Talk to people around the world
In a typical month, people come to TalkLive from more than 150 countries. The twenty-one that bring us the most people each have their own guide - its languages, its late nights, what people talk about, when they are online in local time, and the safety advice that applies there.
How country preferences really work
In Filters, you can choose countries you would prefer to be matched with, and countries you would rather avoid. The free plan allows two of each. When you search, TalkLive looks for someone who is available right now and whose settings are compatible with yours.
Global matching - no preference at all - gives the queue the most ways to find you someone, and is usually the quickest. It is the better choice whenever your real goal is simply to hear a new perspective. Our own match counts put TalkLive's busiest hours at 15:00 to 21:00 UTC; each country guide converts that into local time.
Talking across borders, well
Curiosity travels; stereotypes do not. Ask broad, open questions - what is a normal weekend like, what should I eat if I visit, what do outsiders usually get wrong about where you live - and let the other person decide how specific to be. Politics, religion and relationships can be wonderful conversations, but let your match lead into them. And the same privacy rules apply everywhere: talking about a country never requires sharing your city, neighbourhood, school, workplace or daily routine.
For the wider picture, the Journal's regional features cover South Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, and TalkLive in 17 languages covers using the app in your own language.
Questions about countries
Can TalkLive guarantee a match from a selected country?
No. Preferences depend on who is searching at that moment and on compatible settings. If nobody suitable is available, matching widens after a short wait.
Does the country label verify where someone lives?
No. It is estimated from the network connection and is not proof of nationality, residence or language.
Is a country preference a language filter?
No. Countries are multilingual, and individuals speak different languages. Ask at the start of a conversation.
How many countries can I choose for free?
The free plan allows up to two preferred and two avoided countries.
Why are there guides for only twenty-one countries?
They are the countries that bring TalkLive the most people, and each guide is written by hand with information specific to that country. We add a guide only when there is something genuinely useful to say.