By Watchly Team  ·  Updated October 9, 2026  ·  12 min read
Teleparty alternatives · 2026

Best Teleparty Alternative Apps in 2026: 8 Apps Ranked

Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party) still works, but its best features sit behind a $6.59/month Premium wall, it needs a desktop extension, and its iPhone app is rated 2.8 out of 5. We tested the apps people switch to and ranked the best Teleparty alternative for every situation: free, iPhone, Android, Mac, Netflix, Disney+ and Crunchyroll.

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Updated 2026-10-09 · Prices and platform support checked against each app's official site or store listing

Quick answer: The best Teleparty alternative in 2026 is Watchly. It is a native app for iPhone, Android and Mac plus a Chrome extension, it syncs Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Hulu and SoundCloud for free, and it includes group voice chat, something Teleparty only sells on Premium. Friends join one room link from any device, with no account needed to watch along.

Best Teleparty alternative by need (October 2026):

  • Best overall and best on iPhone or Android: Watchly (native apps, cross-device rooms, free voice chat).
  • Best phone-first runner-up: Hearo (iOS and Android app with voice chat, ad-supported).
  • Best with no install at all: Kosmi (browser rooms with video chat; streaming sites via a shared virtual browser).
  • Best for YouTube playlists and music: Watch2Gether (no extension, shared queue).
  • Best for sites nothing else supports: Hyperbeam (shared cloud browser, DRM limits apply).
  • Closest like-for-like extension: Scener (free, Chrome-based, video chat).
  • Best free and open source: Metastream (desktop app for Mac, Windows, Linux).
  • Best if everyone owns an iPhone: Apple SharePlay (built into FaceTime, but no Netflix).

Every app in this list only synchronizes playback. None of them share a subscription: each viewer signs into their own Netflix, Disney+ or Max account, exactly as with Teleparty.

Related reading

The 8 best Teleparty alternatives in 2026, ranked

Published by Watchly, which makes the app ranked first. Rankings are our editorial opinion. Platform support and prices were checked on each app's official site or store listing on 2026-10-09; external links are not endorsements.

1

Watchly Our pick

Best overall Teleparty alternative: native apps on every device, free voice chat

Best for: Groups split across iPhones, Android phones, Macs and laptops who want one room that just worksiPhone · iPad · Android · Mac · ChromeFree · Pro $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr (3-day trial)

Watchly fixes the three things people complain about with Teleparty. First, it is a real app: install it from the App Store on iPhone or iPad, from Google Play on Android, from the Mac App Store, or as a Chrome extension on any laptop. There is no "desktop only" rule and no Premium unlock to use the phone app. Second, group voice chat is included on the free tier, so the running commentary that makes a watch party fun does not cost extra. Third, the rooms are cross-platform: a host on an iPhone, a friend on Android and a cousin on a MacBook all sit in the same synced room.

Playback sync is the core job and Watchly does it the way Teleparty does: press play, pause or seek once and everyone's player follows within a fraction of a second. Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Hulu and SoundCloud are free to co-watch. Watchly Pro ($4.99 a month or $29.99 a year, with a 3-day free trial) adds HBO Max, Disney+, Crunchyroll, Peacock, Paramount+, Apple TV+, Plex, Tubi, Pluto TV, Twitch, Dailymotion and Google Drive video, removes ads and lifts the room-size cap. For comparison, Teleparty Premium costs $6.59 a month and still runs as an extension on desktop.

Hosting takes about a minute: open Watchly, pick a service, choose the title, tap Share and send the room link. Guests who tap the link can join from a browser without creating an account. Reactions, text chat and push-to-talk voice sit beside the video so nobody needs a separate Discord call.

Pros

  • Native iPhone, iPad, Android and Mac apps plus a Chrome extension
  • Group voice chat, reactions and text chat on the free plan
  • Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Hulu and SoundCloud free to sync
  • Phone, Mac and Chrome users share one room
  • Guests join from a link with no account

Cons

  • HBO Max, Disney+ and Crunchyroll need Watchly Pro
  • Everyone still needs their own subscription to paid services
Download on theApp Store GET IT ONGoogle Play Download on theMac App Store Available in theChrome Web Store
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2

Hearo

Phone-first watch party app with built-in voice chat

Best for: Friends who all watch on phones and want to talk over the showiPhone · iPad · AndroidFree with ads · in-app purchases

Hearo is one of the few Teleparty alternatives that started on phones rather than in a browser. Its App Store listing (iOS 16.4 or later) says it works with Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, HBO Max and YouTube, and it bundles voice and text chat so the group can talk while watching. Invites are a simple party link.

