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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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Is it worth paying for

Paltalk

30
Value score / 100 Worth paying? No Skip it

Paltalk is generally not worth paying for due to widespread technical issues, security concerns, and aggressive monetization practices that diminish the free experience and fail to justify the high cost of subscriptions.

Free + in-app purchases seen up to $99.99 4.3★ lifetime (15,047) since 2011

Paltalk, despite its long history, is plagued by persistent bugs, freezing, and crashing, making it a frustrating experience for many users R1R15R120. While some appreciate its social aspect, the app is criticized for aggressive monetization, including ads for paid subscribers and expensive features that other platforms offer for free R3R51R44.

Free vs paid

The free tier of Paltalk is described as "worthless" by some users, implying a heavily restricted experience R44. Paid subscriptions, such as the 'extreme membership' or VIP, are needed to access features like seeing who is viewing your cam R3R61. However, even paid users report seeing ads R51 and experiencing the same technical issues as free users R1R15R120. Room subscriptions can be very expensive, with one user paying over $500 for 3 mics R1.

Value complaints

  • Paid subscriptions are expensive and do not always deliver promised features, with one user paying over $500 for a room subscription and still facing issues.R1
  • Even with a VIP subscription, users report seeing ads, which is seen as a joke and a reason to boycott.R50R51
  • Features like seeing who is viewing your cam are locked behind an expensive 'extreme membership' that casual users find too costly.R3R61
  • The app is accused of randomly charging users without their consent.R8
  • The free tier is considered "worthless" due to aggressive monetization, pushing users towards paid subscriptions.R44
  • The cost for colored nicknames is considered too expensive.R448

Where it delivers

  • Some users enjoy the social aspect and connecting with people from around the world, finding it a good time pass.R77
  • Long-time users appreciate the community and fellowships found on Paltalk.R7R37R77
  • The app is considered by some to be a "nice place to chill and have adult fun".R89
Worth paying if

It is difficult to recommend paying for Paltalk given the numerous complaints about bugs, security, and monetization, even for long-time users R1R5R51.

Skip / stay free if

Users who value stability, clear privacy policies, and a fair pricing model should skip paying for Paltalk R1R5R8R34. Casual users who only want basic features like seeing who views their profile should also skip paying, as this feature is locked behind an expensive 'extreme membership' R3.

Evidence note: The evidence is skewed negative, with many recent reviews highlighting severe technical issues, security concerns, and aggressive monetization practices. Positive reviews are often brief and lack specific details about value or features.

