10 Best Rabb.it Alternatives for Watch Parties in 2026
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Rabb.it was a much-loved way to host online watch parties — you'd set up a virtual room, invite friends, and stream video together while chatting. It shut down in 2019, and its technology was picked up by Kast. In a twist, Kast itself has since been wound down as a standalone app (it was acquired by Amaze in 2025), so if you followed the trail from Rabb.it to Kast, you've hit another dead end.
The good news: watch-together apps are more plentiful — and better — in 2026 than they were in Rabb.it's heyday. This list has been checked against the live services this month, so every pick below actually works today. We've grouped them by how they stream, because that's the choice that matters most: some sync the streaming subscriptions you already pay for, some give the whole room a shared cloud browser (no accounts needed), and some sync video files you both own.
Quick comparison
| Service | How it works | Platform | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kosmi | Shared browser + games | Browser, mobile | Free |
| Teleparty | Syncs your streaming subs | Chrome/Edge/Safari extension | Free (premium option) |
| Watch2Gether | Shared room, many sources | Browser + extensions | Free (premium option) |
| Hyperbeam | Virtual cloud browser | Browser | Free tier |
| Caracal | Shared browser rooms | Browser | Free |
| Twoseven | Syncs subs + local files | Browser + extension | Free (some paid) |
| Scener | Syncs subs + video chat | Chrome extension | Free |
| Syncplay | Syncs local media players | Windows, Mac, Linux | Free, open-source |
| Discord | Watch Together + screen share | App, browser | Free |
| Hulu Watch Party | Built into Hulu | Hulu web | Hulu (No Ads) sub |
How we picked
Rabb.it did three things well: shared video, a group chat, and no fuss getting started. We looked for services that still deliver those jobs in 2026 and — crucially — verified each one is still online and operating this month, because this category is littered with dead links. Several tools that appear in older "Rabb.it alternatives" lists (Tutturu, myCircle, Synaptop, and Kast itself) have shut down or been absorbed into other products, so we've dropped them and replaced them with services that actually work today.
Sync your own streaming subscriptions
These are browser extensions that keep everyone's Netflix, Disney+, or Prime Video in perfect sync. Everyone in the room needs their own subscription to the service you're watching.
1. Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party)
The most popular option by a wide margin, and the spiritual successor to the "Netflix Party" everyone remembers. It's a free browser extension for Chrome, Edge, and Safari that synchronizes playback and adds a group chat on top of Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Max, Prime Video, and YouTube at no cost. A premium tier adds video chat, custom reactions, an iOS app, and support for more services.
Best for: Watching the big streaming platforms with friends who each have their own account. Weakness: Everyone needs a subscription to the service being watched, and it's extension-based.
2. Twoseven
A polished all-rounder with unusually broad support: it syncs Netflix, Prime Video, Max, YouTube, Vimeo, Crunchyroll, and even local video files, with built-in text and video chat. Most features are free; Disney+ and Hulu syncing require a paid plan.
Best for: Groups who want one tool that covers streaming services and their own files, plus webcam chat. Weakness: The best platform integrations sit behind a paywall.
3. Scener
A "virtual theater" Chrome extension with a strong social layer — up to 10 people can co-watch with video and voice chat across Netflix, Disney+, Max, and more.
Best for: A movie night that feels social, with faces and voices on screen. Weakness: Chrome-centric, and each viewer still needs the underlying streaming subscription.
Shared cloud browser (no subscriptions needed)
With these, one virtual browser is streamed to the whole room, so nobody needs to install anything or own the same accounts.
4. Kosmi
The closest thing to Rabb.it's spirit, and completely free. Kosmi runs entirely in your browser (there's a mobile app too) and combines a shared browser, screen sharing, and local file streaming with built-in voice, video, and text chat — plus a stack of retro games to play between shows. It even markets itself directly as the Kast/Rabb.it replacement.
Best for: A free, do-everything hangout with zero downloads. Weakness: Shared-browser video quality depends on the host's connection.