The trade-offs are ads on the free tier and a phone-only footprint: there is no Mac app or Chrome extension, so a friend on a laptop cannot join the same room. If your whole group is on mobile, it is a solid pick; if anyone watches on a computer, Watchly covers both.

Pros

  • Native iOS and Android apps
  • Voice chat included
  • Covers the big subscription services

Cons

  • Ads unless you pay
  • No desktop or Chrome option
  • Each viewer needs their own subscription
Visit Hearo ↗
3

Kosmi

No-install browser rooms with video chat

Best for: Groups who refuse to install anything and like seeing each other's facesAny modern browser (desktop and mobile)Free · Pro tier

Kosmi runs entirely in the browser: create a room, share the link, and everyone is in. It has built-in video and voice chat plus a few games, which gives it a hangout feel Teleparty never had. YouTube and your own uploaded files sync natively.

For Netflix, Disney+ or Max, Kosmi uses a shared virtual browser or screen share rather than true per-account sync, so picture quality can drop and some DRM-protected titles will not play. Treat it as the best zero-install Teleparty alternative rather than the best Netflix one.

Pros

  • Nothing to install, works on phones via the browser
  • Video chat and games built in
  • Generous free tier

Cons

  • Subscription services rely on virtual-browser or screen share
  • DRM can block major streamers
  • No native mobile app
Visit Kosmi ↗
4

Watch2Gether

Extension-free rooms built around a shared playlist

Best for: YouTube marathons, music nights and open-web videoAny browser · optional Chrome extensionFree · Plus tier

Watch2Gether (w2g.tv) is the long-running browser alternative to Teleparty. It needs no extension for YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, SoundCloud and direct video links: paste a URL into the shared playlist and the room plays it in sync with text chat on the side. Rooms are persistent, so a friend group can keep the same link for months.

It is not built for Netflix or Disney+. Its optional extension helps with some sites, but if subscription streaming is the point of your watch party, Watchly or Teleparty itself is a better fit.

Pros

  • No install, no account needed to join
  • Shared queue is great for YouTube and music
  • Persistent rooms

Cons

  • Weak for Netflix, Disney+ and Max
  • No native phone app
  • Ads on the free plan
Visit Watch2Gether ↗
5

Hyperbeam

A shared cloud browser the whole room controls

Best for: Watching sites that no watch-party app supportsAny browser (desktop works best)Free · paid tiers

Hyperbeam takes a different approach: it spins up a virtual browser in the cloud and streams it to everyone in the room, so whatever the host opens, everyone sees. That makes it work with almost any website without a per-service integration.

The catch is quality and DRM. Video is re-encoded on the way to you, and premium services often block playback inside a virtual browser, so Netflix in 4K is not happening. It shines for niche sites and the occasional "nothing else works" night.

Pros

  • Works with sites other apps ignore
  • No install
  • Everyone can take control

Cons

  • Softer picture quality
  • DRM blocks many premium services
  • Free tier limits session length
Visit Hyperbeam ↗
6

Scener

Free Chrome extension with a virtual-theater layout

Best for: Laptop watch parties where you want video chat panels around the screenChrome extension (Mac and Windows)Free · Premium page listed

Scener is the closest like-for-like Teleparty alternative: a Chrome extension that syncs supported streaming sites and adds a sidebar for text, voice and video chat. Its site describes it as a free service that works with major streaming platforms, and it still has a 2026 copyright and working login.

Because it is extension-based, it has the same limits as Teleparty: desktop Chrome only, and it breaks whenever a streaming site changes its player. Its supported-service list has shifted over the years, so check it before planning a night around a specific show.

Pros

  • Free
  • Video chat layout is pleasant
  • Familiar if you are used to Teleparty

Cons

  • Chrome extension only, no phone app
  • Service list changes
  • Same breakage risk as Teleparty
Visit Scener ↗
7

Metastream

Free, open-source desktop app for synced watching

Best for: Technical users who want no ads, no accounts and no paywallMac · Windows · Linux · Chrome extensionFree (open source)

Metastream is a free, open-source desktop app that opens a shared session, lets you paste almost any video URL and keeps everyone in sync with chat on the side. There is no company behind it selling Premium, which is exactly why it keeps showing up on alternative lists.

It assumes some comfort with installs and settings, DRM services can be hit or miss, and there is no phone version. Great for a desktop-only friend group that distrusts subscriptions.

