If you loved Here’s playful, customizable rooms and you’re now hunting for a here.fm alternative, you’re not alone. Here (aka Here.fm) shut down, leaving creators, classrooms, and remote teams scrambling for a replacement that still feels creative, social, and low-friction. Below I’ve pulled the smartest practices from top-performing guides and vendor docs, then distilled them into a practical, SEO-friendly roundup you can trust.
What was Here.fm—and why do you need an alternative?
Here.fm blended video chat with a shared, highly customizable canvas where you could add stickers, gifs, videos, draw, and play casual games—great for workshops, classrooms, and team socials. With the service now shuttered, the gap is clear: we need persistent, customizable spaces where groups can drop in, talk, and co-create without heavyweight meeting overhead.
What should you look for in a here.fm alternative?
- Persistent rooms & presence: Spaces that remember your content (notes, embeds) and show who’s “around.”
- Spatial or natural audio: Conversations should feel lightweight and proximity-based, not “everyone in one grid” all the time.
- Live collaboration canvas: Drop in images, PDFs, webpages, whiteboards—ideally in real time.
- Zero-install / browser-first: Fast invites for guests, students, or clients.
- Fun & branding: Room themes, furniture, or avatars to match your vibe or brand.
These traits are repeatedly highlighted across leading virtual-office guides and vendor comparisons.
Top Alternatives to Here.fm
| Platform | Key Features | Vibe |
| mzelo.com | Closest to Here.fm; offers customizable and decoratable virtual rooms, shared content watching (virtual browser, YouTube, screen-share), voice/video chat, and private/public rooms. | A direct replacement, focused on casual, personalized hangouts with friends. |
| Kosmi.io | No sign-up required, diverse room types (watch movies, play games, chat), superior video/audio quality, integration with popular services (YouTube, SNES/NES games), and real-time collaboration tools like shared whiteboards. | Convenient and versatile for spontaneous meetings and various shared activities. |
| Gather.town | Combines video calling with a 2D, pixelated map interface where users navigate with avatars. Features proximity-based audio/video, screen sharing, collaborative whiteboards, and customizable spaces. | Playful and engaging, like a video game environment for meetings or social events. |
| Discord | A powerful voice, video, and text chat app organized into servers. While not inherently a co-browsing platform, it can be used with bots or whiteboards for shared media experiences and offers excellent community building. | Community-focused and highly customizable for a wide range of interests. |
| SpatialChat | Browser-based platform with avatar circles and spatial audio/video that allows users to move between groups for organic conversations. Features screen sharing, image/video pinning, and private areas. | Mimics real-life events and cocktail parties with a natural, fluid interaction style. |
Summary of Options
- For the most similar experience (customizable rooms, shared watching): mzelo.com is frequently cited by former Here.fm users as the best alternative.
- For easy, no-fuss hangouts without sign-ups: Kosmi.io is an excellent, flexible option for a variety of shared activities.
- For a unique, game-like environment: Gather.town offers a fun, interactive map interface that is great for virtual events or remote teams.
- For general chat and community building with some shared media capabilities: Discord remains a strong, popular choice with extensive features.
- For fluid social interactions, event-style spaces and spatial audio: SpatialChat offers a compelling upgrade.
How to pick the right here.fm alternative (in 3 steps)
- Map the job to be done: Social hangouts? Persistent team HQ? Classroom breakouts?
- Match features to outcomes: If “fun + casual” is key, choose mzelo.com or Kosmi.io. For a persistent team HQ and analytics, go with SpatialChat or Gather.town. For community building and text/voice chat, go with Discord.
- Pilot with a real ritual: Don’t just click around—host a weekly stand-up, a critique session, or a study group and see if it sticks.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What happened to Here.fm?
Here publicly announced a shutdown—users now need alternatives for customizable shared spaces.
2. What’s the closest here.fm alternative for “watch together” and casual hangouts?
mzelo.com fits best: free to start, fast rooms, games, and watch-together features.
3. Which option is best for a remote team’s daily HQ?
SpatialChat, Gather.town or Discord (depending on vibe)—each provides spatial presence, persistent spaces, and meeting workflows. Choose based on visual style, admin needs, and integrations.
4. Is there a lightweight, solo-productivity replacement instead of a full virtual room?
Yes—there are simpler virtual coworking spaces and shared focus tools (though not always full room customizations). If you just need a place to “show up” and work with others online, look at those.
Final Word: Which here.fm alternative is right for you?
Since Here.fm’s shutdown, no single clone replaces everything—but you can absolutely recreate the magic. For social, fast-join rooms, start with mzelo.com. For a persistent team HQ with presence and admin controls, try SpatialChat, Gather.town, or Discord depending on your culture. If you need quiet productivity or community chat, Discord or other focus-tools may suffice.
Pick one, test it with your team or community, and rebuild the habit of showing up together. After all, the best here.fm alternative is the one you actually use.
About the Author
