Watch HBO Max Together with Friends
Host free HBO Max watch parties for House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, and everything on Max. The SyncUp browser extension keeps everyone in sync within about 200ms.
Free for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, and Brave
- Free to use
- No account required
- Unlimited watch parties
- Everyone uses their own accountSyncUp syncs timing only. It never restreams the video.
- Desktop browser neededPhones cannot run extensions. YouTube rooms work there.
- Pick a title everyone can openHBO Max libraries differ by country, so check before movie night.
How to Watch HBO Max Together
Set up once, then it is two clicks.
- 01
Install the Extension
Get the free SyncUp extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, or Brave. Usually takes under a minute.
- 02
Create a Room
Visit SyncUp and create a free watch party room. Share the room code with your friends.
- 03
Start Watching
Navigate to your streaming service and start a video. Playback syncs across everyone in the room.
How SyncUp Works with HBO Max
SyncUp natively supports YouTube, Twitch, Kick, SoundCloud, YouTube Music, and thousands of HTML5 video sites - no extension needed. For streaming services like HBO Max, our free browser extension enables synchronized playback. Each person needs their own HBO Max subscription.
With the extension
Subscription services with DRM
Works instantly
No extension required for these platforms
Why Choose SyncUp for HBO Max
SyncUp makes watching HBO Max together straightforward and free. Here's how it works:
| Feature | SyncUp | Teleparty |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile support | Yes | Premium only |
| Voice chat | Yes | Premium only |
| Core features free | Yes | Premium only |
Sub-second Sync
Play, pause, and seek actions sync within 200ms via WebSocket. Occasional drift can happen on longer sessions, but a quick resync fixes it.
No Participant Limits
Invite as many people as you want. We've tested rooms with 50+ viewers without issues.
Your Video Quality
SyncUp syncs playback timing only - video streams directly from the source at whatever quality you choose.
Quick Setup
Install the extension once (takes about a minute), then create watch parties with a couple clicks.
Watching HBO Max together, in detail
"Max" or "HBO Max"? Both names land here
The service went through a couple of name changes. It launched as HBO Max, was rebranded to just "Max" in 2023, then switched back to HBO Max in 2025. So in 2026 it is HBO Max again. If you searched for either name, you are in the right place. The app, the catalog, and the way SyncUp works with it are all the same regardless of which label you remember.
HBO Max has never had a built-in watch party
Unlike a few other services that added (and later removed) their own group-watch tools, HBO Max never shipped a native watch party feature. There is no official button to sync playback with friends inside the app. Last verified: May 2026. That is the gap SyncUp fills.
Because HBO Max uses DRM-protected playback, the free SyncUp browser extension handles the sync. It listens for play, pause, and seek on your tab and relays those events to everyone else in the room over WebSocket, usually within about 200ms. The video itself still streams from HBO Max at your own quality, and everyone signs in with their own subscription, so no account or stream is ever shared. You can compare it with other tools on our watch party apps roundup.
HBO Max Watch Party FAQ
SyncUp is built by one developer. Anything missing here, just ask.
Contact the developerHow do I watch HBO Max together with friends?
Install the free SyncUp browser extension, create a watch party room on SyncUp, and share the room code with your friends. Everyone with the extension installed will stay in sync within about 200ms. Each person needs their own HBO Max (now Max) subscription.
Is watching HBO Max together on SyncUp free?
Yes. SyncUp and the browser extension are free. Free rooms hold up to 5 people, and the optional Plus plan ($3.99/month) lifts the cap to 50 for everyone in the room. You'll still need your own Max subscription for the content.
Do I need the browser extension to host a Max watch party?
Yes. Max uses DRM-protected playback, so the SyncUp extension is required to sync video state. The extension is free, installs in under a minute, and works on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, and Brave.
Can I watch HBO Max together on mobile?
Max watch parties require a desktop browser because mobile browsers don't support extensions. SyncUp does work on mobile for YouTube, Twitch, Kick, SoundCloud, YouTube Music, and other free platforms without an extension.
Does SyncUp share my HBO Max account or stream?
No. SyncUp only syncs play, pause, and seek events. Each viewer streams from their own HBO Max account, so everyone needs their own subscription. SyncUp does not bypass DRM and does not redistribute video.
Can I voice chat while watching Max with friends?
Yes. SyncUp rooms include free voice chat so you can react together while watching. There is no video chat, just voice, which keeps bandwidth low and audio clear during the show.
Ready to Watch HBO Max Together?
Install the free extension and you can start a HBO Max watch party in a few minutes.