Y2K ChatSign in

Y2K Chat: a 2000s-style messenger for your real friends

Remember buddy lists? Y2K Chat brings back the way chatting used to feel: see who's online, send a nudge that shakes the screen, set an away message, hear a chime when a friend signs in, and when nobody's around, leave a voice message on the answering machine's "tape".

A Y2K Chat buddy list with Bob and Dave online, Carol away with "Be right back", and a nudge from Dave
AndroidGet it on Google Play
iPhoneUse on iPhone

Free. For adults 18+. On a computer? Use it in your browser.

What's inside

  • Buddy list: friends grouped by online, away and offline, with their personal message and the song they're playing.
  • Nudges: shake a friend's chat window, with a sound (and a buzz on Android).
  • Away messages: "Be right back", "At work", or your own words.
  • Sign-in chimes: hear when a friend comes online. Mute anyone you like.
  • Answering machine: nobody online? Leave a voice message after the beep, played back with tape hiss and rewind.
  • Circles: small group chats, plus "is typing…", original emoticons and unsend within 10 minutes.

What's not in it

  • No AI
  • No ads
  • No spam
  • No strangers
  • No photos or videos
  • Messages delete after 30 days

No feeds, no algorithms and no trackers either. Your data is never sold.

How friends work

  • Everyone gets a friend code, like Y2K-7F3K-92QD, and a link to share it on WhatsApp, SMS or anywhere else.
  • You become buddies only when both of you add each other. Nobody else can message you.
  • Circles hold up to 10 friends, and everyone in a circle approves before someone new joins.
  • You can block or report anyone with a long-press.

Use it on iPhone

No App Store needed. Y2K Chat runs as a web app that you add to your home screen:

  1. Open the Y2K Chat web app in Safari.
  2. Tap the Share button.
  3. Tap Add to Home Screen, then Add.
  4. Open Y2K Chat from your home screen and sign in with Google.
Open the web app

Questions

Is there an app like the old 2000s instant messengers?

Yes. Y2K Chat is a new messenger built around what people remember from MSN Messenger, AIM and Yahoo Messenger: a buddy list that shows who's online, away or offline, nudges, away messages, sign-in sounds and the song you're playing under your name. It has its own original look and sounds, and it's made for chatting with friends you actually know.

Can I still send nudges?

Yes. A nudge shakes your friend's chat window and plays a sound, and on Android it vibrates too. You can send one every 10 seconds, and anyone can mute nudges.

Does it work on iPhone without the App Store?

Yes. Open www.y2kchats.com in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. Y2K Chat then opens from your home screen like any other app, with notifications on iOS 16.4 or later. On Android, get it from Google Play.

Is it free?

Yes. Y2K Chat is free, with no ads and no in-app purchases.

Who can message me?

Only your friends. You add each other with friend codes, and you become buddies only when both of you have added the other. There's no search, no public profiles and no way for strangers to find you. You can block or report anyone.

What happens to my messages?

Messages and voice messages delete themselves after 30 days, and you can unsend one within 10 minutes. Your data is never sold, and there are no ads or trackers.