ablo?

Look for an app that is text-first, translates both ways and lets you meet people for free. Olu is built around that idea and works in the browser; our guide to apps like Ablo compares the options.