4 Best Android Apps for Watch Party

Watching movies together is no longer a hassle just because you can't meet in person. Thanks to technology, you can now enjoy your favorite films or series with friends and family from anywhere. With the help of digital apps, movie nights become even more exciting, even when you're miles apart.

Imagine you and your best friend, living in different cities, laughing at the same funny scenes or holding your breath during unexpected plot twists. It can feel just like you're in the same room!

Many apps even offer features like real-time reactions, interactive chat, and voice calls, making the experience more engaging and fun. Ready to take your virtual movie nights to the next level? Check out the top apps I've curated below!

1. Rave

If you're wondering which movie party app on Android has the most users, Rave is definitely one of the top contenders. But Rave isn’t just your average movie streaming platform, it’s a whole social experience.

With Rave, you can stream content from a variety of services like YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, Twitch, and even Google Drive.

As the host, you have full control over what to watch. Once the session starts, Rave automatically syncs the video across all participants’ devices, making sure everyone watches at the exact same time.

But hold on, Rave isn’t just about watching. While the movie plays, you can chat with your friends via text, talk in real-time using voice chat, and even share photos and videos. This makes the experience much more interactive, without needing any extra apps.

One of Rave’s standout features is its audience statistics. Curious about who watches the most? Rave can show you each participant’s viewing time, favorite genres, and the platforms they use most often.

Best of all, Rave supports background play. Its Picture-in-Picture (PiP) style floating video player lets you multitask, chatting or scrolling through social media, without missing a moment of the movie.

Things I like about Rave:

• No payment required to enjoy its main features
• Freedom to choose streaming platforms, from YouTube to Netflix
• Participants can chat or use voice during watch parties
• Offers Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode
• Includes adult content filters, making it suitable for all audiences

Things to note about Rave:

• Does not yet support streaming from HBO Max, Hulu, or Apple TV

2. Teleparty

You don’t need to create an account to host a watch party on Teleparty. However, you still need to log in to your streaming platform account to play the video you want to share with your friends.

Teleparty supports many popular streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus, YouTube, and Crunchyroll, covering most of the services people use regularly.

That said, Teleparty currently only offers text and emoji-based chat. So, while you can exchange messages and emojis with other participants, voice and video chat options aren't available.

Another thing to note is that Teleparty only works with official streaming platforms. It doesn’t support personal files, such as those from Google Drive. While this might seem limiting, it actually enhances security compared to some other movie night apps.

One issue I ran into while trying Teleparty was trouble loading Netflix videos. I'm not sure if it’s due to licensing restrictions or something else, but none of the Netflix shows I tried appeared on the watch party screen.

Things I like about Teleparty:

• Supports various popular official streaming platforms
• Can be used without the need to register an account
• Free to use with no ad interruptions

Things to note about Teleparty:

• Chat only supports text and emojis
• Does not support Google Drive or personal files
• When I tried it, Netflix videos couldn’t be played

3. Hearo

If there's a movie-watching app that dares to be different, Hearo is definitely it! Unlike most apps that only sync the video, Hearo takes things to the next level by offering real-time video calls during the movie, so you can actually see your friends' reactions as the story unfolds. Pretty exciting, right?

It feels a bit like Zoom, but with your favorite shows playing in the background. However, this video call feature is only available with a premium subscription.

Hearo supports a wide range of popular streaming platforms, including Netflix, Tubi, Pluto TV, Peacock, and even Google Drive, all without restrictions.

When I tried it out, Netflix played smoothly right away. Just a heads-up: Hearo defaults to English audio. But no worries, you can easily switch the audio and subtitles in the settings menu.

Things I like about Hearo:

• Video call feature during watch parties
• Ability to stream from various platforms
• Smooth streaming quality
• Easy subtitle and audio settings directly within the app

Things to note about Hearo:

• Free access includes ads
• Video call is only available for premium users

4. Watch Together

This app, created by Insta Connect Inc., lets you watch content together from a variety of platforms like YouTube, Pluto TV, Stirr, and Plex. While its design is simpler than other viewing apps, this minimalism makes it lightweight and easy to use. Plus, access is completely free!

You can create your own room to watch with friends or family, or join public rooms created by other users. Just a heads-up: only public rooms are available, so don't expect to sneak into private ones.

For the watch party feature, Watch Together offers a straightforward viewing experience: you can exchange text messages while enjoying the video. Despite its simplicity, the app is ad-free, ensuring an uninterrupted and enjoyable viewing experience focused entirely on the show.

Things I like about Watch Together:

• Access to various streaming platforms, both popular and lesser-known
• Simple yet effective design
• User-friendly interface
• Minimal ads

Things to note about Watch Together:

• Limited interaction features , only text chat is available

So, those are some great movie-watching app recommendations for your Android device. Just pick the one that fits your needs best! One thing's for sure, each of these apps will make your movie nights even more enjoyable.