Frequently Asked Questions

SyncUp is a free, browser-based watch party platform that lets you watch YouTube, Twitch, Kick, and 1000+ other video sites in perfect sync with friends anywhere in the world. A free browser extension adds Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and other streaming services. Voice chat and text chat are built in. Create a room, share the code, and start watching together instantly - no downloads or signup required.

Yes. The basics are free: rooms, sync, chat, playlist voting, friends, watching YouTube, Twitch and Kick. Free rooms hold up to 5 people. There's an optional Plus plan if you want bigger rooms or longer voice chat, but you don't need it to use SyncUp.

No account is required to start watching. You can create a room and join watch parties as a guest. However, creating an account lets you save your rooms and preferences for future sessions.

All you need is a modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge) and an internet connection. No downloads, plugins, or extensions are required to start watching together.

SyncUp uses real-time synchronization technology to keep everyone's video playback perfectly aligned. When anyone plays, pauses, or seeks, all viewers stay in sync automatically - no matter where they are in the world.

SyncUp supports YouTube videos and playlists, Twitch streams and VODs, Kick live streams, and over 1000 other websites with HTML5 video players. If it plays in a browser, you can likely watch it together.

Yes! SyncUp supports peer-to-peer local file sharing. You can stream video files directly from your device to everyone in the room - no uploads required. Your files stay on your computer while everyone watches in perfect sync. This works with most common video formats.

No, SyncUp is not designed to bypass ads. Most streaming websites with ads or DRM protection won't work directly in SyncUp. However, you can use our browser extension to watch content on those sites in sync with friends - each person watches on the original website with their own account, while the extension keeps everyone's playback synchronized.

SyncUp supports over 1000 websites, so you're never dependent on a single platform. We maintain deep integrations with YouTube, Twitch, and Kick, plus support any website with an HTML5 video player. You can also stream local video files directly to friends via peer-to-peer sharing. If any platform changes, our team updates the integration, and because SyncUp is browser-based, you get the fix instantly without waiting for app updates.

SyncUp supports more platforms (YouTube, Twitch, Kick, plus Netflix, Disney+, and other streaming services via the free browser extension), has built-in HD voice chat so you don't need a separate Discord call, and can stream your own video files peer-to-peer without uploading them. It's built with modern web technology and works great on all devices, including mobile.

After creating a room, you'll receive a unique room code. Simply share this code with your friends, and they can join by entering it on the SyncUp homepage or by visiting the direct room link.

Free rooms hold up to 5 people. If anyone in the room has Plus, the cap goes up to 50 for everyone in that room. So one Plus user can host a bigger group without anyone else needing to subscribe.

Yes! SyncUp has built-in text chat with reactions, and built-in HD voice chat that runs right in the room - no separate Discord, FaceTime, or Zoom call needed. The free plan includes 1 hour of voice chat per day, and SyncUp Plus removes the cap. If you'd rather keep using your own communication app alongside, that works fine too.

Yes, all watch party rooms are private by default. Only people with your unique room code can join your watch party. Room codes are randomly generated and not searchable.

Yes! SyncUp works on all modern browsers, including mobile browsers on iOS and Android. You can watch together with friends whether you're on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

SyncUp is browser-based by design, which offers significant advantages: instant access without downloads, automatic updates, universal compatibility across all devices, and zero friction for joining friends. Simply share a link and everyone can join immediately - no app store downloads required. For an app-like experience, you can add SyncUp to your home screen as a Progressive Web App (PWA).

No. SyncUp is free to use and always will be. Rooms, sync, chat, playlist voting, subtitles, and watching YouTube, Twitch, and Kick together are all included at no cost. Plus is an optional upgrade if you want bigger rooms or longer voice sessions.

Plus lifts the room cap from 5 to 50 people, removes the 1-hour daily voice limit with HD quality, keeps your rooms and playlists forever instead of archiving them after 30 days of inactivity, removes the daily yt-dlp extraction limit, lets you upload bigger video files, and unlocks extras like custom room branding, room passwords, and chat GIFs. If even one person in the room has Plus, everyone in that room gets the bigger cap.

Plus is $3.99 a month, or $39.99 a year (works out to $3.33 a month, roughly two months free). Both plans include a 7-day free trial, you can cancel anytime, and there's no commitment.

Yes. Cancellation is one click from your billing settings, and you keep Plus features until the end of the current billing period. After that your account drops back to the free plan. Nothing is deleted, and rooms you created stay on the free plan's 30-day inactivity rule going forward.

No. The plan is simple: the core watch-together experience stays free, and Plus exists for power users who want bigger rooms, longer voice, and rooms that persist. If that ever changes we'll say so clearly and well in advance.