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The only downside is the host needs to remain in the Discord app during the stream switching to another window pauses whatever you're watching.ĭiscord, which is available in browser and as a PC or mobile app, also has its subscription tiers: Nitro and Nitro Classic. We'll get to the paid options, but even the free version of Discord plays relatively nice with watch parties, with streams maxing out at 30 FPS (which really matters more when you're gaming) and 720p. Slack still rules in the enterprise space, but Discord has become something of a go-to for everyone else thanks to its crystal-clear voice chat and array of features, including free screen sharing. Now, of course, Discord is a juggernaut and a household name in tech-savvier homes. It's a chat app not unlike Slack that started out primarily as a go-to destination for PC gamers craving a free option for hosting voice chat parties without having to rely on those features being built into individual games.
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Discordĭiscord stands alone on this list because it's the only option that's not technically built specifically for a watch party-like experience. You can see a fuller breakdown of how the plans compare right here. That tier gets you HD screen sharing up to 1080p, as well as an ad-free experience. The Kast Premium plan is a bit pricier, at $6.49 per month (or $59.99 per year). If you're looking for dirt cheap, Kast Base is $9.99 per year and it unlocks standard definition screen sharing. The real value of a Kast subscription is the ability to screen share while making use of the service's social and chat features - meaning if you can play it on your computer screen, you can broadcast it out to people in your party. Paying subscribers can also access a Kast TV premium library - we're not sure what's in there, but that's not the primary reason to subscribe. But the streaming options are restricted to a limited version of Kast TV for free users, which means you're only able to stream stuff from YouTube or Tubi. The extension allows you to chat with everyone in the viewing session, and people can set their own user icon and nickname to help everyone identify one another.įree users are able to join parties and make use of social features like text, voice, and video chat. Once you install the extension, choose a movie or show from your desired streamer, hit play, immediately pause it, and finally click the red "NP" button at the top right of your browser to get a link to a shared session. The only catch is that everyone needs a Netflix account (or whichever other streaming service) of their own. Plus, in addition to Netflix, Teleparty also works with Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max. Teleparty is a free Google Chrome-exclusive extension that's simple to set up and can support groups of up to 50 people in text-only chat (though that number is somewhat dependent on how strained the service's servers are).
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But do you really need perfect when the goal is less about watching a movie and more about hanging with friends? These options will help you achieve both well enough.
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There's no perfect option, so prepare to deal with technical hiccups, less-than-ideal viewing experiences, and having the best and highest-quality features locked behind a paywall. There are several options out there that let you achieve the goal of syncing up Netflix streams across the Internet. Get rid of Netflix's annoying 'Continue Watching' button with this extension
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