An NGL alternative, in Arabic and free
Last updated: 28 September 2026 · The Sea Messages safety team
NGL is one of the best-known anonymous question apps, usually shared through an Instagram story link. In 2024 the company settled with the US Federal Trade Commission over allegations of fake messages and an upgrade that claimed to reveal senders. This page sets out the facts, with sources, and how Sea Messages is different.
What happened with NGL?
In July 2024 NGL agreed to pay $5 million to settle a complaint by the US FTC and the Los Angeles District Attorney. The FTC alleged fake messages and an upgrade that claimed to reveal senders but didn't. The order bars NGL from offering the app to anyone under 18, and the company was sold in December 2025.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 2024 | In July 2024 NGL Labs agreed to pay $5 million to settle charges by the US FTC and the Los Angeles District Attorney. The complaint alleged fake computer-generated messages, a paid upgrade falsely claimed to reveal senders, unclear recurring charges, and false claims that AI moderation filtered out bullying. The order bans NGL from offering its app to anyone under 18. |
| December 2025 | In December 2025 NGL was acquired by Mode Mobile, a company that makes rewards apps. |
Are messages on Sea Messages real?
Yes. Every message you receive was written by a real person. We don't generate messages to make you feel someone is writing to you, and we never will. If your shore is quiet, it simply means nobody has written yet: share your link again at a time when more of your followers are around.
Can I pay to find out who sent a message?
No. Sea Messages has no "who sent it" subscription and no paid hints, now or later. A sender stays hidden from you unless they choose to show their name. We keep the sender's account on our servers so moderation, blocking and reporting work, and share it only if the law requires it or to prevent serious harm.
Sea Messages and NGL at a glance
The idea is the same: a link in your story and questions or messages without names. On Sea Messages there are no subscriptions and no way to buy a sender's identity, every message is checked before delivery with a gentle nudge when words sound hurtful, and it's written in Arabic from the start, in Egyptian Arabic.
| Feature | Sea Messages | NGL (per the 2024 FTC complaint) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | A paid upgrade; the FTC alleged its recurring charges were unclear |
| Paying to reveal the sender | Doesn't exist | A paid upgrade the FTC alleged falsely claimed to reveal senders |
| Message checks | Before delivery, with a nudge to the sender | The FTC alleged its AI-moderation claims were false |
Information about NGL comes from the dated sources at the bottom of this page; the company's practices may have changed since. Sea Messages is independent and has no connection to NGL or Mode Mobile.
How do I switch from NGL?
Claim your island in under a minute with Google or Facebook, then put your new link in place of the NGL link in your Instagram story link sticker or your bio. You don't need to delete anything, and one story is enough to let your followers know.
Step by step: the Instagram story guide.
More questions
Is NGL safe?
We can't judge another company's app today. What is on record is above: the 2024 FTC settlement and the ban on offering the app to under-18s. What we can say about Sea Messages: every message is checked before delivery, there are no fake messages, and no one can buy a sender's identity.
Is there an Arabic alternative to NGL?
We can't speak for NGL's app today. Sea Messages is written in Arabic from the start, in Egyptian Arabic.