Sitting on the couch with friends and family watching a movie or TV series is always a special time. But the intervening distances can make us miss those moments.
Technological advances have enabled us to watch movies with our loved ones even when we are far away. Some apps synchronize the movies you watch, allowing you to watch them with your friends. Below you will find our recommendations for the best movie streaming apps and sites.
What is a Watch Movie Together App?
Streaming apps are web and mobile applications that allow users to watch movies together remotely. Such apps allow users to synchronously watch the same movie and comment on it at the same time, despite being in different locations. Many of the apps below are available on different platforms. These apps also allow users to chat and comment while watching a movie or TV series.
How Does a Watch Movies Together App Work?
Watch movies together apps work with synchronization features that allow users to watch the same movie at the same time. The operation of these applications is generally as follows:
- Users select the movie they want to watch together and open the app.
- The app provides users with a session code or invitation link. Users can share this code or link to invite other users to join the session.
- Users join the session using the session code or invitation link and start watching the movie simultaneously.
- The app synchronizes the movie users are watching and ensures that everyone is in the same scene.
- The chat or comment section of the app allows users to comment on the movie they are watching and interact with each other.
- Some apps also allow users to make video or audio calls. This allows users to talk to each other while watching a movie. However, it is important to note that the use of these features may vary depending on factors such as connection speed and quality.
Best Apps for Watching Movies Together
Netflix Party (Teleparty)
Formerly known as Netflix Party, but now called TeleParty, it’s a Chrome extension that lets you watch movies or TV shows on Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max or Amazon Prime. The extension allows you to create a link from your computer to share with friends or family.
To use this method;
- Everyone needs to have a Chrome browser on their computer.
- Teleparty Chrome extension is required on a computer.
- You need to have a Netflix subscription.
First, install the TeleParty extension in your Chrome browser. Once installed, open Netflix and start playing the movie you want to watch. You will then get a link that you can pause the video and share with others. You will be able to watch any movie or series together through this link.
Hearo
Hearo is an app that supports more than 35 platforms. You can watch movies, TV series or different productions on many platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube with your friends.
Although it is not well known in the market, it has a considerable number of users worldwide. The app may be subject to some regional restrictions. In this case, you may need to use a VPN app.
Amazon Prime Watch Party
Amazon Prime Watch Party lets you watch movies together with your loved ones on Amazon Prime. It lets you watch and chat with up to 100 friends or family members at the same time. You can watch any movie or TV show available on Prime together.
To use this method, everyone must be a host, a premium member, or at least in the same country as the country where they purchased the video. Then select a movie or TV show you want to watch. Click on the Watch party on Amazon Prime icon to create your viewing party and enter your name. You can send a watch party invitation to up to 100 people via the link you create.
Scener
Scener is a tool that allows you to watch movies together on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu (Ad Free), Disney+, HBO Max, YouTube and many other platforms. Scener works as a Chrome extension that allows you to watch movies with up to 10 people. In addition to watching movies together, the tool also offers live messaging and video chat features.
To use Scener, everyone needs internet access, a microphone, a webcam and a subscription to a streaming platform. You must also have a computer or laptop.
To explain how Scener works, first download and install the Chrome extension on your computer. Then search for the names of your friends on the platform and add them by clicking ‘Add Friend’. You can then play, pause or switch to another movie with a virtual remote control.
Chrome Watch Party
Chrome Watch Party is a Chrome extension that allows you to watch movies or TV shows from different streaming platforms together. To use this tool, which is compatible with Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome browsers, first install the extension on your browser. Then click on the Party Watch icon to create a party or fill in the required fields to join a party. That’s all you need to do.
Chrome Watch Party supports streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and more. If you have a subscription to any of them, you can watch movies remotely with your friends with this extension.
Rave
Rave is a free app that allows users to watch movies together while chatting with each other. To use the app, users must have a Rave account and access the same video streaming service.
The use of Rave is similar to other apps. Users can create a room and watch movies together by sending invitations to others via a link or by searching their name within the platform. Rave supports a wide range of platforms, including YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Google Drive, Vimeo and Google Photos. Rave is available for iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows, and there is no limit to the number of participants.
