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.

Try Olu

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

  1. Jan 2019Launches; #6 product of the day on Product Hunt.
  2. Late 2019Named one of Google Play's Best Apps of 2019.
  3. May 2020A cap of 10 free flights a day arrives as lockdowns begin.
  4. Nov 2021New matches open straight into video; translation switches to Google Translate.
  5. Feb–May 2022Live voice translation is removed from video calls.
  6. 30 Sep 2022Ablo closes and points users to Azar.
  7. 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.

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How Ablo worked

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

Problems & fixes

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

Language exchange

Finding someone who speaks the language you are learning, and wants yours.

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Chat across borders

Talking to people from other countries, safely and well.

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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.