Watchly Our pick
True phone-to-laptop watch parties with voice built in
Watchly is the rare watch-together app that ships as a native iOS app, a native Android app, and a Chrome extension, all joining the same real-time room. Sync is frame-accurate: when the host plays, pauses, or scrubs, everyone moves together within a beat. Push-to-talk voice, live reactions, and text chat are built in and free, so you are not bolting a separate call onto a separate player.
YouTube, Prime Video, Netflix, SoundCloud, and Hulu are free with full sync, voice, and reactions, no Pro needed. Watchly Pro ($4.99/mo or $29.99/yr, 3-day trial) unlocks HBO Max, Disney+, Twitch, Crunchyroll, Apple TV+, Peacock, Paramount+, and more, plus no ads and unlimited room members. Friends can join in the browser with no account.
Pros
- Only app with native iOS, Android, and Chrome sync in one room
- Push-to-talk voice, reactions, and chat are built in and free
- Five major services free with full sync, including Netflix and Prime
- Friends join in the browser with no account or sign-up
- Frame-accurate play, pause, and seek for everyone at once
Cons
- Each viewer needs their own subscription to paid services
- Some catalogue services require Watchly Pro