Frequently asked

Is Paltalk free to use?
Paltalk is free to download, but many users report that the free tier is "worthless" due to aggressive monetization, pushing users toward paid subscriptions R44. Some core features, like seeing who views your cam, require an expensive 'extreme membership' R3.
What are the common issues with the Paltalk app?
Common issues include frequent freezing, crashing, audio problems, inability to send messages, and profiles jumping around in chat rooms R1R15R16R22. Users also report problems with logging in, disappearing chat history, and the app not functioning properly on various iOS devices R120.
Are there security or safety concerns with Paltalk?
Yes, several users report significant security and safety concerns, including the app being a "cesspool for hackers," permitting unwanted attacks on smart devices, and allowing extreme racial hate R5. There are also serious allegations of the app being a platform for predators and pedophiles R25R47.
Can I delete my Paltalk account easily?
No, deleting a Paltalk account is reported to be difficult and unprofessional, often requiring a request and sometimes asking for personal ID, which users find shady and unacceptable R30R34R42R49.
Does Paltalk work well on iPad?
Paltalk does not function properly on iPads, with users reporting screen freezing, lack of landscape mode, and the app behaving like an iPhone layout rather than utilizing the full screen R19R105R120R133.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] 1/5 · US Missing icon of user: Paltalk is old platform and lack of modern technical control. Problem happen very often, it’s alway freezing. And I am unable to see many user in the chat room because the icon of user at upper right corner has been removed. My room subscription is $500+ for 3 Mics, and we setup Auto Reddot, but now I can’t even unreddotted myself in the room even though I am an admin of the
  2. [R50] 5/5 · US Why the afs: What’s up with the ads on pal mobile I pay for a green nick for the past 11 years and now I have to deal with ads on mobile this is a joke I might just boycot the program and have all my friends boycot too
  3. [R51] 1/5 · US Seeing ads with paid subscription!: This is something new. I’m seeing ads even though I’m logged in with a VIP subscription.
  4. [R3] 3/5 · US Mostly fun but a few annoying things…: The app is similar to CamFrog some of the same features but a lot of differences, on CamFrog I like that you can see who’s viewing you on a regular account on PalTalk you have to pay for the extreme membership and it’s not cheap! I guess for someone who uses it all the time that’s fine but I’m more of a casual user but seeing “someone else is viewing you” is
  5. [R61] 2/5 · US Cam: For some reason with the new update, I can no longer see who is viewing my cam I pay for extreme so I can see who is viewing, but for some reason now it stopped working
  6. [R8] 1/5 · US Watch your account: This app randomly charged me $10.77 although I signed up for nothing. They are a scam I’m warning you before you proceed
  7. [R44] 1/5 · US further and further downhill, without a paid subscription this app is worthless, dont bother: over the years paltalk has grown more and more greedy, making it’s supposedly free tier useless
  8. [R448] 3/5 · GB Mr: Not bad, not bad. Too expensive for coloured nicks though!
  9. [R77] 5/5 · US Feedback on Paltalk: I am here in this paltalk messenger since long. I always find it very interesting with the chatting of different types of people coming from different parts of the world. It’s a good time pass. Thanks are NOT truly enough for the paltalk authority to keep us connected and vibrant as always. Long live paltalk messenger ❤️
  10. [R7] 5/5 · US Renewing daily: I have been having some trouble with this Paltalk, but it’s getting better I have enjoyed Paltalk for many years and they have most wonderful fellowships. I would really like to see it grow and become bigger again it’s under a new ownership now.
  11. [R37] 5/5 · US Bigjohn: I have been on paltalk since the 1900’s . It’s a fun entertaining , sometimes informative program . It works much better on a computer other then on a phone or tablet. PEACE
  12. [R89] 5/5 · US Nice place to chill and gave adult fun!: Nice place
  13. [R15] 3/5 · US Latest version update is trash: The latest version has way too many bugs. It freezes, crashes, audio keeps reconnecting, among other things. Others are complaining about the same issues I am having. Fix it!
  14. [R16] 1/5 · US Constant crash after update: This last update is a non stop crash after 5 minutes .
  15. [R22] 1/5 · US Very bad update: Have been trying to send a message and it’s not going though I can only video chat why is that? You have to do something about that please course this nor happening to me alone
  16. [R5] 2/5 · US Paltalk is a Cesspool for Hackers: Most recently, Paltalk has become very unsafe, as it exploits and manipulates the vulnerable (i.e. mentally ill individuals) and, it rewards room owners that maintain high room numbers, by any corrupt means. Most worrisome, Paltalk has become a cesspool for hackers: and, it permits unwanted attacks on smart devices. And, Paltalk permits extreme racial hate agains
  17. [R25] 1/5 · US Pedos: Got groomed on here when I was in 5th grade. joined video chat and tons of old men started messaging me & harassing me for nude photos.
  18. [R47] 1/5 · US a cesspool of predators: this app is full of sexploitation and p3dophiles. DO NOT USE.
  19. [R30] 1/5 · US Deleting my account should not be a request: If I wish to delete my account it is quite unprofessional and absolutely unacceptable that it requires a request to delete my account
  20. [R34] 1/5 · US impossible to delete account: Didn’t need anything but an email to sign up for this app - but to delete your account they want your ID. Unreal. Super shady and doesn’t seem legit. Know I know they will keep my Accor forever and steal my data for life, how cool of you all. Use ANY other app that doesn’t want to invade your personal data in order for you to exit it.
  21. [R42] 1/5 · US Aggressive marketing: Unlike other applications, that have a in app delete your account or send emails button they make it as hard as possible to delete your account. This app is a complete scam with low quality users.
  22. [R49] 2/5 · US Removing account: Why do I have to jump through hoops for this team to delete an account?
  23. [R19] 3/5 · US Please make an iPad version: Paltalk works good overall but it would be nice if there was a iPad version that would cover the whole screen and a dark mode Other than that its great. PS. You should take some tips from Camfrog they are pretty much exactly the same
  24. [R105] 5/5 · US Please make this more iPad user friendly: I LOVE PalTalk, been a member since 2006, but the iPad version of this app was not designed well. It behaves like an iPhone layout. It won’t rotate or fill the entire screen even though I set my iPad to do that. It just enlarges it a bit. If I could rate PalTalk itself I’d give you guys 6 stars out of 5. Best chat rooms ever!
  25. [R120] 3/5 · US Could be alright but…: This app doesn’t function properly on any iDevice I own iPad mini , iPhone 8+, iPhone 11 Pro Max or iPad Pro. Screen freezes every single time no matter what I do to alleviate the issue. This app could be so much better if the developer would just put a little more effort in maintaining and fixing this app.
  26. [R133] 3/5 · US Needs landscape mode: I would like to use this on my ipad, but there is no landscape mode and my ipad is always in landscape with a keyboard :( any chance of an ipad version?

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store