TwoSeven
TwoSeven is one of the simplest platforms on our list, developed by a couple in a long-distance relationship. To use it, both parties need to subscribe to video streaming services. Since it is browser-based, you first need to sign up for the platform via the link here. Afterwards, you can watch movies with your distant friends on supported platforms such as Netflix, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
Watch2Gether
Watch2Gether is another application that allows you to watch movies together with the people you love on a computer with an internet connection. Like the others, this solution requires both parties to subscribe to the video streaming platform.
You don’t need to register to use the platform. Just go to the main page, click on Create your room and choose a nickname for yourself. You will then be directed to a chat room. From there, you can invite your friends to the room you created and start watching movies together. Supported platforms are:
- YouTube
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime
- Hulu
- Disney+
- Crunchyroll
- Apple TV
- HBO Max
- Vimeo
Kast
Kast is a platform that allows users to not only watch movies together, but also synchronize and stream games, documents and more. While YouTube is free to use, you have to pay a small fee to watch content from a streaming platform like Netflix. Kast allows up to 20 people to join a session and is only available on Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers. You can also use it as a desktop app on Windows or macOS computers.
Syncplay
Syncplay is an open source software that allows you to watch your favorite movies or videos together with your friends. In order to synchronize and watch a movie, everyone needs to use the same video file.
Unlike others, you will need a third-party app like Skype or Mumble to use Syncplay. Syncplay is compatible with video players such as VLC, Media Player Classic and KM Player, and requires all users to download the video from the same file and save it to their local hard drives. When you meet these conditions, you can use the platform seamlessly and watch movies with your friends at the same time.
Metastream
Metastream is a browser extension that allows you to watch movies and series with friends and synchronize playback. The most basic feature of Metastream is the ability to synchronize video playback between multiple users. This allows you to watch a movie or series with your friends. And even if one person pauses or rewinds the movie, you won’t have synchronization issues.
Metastream is available as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox and Safari. Once installed, you can use it to watch videos from various websites, including YouTube, Netflix, Vimeo, and more.
With a built-in chat feature, Metastream allows you to chat with your friends while watching.
Gaze
Gaze is an application that allows you to watch movies and TV series remotely with friends, family or colleagues. Leveraging the power of WebRTC technology, this program allows users to watch videos together in real time, wherever they are.
With Gaze, you can invite your friends to watch a movie or series with you. Then, once everyone is connected, the app automatically starts synchronizing the video. This means that even if someone pauses, rewinds or fast-forwards the video, the rest of the group can watch in sync.
The app also has a built-in chat feature. So you can talk to your friends while you watch. You can watch movies together across multiple devices and platforms, such as web browsers, iOS and Android phones.
Another feature that Gaze provides is the ability to play live video and screen share. You can use this feature to stream live events and watch live sports matches with friends and family.
Plex VR
Plex VR takes the video synchronization experience to a whole new level. Instead of just sharing a screen, this service gives you the ability to share a virtual loft apartment and drive-in theater with friends.
In these virtual spaces, you can chat with friends and watch videos from a user’s Plex media library. The videos are synchronized so that all users can watch the video at the same time. However, users can independently change the size and position of the screen to suit their preferences. Finally, everyone has a cute Duplo-like avatar to represent themselves in the room.
Plex VR is one of the most complex and potentially most expensive ways to share content with friends remotely. It requires all participants to have Google Daydream or Meta Quest 2 compatible hardware. They also need to have a Plex server installed and ready.
Bonus: Popcornflix
Popcornflix is a free movie and TV streaming site. Founded in 1999, Popcornflix is today the preferred choice of more than 100 million users from all over the world.
One of the most popular features of Popcornflix is the Watch Together feature. This feature allows you to watch a movie or series with your friends or family at the same time.
To use the Watch Together feature, you must first sign up for Popcornflix and then create an account. Then select the movie or TV show you want to watch and click “Watch Together”.
When you use Watch Together, the movie or TV show will start playing for everyone at the same time. You can also comment and chat about whatever you are watching.
Popcornflix’s watch together feature is a great way to watch movies with friends and family. This feature is especially ideal for people in long-distance relationships.
