It’s always the most fun to watch movies or binge-watch TV series with friends and family hunkering down on the couch. But the distance has made us miss those moments and enjoy them. Technological advancement has enabled us to watch online content with our loved ones without travel. Multiple online services, i.e., watch parties, will sync the videos you are watching and stay connected throughout.
How Do Watch Parties Work?
Once you have logged on to your devices and applications, you can start watching a movie together. The watch party services sync the video for everyone watching. If one person pauses, it gets paused for everyone. The service lets you chat with friends while watching the movie. Some applications allow video chat. You can enjoy commentary with friends, making the moment extremely enjoyable. Here are some of the most preferred apps for watching online movies.
TeleParty
Requirement
Everyone needs a Chrome browser installed on their computer. Teleparty Chrome extension is needed on one computer. Access to Netflix streaming application.
How does it work? Download the TeleParty extension on your chrome browser. After it is installed, open Netflix and start playing the movie you want to watch. The next is a unique link by pausing the video and sharing it with others. Teleparty synchronizes video playing on the streaming applications. Benefits Teleparty Chrome extension needs to be installed on one computer only. Not everyone needs it to watch movies together remotely. Another benefit is that everyone doesn’t need a Netflix subscription as well. Requirement Everyone watching the video must be in the same country as the host, a prime member, or at least have purchased the video. How does it work? Benefits
Scener
Scener is a Chrome extension that allows up to ten people to join and watch movies together on streaming platforms. The app comes with a live chat and video call feature. Requirement Everyone must have a laptop or computer with internet access, a microphone, a webcam, and a subscription to the streaming platform. How does it work? Download and install the Scener chrome extension on your desktop device. The next step is to add all your friends already on the platform by searching their names and clicking the ‘Add Friend’ button. It allows the user with a remote to play, pause, skip, rewind or stop the movie. The virtual remote can be passed to others by moving the cursor to the person’s name and clicking the remote button. Benefits
Chrome Watch Party
Chrome Watch Party is a free tool for watching movies or tv shows from your favorite streaming services. Requirement It is compatible with Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Google Chrome browser. How does it work? Download the chrome extension, Firefox add-on, or Microsoft edge add-on on your respective browser. Click on the Watch Party icon and fill in three text fields required to create or join a party. Benefits
Rave
Rave is a free app enabling users to watch movies or Google photos together while talking or chatting with each other. Requirement It requires users to have a Rave account and access to the same streaming service. How does it work? Benefits It allows streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and more to sync on all users’ devices. It is free of charge. Rave is available on iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows. There is no limit to the no. of persons who can join the watch party.
Gaze
Gaze YouTube video watch party platform. It allows only two users to watch YouTube or locally store videos together. Requirement Gaze account to start watching YouTube videos while seeing each other. Same local file on both users’ devices to sync them. How does it work? One of the users can create a watch room and send the link to invite the other person. The other person can click the link, and it will sync the YouTube video or locally stored video together. Benefits The platform is best for a virtual long-distance date night or two friends or kids wanting to have a fun night. Gaze is very user-friendly.
TwoSeven
TwoSeven is created by a couple living in a long-distance relationship for a long period. It is one of the most simple platforms on the list. Requirement You need your account with TwoSeven and media streaming applications or personally owned videos. How does it work? You need to get access to this browser-based app. After setting up your account, you can watch videos from streaming apps. It allows users to watch privately stored or owned videos as well. Benefits It is a user-friendly, browser-based app with built-in text and video capabilities. It comes with a chrome extension to check if a website video is compatible with the platform or not. The platform supports watching videos from Netflix, YouTube, Vimeo, and Crunchyroll and lets you watch private videos together.
Watch2Gether
Watch2Gether makes watching videos, listening to songs, and online shopping with friends and family entertaining and easy. Requirement You will need a computer with an internet connection and access to a streaming platform where you want to watch videos with your loved ones. How does it work? Get started by clicking “Create a Room” on the platform home page and typing a temporary nickname. You will then be directed to a virtual chat room where you can add your friends. You can invite your friends to a virtual watch room or join a room created by others. Benefits Registration is not required to get started with the platform. It allows users to watch movies or videos, listen to music, and shop online. Users can search and select video sources from Vimeo, YouTube, DailyMotion, or audio from SoundCloud.
Kast
Kast allows users not only to sync and watch videos but games, documents, and more. The platform is free with YouTube and Tabi, but you must pay a small fee to watch content from a streaming platform like Netflix. It allows up to 20 people to join a session. Requirement You can start with Kast web (only available for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge) or a desktop application. How does it work? Kast allows users to watch movies together, play games, and share other content. You can either download a desktop app for Windows or macOS or use the web version supported by Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. The next step is to create your watch party or join an already available one. Benefits It enables users to share browser, screen, camera, or launch content through Kast TV at watch parties. It is available as both desktop and web applications.
Syncplay
Syncplay is an open-source watch party platform and a great app to watch movies using your favorite video player. Requirement Users must use the same video file to sync the movie and start watching. For voice or video chat, third-party apps like Skype or Mumble need to be downloaded for everyone. How does it work? All users should download the video from the same file and save it locally on their hard drive. After setting up your Syncplay account, you can start enjoying the movies. Benefits Syncplay is a free tool to watch movies together with people remotely. It is multi-platform and is compatible with multiple video player apps such as VLC, Media Player Classic, and KM Player.
Plex
Plex takes video sharing to a whole another level by adding virtual reality. It allows users to share a virtual apartment, theater, or room where you and your loved ones can join and watch movies together. One downside to this platform is that it is the most complicated one for us on the list. Requirement A mobile or desktop device with Google Daydream, Gear VR, or Oculus Go compatible hardware. How does it work? To get started, create your Plex account and then select a movie to watch from the Plex’s movie and TV library or your own personal media library. Click the More button next to the movie and click the Watch Together to start a session and invite your friends to start watching. It creates a virtual space where videos get synced to each other so that everyone watches the same video together. Benefits It is a fun watch party platform for tech-savvy users. It is available for Android/IOS and desktop devices.
Summary
You have gone through all the famous and coolest ways to watch movies mentioned above; it’s time to plan your next movie night. Share the article with your friends or family and select a watch party platform that best fits your needs and requirements.
