Do you want to watch Hulu online with friends? Then you need to host your own Hulu watch party.
If you're unfamiliar, a Hulu watch party is a way to watch Hulu live with others over the internet. There are a few ways to achieve this, so we've broken down the best ways to start watching Hulu together.
The official way to host a Hulu watch party saves you from installing extra extensions. However, it does come with some stipulations.
First off, watch parties are any online-only experience for your browser (no Hulu app support). Secondly, your Hulu subscription needs to be at the tier of Hulu (No Ads) or Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV.
Lastly, you must be 18 years or older to use Hulu's Watch Party feature. Otherwise, the account won't be able to watch or participate.
For an account with multiple users, each user can still participate. They'll just need to join the watch party from their individual account. At max, eight users can join a single watch party.
If you meet the criteria, launching a Hulu Watch Party is a simple task. Simply follow these steps:
- Go to Hulu.com from your browser.
- Select a TV show or movie's details via the top-right corner button (the three vertical dots icon)
- Click on the Watch Party button
- Press Start the Party
- As the host, you can either select the copy party link by tapping the Share button (chain icon) next to the URL bar or at the top of the party chat.
- Press Start Party once everyone has joined. This will be indicated by a number at the top of the party chat.
- You'll see a countdown before playback occurs.
Once the video starts playing, you can start chatting or sharing emojis with other users. If you have to pause for any reason, Hulu will offer you an option to skip ahead to where the video is live.
Prior to the episode or movie ending, Hulu will also alert you that the watch party is ending soon. Sadly, you can't string together multiple episodes or movies, and you'll have to repeat the Watch Party for each instance.
Overall, if you've used the Netflix Party extension, functionality is very similar. And if you haven't, here's how to use Netflix party to watch movies together online.
2. Metastream
For those willing to put in a little extra effort, Metastream also lets you watch Hulu together. To start using Metastream, visit the website. Before starting your session, Metastream requires an extension that you can install by following the on-screen prompts.
Once that's done, press the Add Media button or click the Plus sign in the Next Up box. From here, Metastream launches its own mini-browser window and offers some tips. It supports several streaming websites, so you'll need to press the Hulu button to host a Hulu watch party.
Just remember, everyone in the session will need to have a Hulu account or it won't work.
After clicking on the Hulu button, it loads Hulu.com as normal (if you're logged in). After finding a TV show or movie, select play like normal. Once it's playing, you'll have to click the Add to Session prompt to sync it with Metastream.
If you want to save time or build a playlist, it's easiest to load-up Hulu beforehand and copy any direct video links. Once that's done, simply tap Add Media (the plus sign) and enter the desired links for the session. For each video you add, you'll see the title listed under Next Up.
How to Watch Hulu Together on Metastream
With everything set up, you can invite users by clicking Invite in the top-right corner. You can also access the same screen via Settings (the Gear icon) and clicking on the Session tab. Either option will grant you access to copying the URL, specifying the session type (public, private, offline), or setting a user cap (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, or unlimited users).
Once you play the video, you may notice small syncing issues. However, you can remedy this by manually adjusting the play bar or reloading the session. To reload the session, click on the three vertical dots at the far right of the play bar then select Reload.
Metastream provides a solid alternative for those not willing to pay for the higher-cost Hulu plans.
Download: Metastream Remote for Firefox | Chrome
3. Scener
While Metastream provides cross-service streaming and customization at the cost of more legwork, Scener keeps things simple. After making an account, you can launch your Hulu watch party incredibly fast.
- Tap the Scener icon in your browser.
- Click Create A Theater.
- Choose either a private or public live theater.
- Read the prompt then click Next.
- Choose Hulu from the service list. You'll need a No Ads account.
- Log-in if you aren't already.
- Click the Share link (chain).
- Once you've shared the link, you'll see who joined.
- Choose something to watch together.
While Scener does have the Hulu (no ads) subscription requirement, it offers several conveniences that Hulu's official Watch Party feature doesn't.
First off, there's the built-in functionality to tie a video call into a streaming service. Simply follow the on-screen prompts to activate the camera and microphone. Scener even offers you a preview window to check your set-up.
Most importantly, it's actually easy to keep the watch party going. If you want to watch multiple episodes in a row, you can do that. Or, if you decide you want to watch something else, you can go back to Hulu's hub and choose an alternative.
You never have to restart your watch party, so it's great for binge-watching. The only downside is the video sync can feature a small delay before it catches up.
Download: Scener - Virtual Movie Theater for Chrome
If you're interested in watching Hulu with others, its never been easier to host a Hulu party. Whether you're using an app to watch Hulu together or the official site, you can tailor your experience to who's watching.
Plus, once you've learned how to watch Hulu with friends, you can transfer that experience to other platforms. For example, here's how to host a Facebook watch party to start watching videos together.
