cackles vs houseparty
Houseparty had the right idea. Then it shut down. Cackles picks up where it left off.
tl;dr
Houseparty was the app that understood spontaneous friend hangouts before anyone else. drop-in video rooms, notifications when friends were online, built-in games. it was magical. then Epic Games bought it, folded parts into Fortnite, and killed the app in September 2021. Cackles carries that same energy forward with audio-first rooms, persistent friend groups, and features Houseparty never had like listening parties.
what happened to houseparty
Houseparty launched in 2016 (originally as Meerkat, the live-streaming app) and quickly became the go-to app for friend groups who wanted to casually hang out over video. it peaked during early covid lockdowns in 2020, with millions of downloads as everyone was stuck at home.
Epic Games acquired Houseparty in 2019 for a reported $35 million. the plan was to integrate its tech into Fortnite and Epic's social features. by 2021, Epic announced they were shutting Houseparty down.
the millions of people who loved Houseparty were left without an alternative that captured the same vibe. FaceTime doesn't do it. Zoom definitely doesn't do it. Discord is way too complex for it. that gap is exactly where Cackles lives.
what houseparty got right
- spontaneous hangouts. you didn't schedule a Houseparty. you just opened the app and people were there (or they got notified you were).
- zero friction. no links, no meeting codes, no "can you hear me?" setup. just open and go.
- friend-first design. the app was about your actual friends, not strangers or audiences.
- the notification model. knowing your friends were "in the house" made you want to join. that pull is powerful.
Cackles preserves all of these principles. the biggest difference: audio-first instead of video-first. it turns out, removing the camera makes people more likely to casually drop in. you don't need to look presentable to hang out on Cackles.
audio vs. video
Houseparty: Always-on video. You opened the app and your camera was on. Fun at first, but "camera fatigue" became real fast, especially post-covid.
Cackles: Audio-first with 10-second video portals for quick visual moments. You get the intimacy of voice without the pressure of being on camera.
↳ Audio-first means you can hang out while cooking, walking, lying on the couch, or doing literally anything. Video means you need to be "ready."
what cackles adds
Houseparty had games (trivia, drawing, etc.) but Cackles brings something Houseparty never had: synced listening parties. everyone in the room hears the same music at the same time. it's like being in the car with your friends, picking songs and vibing together.
Cackles also has public rooms where you can meet new people beyond your existing friend group. Houseparty was limited to your contacts and friends-of-friends.
at-a-glance comparison
| cackles | Houseparty (RIP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Alive and growing 🟢 | Shut down (Sept 2021) 🔴 |
| Format | Audio rooms + video portals | Video rooms |
| Drop-in notifications | Push when room starts | Notification when friends online |
| Group structure | Bubbles (persistent crews) | Friend list based |
| Music | Synced listening parties | No |
| Games | Not yet | Built-in party games |
| Video | 10-second portals (playful) | Always-on video |
| Discovery | Public rooms for meeting people | Friends of friends |
| Vibe | Your crew's living room | Spontaneous video party |
| Platform | iOS | Was iOS + Android |
if you loved houseparty, you'll love cackles
- Same spontaneous energy: your crew starts a room, you get pinged, one tap to join
- Same friend-first design: Bubbles are your persistent crews, always ready to go
- Lower barrier: audio-first means you can drop in anytime, no camera needed
- New stuff: listening parties, public rooms for meeting cool people, video portals
- Most importantly: Cackles is alive, growing, and not getting acquired by a game company
FAQ
Is Houseparty coming back?
No. Epic Games shut it down permanently in September 2021. Some of its technology was integrated into Fortnite, but the standalone app is gone for good.
What replaced Houseparty?
Nothing directly replaced it until Cackles. Most ex-Houseparty users went back to FaceTime or group chats, which don't have the same spontaneous energy. Cackles is the closest spiritual successor.
Is Cackles just Houseparty but audio?
That's a decent shorthand, but Cackles goes further. Persistent friend groups (Bubbles), public rooms for meeting new people, synced listening parties, and video portals are all things Houseparty never had.
Does Cackles have games like Houseparty did?
Not yet, but the room experience has features Houseparty didn't, like listening parties. The focus is on making the hangout itself great.
the hangout app is back
houseparty is gone. the vibe lives on. your crew is waiting.