Pros

  • Completely free and open source
  • No ads or accounts
  • Works on Mac, Windows and Linux

Cons

  • No iPhone or Android app
  • Subscription services are inconsistent
  • Less polished setup
Visit Metastream ↗
8

Apple SharePlay

Built into FaceTime on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV

Best for: All-Apple households watching Disney+, Max, Hulu or Apple TV+iPhone · iPad · Mac · Apple TV (Apple devices only)Free

If everyone in your group owns an Apple device, SharePlay is already installed. Start a FaceTime call, open a supported app and the playback syncs for the whole call with voice and video chat on top. Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Paramount+, Apple TV+ and Twitch are among the apps that support it.

Two big gaps keep it off the top of this list: Netflix does not support SharePlay, and anyone on Android or Windows is locked out. It is a great free Teleparty alternative for Apple-only families and a non-starter for mixed groups.

Pros

  • Free and already on your iPhone
  • FaceTime video and audio included
  • Works with Disney+, Max, Hulu and Apple TV+

Cons

  • No Netflix
  • Apple devices only
  • Each viewer needs the app and a subscription
Apple's SharePlay guide ↗

Teleparty vs the 8 alternatives at a glance

Device support, Netflix sync and whether voice chat is included without paying.

AppiPhoneAndroidMacChromeNetflixFree voice chatPrice
Watchly✓✓✓✓✓✓Free · Pro $4.99/mo
TelepartyPartial✓Partial✓✓—Free · Premium $6.59/mo
Hearo✓✓——✓✓Free with ads
KosmiPartialPartialPartialPartialPartial✓Free · Pro
Watch2GetherPartialPartialPartialPartial——Free · Plus
HyperbeamPartialPartialPartialPartialPartial✓Free · paid
Scener——Partial✓✓✓Free
Metastream——✓✓Partial—Free
SharePlay✓—✓——✓Free

Why people look for a Teleparty alternative in 2026

Teleparty is still the most-installed watch party extension, so the reasons people leave are specific rather than vague. These are the five that come up most in support threads and store reviews:

  1. The Premium wall. Teleparty's free tier covers Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, YouTube and HBO Max with text chat. Voice chat, video chat, Crunchyroll, Paramount+ and ESPN+ require Premium, listed on its support page at $6.59 a month or $47.88 a year. Several alternatives include voice for free.
  2. It is an extension first. On a Mac or Windows laptop you need Chrome, Edge or Opera plus the extension. Safari, Firefox and TVs are out, and the extension has to be reinstalled on every new computer.
  3. The phone experience. Teleparty has an Android app and, since mid-2025, an iPhone app that requires iOS 17.6 or later. That iOS app averaged 2.8 out of 5 across 817 ratings when we checked the US App Store, and the Android app supports a shorter service list than the desktop extension.
  4. Breakage after streaming-site updates. Because an extension injects itself into Netflix's or Max's player, every redesign of those sites can break sync until Teleparty ships a fix. Our Teleparty not working guide covers the usual failures.
  5. Mixed-device groups. A room where one person is on a Mac, one on an iPhone and one on Android is the normal case in 2026, and extension-first tools handle it badly.

How we ranked these apps

We scored each Teleparty alternative on five things, in this order: (1) does it work natively on phones and computers, (2) does it sync the services people actually pay for, led by Netflix, (3) is voice chat included without a subscription, (4) how fast can a non-technical friend join, and (5) what does it cost once the free tier runs out. We checked every platform claim against the app's official site or store listing on 2026-10-09 rather than repeating older listicles. Apps that have shut down or are mid-acquisition (Kast, for example) were left out.

Best Teleparty alternative for each situation

Free Teleparty alternative

Watchly's free plan syncs Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Hulu and SoundCloud with voice chat included, which already beats Teleparty's free tier on conversation features. Kosmi, Watch2Gether and Metastream are free for open-web video. SharePlay is free if everyone is on Apple hardware. Our free watch party app thread goes deeper.

Teleparty alternative for iPhone and iPad

Pick a native app. Watchly (iOS 15 or later) and Hearo (iOS 16.4 or later) both install from the App Store and both include voice. Watchly is the one to choose when some friends are on Android or a Mac, because its rooms are cross-platform. See the full watch party app for iPhone and Android ranking.

Teleparty alternative for Netflix

Netflix is the hard case: it does not support SharePlay, and virtual-browser tools hit DRM black screens. The reliable options are per-account sync apps: Watchly (free for Netflix), Teleparty itself, Hearo and Scener. Everyone signs into their own Netflix account. More in best apps to watch Netflix together.

Teleparty alternative for Disney+

Disney+ retired its own GroupWatch feature on September 18, 2023, so a third-party app is required. Watchly syncs Disney+ on the Pro plan, SharePlay works for Apple-only groups, and Teleparty keeps Disney+ on its free tier. Full guide: watch Disney+ together.

