Watch parties on Mac

10 Best Apps to Watch Movies Together on Mac (2026)

We tested the top apps to watch movies together on Mac and ranked them on real macOS support, synced playback, voice chat and price, so you can start a watch party tonight.

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Updated 2026-08-11 · Watchly runs on Mac, iPhone & Chrome

Quick answer: the best apps to watch movies together on Mac in 2026 are Watchly, Teleparty, Scener, twoseven and Rave, with Watchly our top pick because it is a native Mac App Store download that syncs Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Disney+, HBO Max and more in real time, and adds built-in voice chat and reactions. Every good watch party app keeps everyone's playback in sync so you press play at the same instant, no matter who is hosting.

There is no single "best" for everyone, so we compared these watch together apps on the things that actually matter on a Mac: whether they run natively or lean on Chrome, which streaming services they support, and what is free versus paid. Each viewer signs into their own streaming account and the app syncs play, pause and seek, so it never re-streams video and everyone still needs their own subscription to the paid service.

Below you get a ranked list, honest pros and cons, a full comparison table and a short how-to-choose guide. If you just want the short version, grab Watchly and read our wider best watch party apps round-up for the cross-platform picture.

The 10 best apps to watch movies together on Mac

Ranked on native Mac support, synced playback, service coverage, voice chat and price.

Watchly Our pick

Best overall for Mac — native app, real sync, voice chat built in

Best for: Movie nights and long-distance viewing across Mac, phone and browserMac · iPhone · Android · ChromeFree · Pro from $4.99/mo

Watchly is a native Mac App Store app for Apple-silicon Macs, so there is no Chrome extension to babysit and nothing to sideload. You open the app, pick a service, and share a room link. Friends can join straight from the browser with no account needed to watch along, while each person signs into their own streaming account so playback stays in perfect sync.

Coverage is the widest here. Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu and SoundCloud are free to co-watch with no Pro plan. Watchly Pro ($4.99/month or $29.99/year, with a 3-day free trial) unlocks HBO Max, Disney+, Crunchyroll, Plex, Peacock, Paramount+, Apple TV+, Tubi, Pluto TV, Twitch, Dailymotion and Google Drive, plus unlimited room members and no ads. Push-to-talk voice chat, live reactions and text chat are all included, which most rivals make you bolt on with a separate call.

The real edge is cross-platform sync: someone on a Mac can watch in step with a friend on an iPhone or a laptop. See how to watch Netflix together on Mac for a full walkthrough.

Pros

Native Mac App Store app — no extension juggling
Widest service list, with Netflix, Prime, YouTube, Hulu and SoundCloud free
Built-in push-to-talk voice chat, reactions and text chat
True Mac-to-phone-to-browser sync; guests join with no account

Cons

Premium services (Disney+, HBO Max, Plex and more) need Watchly Pro
Native Mac app requires an Apple-silicon Mac

Download on theMac App Store Download on theApp Store Available in theChrome Web Store

Get Watchly for Mac

Teleparty

The best-known Chrome extension for streaming watch parties

Best for: Quick Netflix, Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max parties in ChromeChrome · Edge (desktop browser)Free

Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party) is the classic watch party app and it is completely free. It syncs Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max and Prime Video and adds a text chat sidebar next to the video, so it is a fast way to get a group watching the same show.

The catch on a Mac is that it is a browser extension, not an app: you watch inside Chrome or Edge, there is no native macOS build, and there is no voice chat, so you will want a separate call running alongside. It is a solid free pick for casual Netflix nights. If you want something more capable, see our best Teleparty alternatives for Mac.

Pros

Completely free
Supports several big streaming services
Very easy to set up in Chrome

Cons

Browser extension only — no native Mac app
Text chat only, no built-in voice

Visit Teleparty ↗

Scener

Watch parties with live video co-hosting

Best for: Group hangs where you want to see faces on screenChrome (desktop browser)Free

Scener leans into the social side, letting up to a group of people co-watch with live video and audio chat around the stream. It works with popular services and is aimed at watch parties that feel more like a video call with a movie in the middle.

Like Teleparty, it runs as a Chrome experience rather than a native Mac app, so Safari users are out and everything happens in the browser. If you care more about seeing your friends than about a polished macOS app, it is a fun free option.

Pros

Built-in video and audio chat
Good for social, face-to-face watch parties
Free to use

Cons

Browser-based, no native Mac app
Depends on Chrome; feature availability can shift

Visit Scener ↗

twoseven

Flexible watch together app with video chat and uploads

Best for: Mixing streaming services with your own video filesChrome · web (desktop browser)Free · paid tiers

twoseven is one of the more versatile watch together apps. It syncs services like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and YouTube, supports webcam and text chat, and can even play uploaded videos, which is handy for home movies or files that are not on a streaming service.

