11 Best Streaming Services to Host a Watch Party in 2025

When we first wrote this article, many streaming services took it upon themselves to introduce a built-in watch party feature. This was to combat the popularity of Netflix Party (now known as Teleparty) and other third-party services that allowed users to share their screens as they sent messages to each other. 

In recent years, however, many services have shut down the feature. Disney+'s GroupWatch is no longer available, as is Amazon Prime Video's Watch Party. Sling used to be the only live TV service to have this feature, but they also shut it down in early 2024. To fill in the gaps, Teleparty has made itself compatible with plenty of other services apart from Netflix. Other apps, like Scener and Kast, have also emerged. Below, we list all the services that let you watch with your friends directly on their platforms, or are compatible with services like Teleparty. 

$9.99/month | 5 channels
Disney+ is home to a lot of fan-favorite content, from Star Wars and Marvel to Pixar and NatGeo, making it an especially great service to share screens with. It used to be easier to do so through its now-defunct GroupWatch feature, but users can still share Disney+ titles through Apple's SharePlay or the free Teleparty app, which can be used on desktops and Android devices. Pros
  • Compatible with SharePlay and Teleparty
  • Robust on-demand catalog
Cons
  • No built-in watch party feature
$9.99/month | 30 days free trial
Hulu is the only streaming service in this list that has its own watch party feature. You can use it to watch the service's robust on-demand catalog, which includes critically acclaimed shows like The Bear and Abbott Elementary. Hulu's screen-share feature is only available on desktop and browsers, but if you want to move the party to your TV or mobile device, no sweat: Hulu is supported by SharePlay (for Apple users) and Teleparty (for Android users). Pros
  • Has a built-in watch party feature
  • Also compatible with Teleparty and SharePlay
Cons
  • Hulu's watch party feature is only available on browsers
$9.99/month | 7 days free trial
AppleTV+ only streams original titles, but that limit in quantity has produced consistently high quality, as evidenced by award-winning shows like Severance and Ted Lasso. Since both are part of the Apple ecosystem, it's easy enough to watch AppleTV+ using SharePlay. Unless you're having connection issues, you shouldn't encounter buffering or lagging problems on SharePlay. On the flipside, AppleTV+ isn't supported by Teleparty. Pros
  • Optimized for SharePlay
Cons
  • Not compatible with Teleparty and other watch party apps
free
A favorite among film enthusiasts for its carefully curated collections, Tubi is an ad-supported streaming service that features both live and on-demand content. It's currently supported by both SharePlay and Teleparty, which means you can watch Tubi with your friends whether you're on desktop, or on an Apple or Android device. Pros
  • Free!
  • Compatible with SharePlay and Teleparty
  • Great selection for film enthusiasts
Cons
  • Ads
$8.99/month | 30 days free trial
Amazon Prime is an on-demand streaming service that offers a range of content, from original shows and licensed films to channel add-ons and live sports events. It was one of the few services that used to have its own watch party feature, but it has since been discontinued. Thankfully, you can still share Amazon Prime Video using Teleparty. Some users can make it work with SharePlay, but others (especially those who've updated their apps) have had trouble with blacked-out screens. Pros
  • Compatible with Teleparty
Cons
  • Inconsistent results when it comes to SharePlay
$7.99/month
It could be argued that the concept of watching remotely with friends started with Netflix. This is despite the fact that Netflix has never had its own watch party feature. That said, it's still possible to watch the same Netflix show and chat with your friends through Teleparty. You can install Teleparty on desktop and Android-powered mobile devices. At the moment, however, Netflix screens can't be shared via SharePlay. Pros
  • Compatible with Teleparty
Cons
  • Not compatible with SharePlay
$9.99/month
Max likely has the most variety out of all the services in this list. Apart from HBO and Max originals, it also carries Warner Bros. franchises, CNN programs, Discovery documentaries, and even some games from Turner Sports. Max itself doesn't have a watch party feature, but you can view Max with a friend using Teleparty. According to Max's website, the service is also compatible with SharePlay, but many users have complained about black screens and delayed audio. Pros
  • Compatible with Teleparty
  • Streaming library offers a wide range of options
Cons
  • Inconsistent results when it comes to SharePlay
$8.99/month | 7 days free trial
Shudder is an on-demand streaming service made especially for horror fans. It has a lot of B-movies, slashers, and classics, but it's also building its catalog of original films and licensing critically acclaimed indies. There's nothing more exciting than sharing a horror film with a friend, so it's great that you can watch Shudder together with Scener. Like Teleparty, Scener is available as a free Chrome extension. It's also available as an app, but it has yet to support Shudder. Pros
  • Compatible with Scener
  • Extensive selection of horror films and shows
Cons
  • Not compatible with SharePlay and Teleparty
free | 7 days free trial
Fans know that Crunchyroll is the streaming service to tune into for the latest on anime. It's home to thousands of titles, many of which are simulcast from Japan. You can watch Crunchyroll with friends using SharePlay. Teleparty is also an option, but you'll have to be on Teleparty's paid plan, which costs $3.99/month. Pros
  • Compatible with SharePlay
  • Stacked with exclusive anime programs
Cons
  • Requires a premium Teleparty account
Like Tubi, Pluto TV lets you watch thousands of movies, shows, and live channels for free in exchange for sitting through their ads. Pluto shares similar channels with Tubi, but its on-demand content leans more sci-fi and retro, perhaps owing to its Paramount ownership. Like most services in this list, Pluto doesn't have its own watch party feature, but it is compatible with SharePlay and Teleparty — no need to pay for the latter. Pros
  • Free!
  • Compatible with Teleparty and SharePlay
Cons
  • Ads
  • SharePlay not available on live content
free
Plex is a media management software that doubles as a free streaming service. Its main function is to organize your own library of content—that is, your own video, photo, or sound files—and make it streamable alongside Plex's offerings of 200+ live TV channels and 50,000+ on-demand movies and shows. Plex's basic package comes at no cost, but it also has a premium package starting at $4.99/month that boasts additional features, such as the ability to download content and watch them offline, among other things.

What do I need to start watching with friends?

For the most part, you’ll need to download a third-party service like Teleparty or Scener since most streaming services have discontinued sharing parties among subscribers. Teleparty and Scener are available as Chrome add-ons and apps. The Teleparty app is currently only available on Android phones, while Scener is only available on iOS devices.

What streaming service has a built-in watch party feature?

Hulu on-demand is currently the only streaming service with a built-in watch party feature. No third-party service needed to share screens with friends.

What live TV streaming service has a built-in watch party feature?

There's currently no live TV plan that has a built-in watch party feature. Teleparty allows screen-sharing among Sling, Fubo, and ESPN+ users, but you'll have to pay a monthly fee that ranges from $3.99/month to $6.99/month.