Teleparty alternative for Crunchyroll and anime

Teleparty puts Crunchyroll behind Premium. Watchly includes Crunchyroll in Pro at a lower price, and its rooms work on phones, which matters for anime fans who watch on mobile. See watch anime together.

Teleparty alternative for Mac

Watchly ships a native Mac App Store app; Metastream runs on macOS; Scener and Teleparty run inside Chrome on a Mac. Our dedicated Teleparty alternatives for Mac list ranks seven options.

How to switch from Teleparty to Watchly in five minutes

  1. Install Watchly on your device: the App Store for iPhone and iPad, Google Play for Android, the Mac App Store, or the Chrome extension from the download page.
  2. Open the app, pick a service (Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Hulu or SoundCloud are free) and choose the title you were going to watch.
  3. Tap Share to copy the room link and send it in your group chat. Friends on phones open it in the app; friends on laptops can join from the browser with no account.
  4. Press play. Pause, seek and resume are mirrored for everyone. Hold the mic button to talk, or use text and reactions.
  5. Before a big night, run a two-minute test with one friend on a different device type than yours. That catches account and subscription problems early.

What none of these apps can do

No legitimate watch party app, Teleparty included, shares one person's subscription with the room. They synchronize the timeline; each viewer streams from their own account and must be able to play the title in their own region. If a friend cannot open the show on their own, the app will not fix that. Screen-sharing a DRM-protected service over FaceTime, Discord or Zoom usually shows a black screen for the same reason.

Related reading

Teleparty alternative FAQ

What is better than Teleparty?
For most groups, Watchly. It matches Teleparty's playback sync for Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and Hulu, adds native iPhone, Android and Mac apps, and includes group voice chat for free, which Teleparty reserves for its $6.59-a-month Premium plan. Hearo is the best phone-only runner-up, and Kosmi is the best option if nobody wants to install anything.
Is there a free Teleparty alternative?
Yes. Watchly is free for Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Hulu and SoundCloud and includes voice chat on that free plan. Kosmi, Watch2Gether and Metastream are free for YouTube and open-web video, and Apple SharePlay is free for groups where everyone has an iPhone, iPad or Mac. Paid streaming services still require each viewer's own subscription on every app.
Is Rave or Teleparty better?
Rave was the better phone app, but Apple removed Rave from the App Store in August 2025 and it is still unavailable on iPhone as of October 2026, so it is only an option for Android and Windows users. Teleparty is stronger on desktop. If you want a Rave-style native app that works on iPhone, Android and Mac in one room, Watchly is the current pick. See our Rave alternative for iPhone guide for details.
Is Scener or Teleparty better?
They are very similar: both are Chrome extensions that sync subscription streaming sites. Scener's advantage is free video chat; Teleparty's is a larger user base and an Android app. Neither has a native iPhone experience as good as a dedicated mobile app, which is why both rank below Watchly and Hearo for phone users.
Does Teleparty work on iPhone?
Teleparty released an iPhone app in 2025 that requires iOS 17.6 or later, although parts of its own support site still describe iOS as unavailable. When we checked the US App Store it averaged 2.8 out of 5 from 817 ratings. If your group is mostly on phones, a mobile-first alternative such as Watchly or Hearo is usually the smoother choice.
What is the best Teleparty alternative for Disney+?
Disney+ shut down its built-in GroupWatch in September 2023, so you need a third-party app. Watchly syncs Disney+ on its Pro plan across iPhone, Android, Mac and Chrome; Apple SharePlay works if every viewer is on an Apple device; Teleparty includes Disney+ on its free tier but needs the desktop extension or its mobile app.
Is there a Teleparty alternative that works on a TV?
Not directly. Teleparty and its alternatives run on phones, computers and browsers, not inside smart-TV apps. The usual workaround is to run the watch party on a phone or laptop and AirPlay or cast the picture to the TV while keeping chat on the phone. Watchly's native Mac and iPhone apps make that setup simple.
Do my friends need an account to join a Watchly room?
No. The host shares a room link and friends can join from a browser without creating an account to watch along. They only need their own login for the streaming service you are watching, such as Netflix.
Can a Teleparty alternative share my Netflix subscription with friends?
No. Every legitimate watch party app, including Teleparty and Watchly, only synchronizes playback. Each person streams from their own account, so everyone needs access to the title in their own region.

Try the Teleparty alternative that works on every device

Watchly syncs Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Hulu and SoundCloud for free, includes voice chat, and runs natively on iPhone, Android and Mac plus Chrome. Start a room and invite one friend to test it tonight.

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