It is browser-first on a Mac, using a Chrome extension for streaming sites, and some conveniences sit behind a paid tier. For flexibility it is hard to beat among free options, but you are still working inside the browser rather than a native app.

Pros

Wide service support plus your own uploads
Webcam and text chat included
Generous free tier

Cons

Browser and extension based, not a native Mac app
Some features require a paid plan

Visit twoseven ↗

Kast

Screen-sharing watch parties for groups

Best for: Casual group streams and screen sharingMac app · webFree · paid tiers

Kast takes a screen-sharing approach: a host streams their screen or a media source to a room, and everyone watches together with text and voice chat. It has a desktop client and works for casual group nights where one person drives the content.

Because it is screen-share led rather than per-account sync, quality depends on the host's connection and it is not ideal for streaming services that block screen sharing. It is a decent free-to-start option for gaming clips and general co-watching rather than protected 4K movies.

Pros

Desktop app with voice and text chat
Good for screen sharing and casual group streams
Free to start

Cons

Screen-share quality depends on the host
Not ideal for DRM-protected streaming services

Rave

Mobile-first synced watching with a social feel

Best for: Phone-centric groups who also want a browser optioniOS · Android · webFree · paid tiers

Rave built its name on mobile synced watching for YouTube and other services, with group chat and a lively social vibe. On a Mac you use the web player, so it can join a movie night even though its heart is on phones.

It is a strong pick if most of your group is on their phones and you want everyone loosely in sync, but the Mac experience is a browser tab rather than a dedicated app, and some content and features vary by region and plan.

Pros

Great on mobile with a social layer
Group chat built in
Free tier available

Cons

Mac use is web-only, no native app
Service availability varies by region

Visit Rave ↗

Metastream

Open, link-based syncing across many sites

Best for: Tinkerers who want to sync a wide range of web videoChrome · desktop appFree

Metastream is a free, open project that syncs video from a broad range of websites by sharing links into a shared queue. It is flexible and works with many sources, with chat alongside the video.

It is more hands-on than the polished apps here and relies on a browser extension or its desktop build on a Mac. If you enjoy configuring things and want maximum site coverage for free, it is worth a look, but it asks more of you than Watchly or Teleparty.

Pros

Free and open
Syncs a wide range of web video sources
Shared queue for planning a lineup

Cons

More technical to set up
No native, polished Mac experience

Visit Metastream ↗

Hyperbeam

A shared virtual browser everyone controls

Best for: Watching sites together without extensionsWeb (works in any Mac browser)Free · paid tiers

Hyperbeam spins up a shared cloud browser that your whole group can see and control, so you watch whatever is loaded in that virtual browser together. There is nothing to install, which makes it easy to start on a Mac in Safari or Chrome.

Because it streams a virtual machine, video quality and resolution depend on the room's bandwidth and plan, and heavy DRM sites can be hit or miss. It is a clever, install-free option for casual co-browsing and watching.

Pros

No install or extension needed
Everyone can control the shared browser
Works in any Mac browser

Cons

Quality limited by the virtual browser stream
Not reliable for every DRM streaming service

Visit Hyperbeam ↗

Discord

Watch Together and screen share inside a call

Best for: Communities already hanging out on DiscordMac app · webFree · Nitro

Discord is not a dedicated watch party app, but its Watch Together activity and screen sharing let a voice channel watch YouTube or a shared screen together, with voice chat obviously built in. If your group already lives on Discord, it is the path of least resistance.

For streaming services it relies on screen sharing, which runs into DRM black screens on Netflix and similar sites, and higher screen-share resolution needs Nitro. Great for YouTube and gaming co-watching, weaker for protected movies.

Pros

Excellent built-in voice chat
Native Mac app you may already use
Watch Together works well for YouTube

Cons

Screen sharing hits DRM black screens on many services
Higher-quality screen share needs Nitro

Visit Discord ↗

Plex

Watch Together for your own media library

Best for: Sharing a personal movie and TV collectionMac app · web · mobileFree · Plex Pass

Plex is a media server for your own films and shows, and its Watch Together feature lets friends sync playback of that library. If you have ripped or purchased a collection, it is a clean way to host a movie night from your own catalogue.

It is not for syncing Netflix or Disney+; it plays what is in your Plex library, and some sharing features sit behind a Plex Pass. Watchly can also sync Plex on Mac if you would rather keep every service in one app; see watch Plex together.

Pros

Great for your own media library
Native Mac and mobile apps
Reliable, high-quality playback

Cons

Only plays your own library, not streaming services
Some features need Plex Pass

Visit Plex ↗

How the best apps to watch movies together on Mac compare

Most of these tools do the same core job — keep everyone's playback in sync — but they differ sharply on whether they run natively on macOS, which services they cover, and whether voice chat is built in. The table below is the fastest way to see those trade-offs at a glance.

