5 ways to watch Netflix with friends — without leaving the house

Innovation Friends with friends. by Mike Brown Updated: July 21, 2020 Originally Published: March 18, 2020 SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

Netflix Party

Shutterstock What it is : Google Chrome extension that lets groups watch Netflix. The show stays in sync for everyone. There's a chat window, but you can supplement it with a voice or video calls. How it works : Install the extension, open Netflix, press the NP button and generate a link. Share it with others. Where to download : From the Google Chrome store. Social distancing rating : 8/10. In-sync video watching, finally!

Watch2gether

Shutterstock What it is : Sync playback with YouTube, DailyMotion, and others. Syncing allows users to sync up playback from most sites. How it works : Chrome, Firefox extension. Where to download : The Chrome extension is free. Social distancing rating: 8/10. It also offers webcam support and shared Amazon shopping.

TwoSeven

Marko Geber/DigitalVision/Getty Images What it is : Keep movies in sync. Supports Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu. It's received positive reviews from users. How it works : Visit the website and get started. Where to download : There's a Google Chrome extension . Social distancing rating : 8/10. A nice alternative to Netflix Party.

Video calling

Shutterstock How it works : Fire up your video calling service of choice ( FaceTime , Skype , Discord , Google Hangouts ). Remember to press play at the same time. Social distancing rating : 6/10. Good, dependable services that lack the syncing features of the Chrome extensions.

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Phone calls

guvendemir/iStock Unreleased/Getty Images What it is : Poor internet connection? Limited data plan? The phone is a sure-fire way of keeping in touch without taking up internet bandwidth. Where to download : No download necessary!