5. Hyperbeam
Hyperbeam gives your room a genuine virtual cloud browser that everyone can control together — it even powers the shared-browser feature inside other apps. The consumer watch-party mode has a free tier.
Best for: A true synced browser where anyone can take the wheel. Weakness: Heavy or long sessions can move you toward its paid, usage-based pricing.
6. Caracal
A free, community-run "couch in the cloud" built around shared-browser rooms — you'll often find active public rooms watching movies, TV, and anime. It's simple to start and popular enough that "caracal watch together" has become a search in its own right.
Best for: Dropping into (or hosting) a casual public or private watch room for free. Weakness: Smaller and community-run, so expect the occasional rough edge.
7. Watch2Gether
A long-running favorite that lets you build a shared room and queue up content from YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Prime Video, Disney+, and more, with a group chat alongside. It works in the browser with optional extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera. Free to use, with an inexpensive premium tier that removes ads and adds moderation tools.
Best for: Building a shared playlist of clips and free content for a group. Weakness: You're limited to its supported sources rather than any site you like.
Sync your own video files
8. Syncplay
If everyone already has the same video file, Syncplay is the gold standard: it's free, open-source, and syncs pause, play, and seek across desktop media players like mpv, VLC, and MPC-HC on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Pair it with a Discord or Mumble call for voice.
Best for: High-quality, lag-free syncing of local media among friends. Weakness: No built-in chat or video, and everyone needs the same file — it's the most technical option here.
Built-in and default options
9. Discord — Watch Together & screen share
Honestly, this is how most people casually co-watch in 2026. The built-in Watch Together activity syncs a YouTube player inside a voice channel, and screen sharing with sound lets you stream just about anything you can play on your own machine to the room. Everyone's already there, and it's free.
Best for: Spur-of-the-moment watch sessions with a group you already hang out with. Weakness: The native Watch Together activity is YouTube-only, and screen-share quality is capped on the free tier.
10. Hulu Watch Party
Worth knowing because it's the last native watch party left among the major streamers — Disney+ GroupWatch and Amazon Prime Video's Watch Party have both been retired. Hulu's version is built right in, needs no third-party tool, and supports up to eight viewers.
Best for: Hulu subscribers who want zero extra software. Weakness: US-only, Hulu-only, and everyone needs an eligible (No Ads) subscription.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Rabb.it? Rabb.it shut down in 2019 due to financial trouble. Its technology and team moved to Kast, which kept the watch-party idea going for a while — but Kast has since been acquired by Amaze (2025) and discontinued as a standalone app, so neither Rabb.it nor Kast is a working option today.
What is the best free Rabb.it alternative? For a free, do-everything experience, Kosmi is the closest match — shared browsing, screen sharing, file streaming, chat, and games, all free in your browser. Teleparty is the best free pick if you specifically want to sync Netflix, Disney+, or Prime Video with friends.
Do watch-party apps need everyone to have a subscription? It depends on the type. Extension-based tools like Teleparty, Twoseven, and Scener sync a streaming service, so each viewer needs their own account for that service. Shared-browser tools like Kosmi, Hyperbeam, and Caracal don't — one virtual browser is shared with the whole room.
Is there a Rabb.it alternative that also plays local video files? Yes. Syncplay syncs local files across desktop media players, Kosmi streams local files in the browser, and Twoseven supports local files alongside streaming services.
Can I host a watch party on Discord? Yes — use the built-in Watch Together activity for YouTube, or screen-share (with the "Sound" toggle on) to stream anything playing on your computer to a voice channel. It's free and already built in.
Final words
Rabb.it may be gone, but you're spoiled for choice in 2026. For a free, all-in-one hangout, start with Kosmi. To watch the big streaming services together, Teleparty is the easy default. And if you and your friends already have the same video files, nothing syncs them better than Syncplay. Pick based on how you want to watch, and you'll have a room up in minutes.
Setting up the perfect movie night? You might also like our guides to the best laptops for watching movies and the best laptops for streaming.
Tech enthusiast and founder of Technize. Passionate about making technology accessible and helping people make smarter buying decisions.