Method	Works on Mac?	Synced playback	Voice chat	Cost
Watchly	Yes — native Mac app	Yes, per-account sync	Yes, built in	Free · Pro $4.99/mo
Teleparty	Chrome only	Yes	No (text only)	Free
Scener	Chrome only	Yes	Yes	Free
twoseven	Chrome / web	Yes	Yes (webcam)	Free · paid tiers
Kast	Mac app / web	Screen share	Yes	Free · paid tiers
Rave	Web on Mac	Yes	Group chat	Free · paid tiers
Metastream	Chrome / desktop	Yes	Text chat	Free
Hyperbeam	Any browser	Shared browser	Yes	Free · paid tiers
Discord	Mac app / web	Screen share	Yes, built in	Free · Nitro
Plex	Mac app	Yes (your library)	No	Free · Plex Pass

How to choose the right watch party app for your Mac

Start with where your group actually watches. If everyone is comfortable living in Chrome and you only need Netflix parties, a free extension like Teleparty is fine. If you want a real Mac app, the widest service list, and voice chat without a second call, a native option like Watchly is the better long-term home.

Match the app to your streaming services

The apps to watch movies together on Mac split into three camps: per-account sync (Watchly, Teleparty, twoseven) that plays the real streaming service in each person's account; screen-share tools (Kast, Discord) that broadcast one person's screen and struggle with DRM; and library or shared-browser tools (Plex, Hyperbeam) that play your own files or a virtual browser. For Netflix, Disney+ or HBO Max, choose a per-account sync app so nobody hits a black screen.

Decide if you need voice chat and cross-device sync

Text chat is standard; built-in voice is not. Watchly, Scener, Kast and Discord include voice, while Teleparty and Plex do not. If your movie nights are long-distance, prioritise an app that syncs across Mac, phone and browser so a partner on an iPhone stays in step — that is where Watchly's native cross-platform sync stands out over browser-only tools.

Watch out for the DRM trap

The most common watch party failure is a black screen when someone screen-shares Netflix. Protected services block screen capture, so screen-share apps show a blank box. If you want reliable movie nights, pick an app that syncs playback in each viewer's own account rather than mirroring one screen.

Step-by-step: start a movie night on Mac with Watchly

Download Watchly from the Mac App Store and open it on your Apple-silicon Mac.
Choose a service — Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu and SoundCloud are free; Disney+, HBO Max, Plex and more need Watchly Pro.
Sign into your own streaming account inside the app, exactly as you normally would.
Create a room and copy the share link.
Send the link to your friends; they can join from the browser with no account needed to watch along.
Press play — playback stays in sync for everyone, and you can talk over push-to-talk voice chat or drop live reactions.

Want the broader landscape across every device, not just Mac? Our best watch party apps pillar covers the whole field, and the full guides hub has step-by-step setups for individual services.

Apps to watch movies together on Mac — FAQ

What are the best apps to watch movies together on Mac?

Watchly is our top pick because it is a native Mac App Store app with the widest service support and built-in voice chat. Teleparty, Scener, twoseven and Rave are strong free alternatives, though most run inside Chrome rather than as a native Mac app.

Do these watch party apps work in Safari?

Most browser-based tools like Teleparty and Scener need Chrome, so they will not work in Safari. Watchly avoids this entirely by being a native Mac app, and friends you invite can still join from any browser, including Safari, with no account.

Can I watch Netflix together on Mac for free?

Yes. Watchly lets you co-watch Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu and SoundCloud with no Pro plan, and Teleparty syncs Netflix for free too. Everyone still needs their own Netflix subscription, since these apps sync playback rather than re-streaming the video.

Do all viewers need their own streaming subscription?

Yes. Every legitimate watch party app syncs play, pause and seek but does not share the video stream, so each person signs into their own account. This is true of Watchly, Teleparty, twoseven and the rest.

Which watch together apps include voice chat?

Watchly, Scener, Kast and Discord include voice chat. Watchly uses push-to-talk voice plus live reactions and text, all built in, so you do not need a separate call. Teleparty and Plex offer text or no chat, so you would run voice separately.

Why do I get a black screen when screen sharing a movie?

Streaming services use DRM that blocks screen capture, so screen-share tools like Discord or Kast can show a black box on Netflix or Disney+. Use a per-account sync app such as Watchly or Teleparty, which plays the real service in each viewer's account instead of mirroring a screen.

Is there a free watch party app for Mac?

Yes. Watchly is free for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu and SoundCloud, and Teleparty, Scener and Metastream are free too. Premium services in Watchly, like Disney+ and HBO Max, require Watchly Pro from $4.99/month with a 3-day free trial.

Start your movie night on Mac tonight

Download Watchly free from the Mac App Store and sync Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube with friends in seconds — voice chat and reactions included.

Get Watchly for Mac How to watch Netflix together on Mac