COMPARISON
junto vs Teleparty: which watch-party tool fits you?
junto and Teleparty both let friends watch in sync, but they start from opposite ends. Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party) is a browser extension that synchronizes streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Max, which means every participant needs the extension, a browser, and their own paid subscription to the same service. It is the right tool when your group already shares a catalog.
junto assumes nothing about subscriptions. It is a command-line tool that plays the files you already have, sends them directly between friends over encrypted peer-to-peer connections, and keeps mpv in sync for everyone with no accounts and no central server. Nobody needs to subscribe to anything, and the coordination is end-to-end encrypted so relays see only ciphertext.
If you want a watch party that is not tied to a streaming platform, junto is the account-free alternative.
Feature by feature
| Feature | junto | Teleparty |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts required | No / not applicable: — | Yes: ✓ |
| Works with your own files | Yes: ✓ | No / not applicable: — |
| Streams while it downloads | Yes: ✓ | No / not applicable: — |
| End-to-end encrypted coordination | Yes: ✓ | No / not applicable: — |
| Direct peer-to-peer file transfer | Yes: ✓ | No / not applicable: — |
| Needs a browser | No / not applicable: — | Yes: ✓ |
| Platforms | macOS, Linux | Chrome, Edge (desktop) |
| Price | Free | Free add-on; paid subscriptions required |
| Open source | Yes: ✓ | No / not applicable: — |
Marks reflect each tool’s standard, out-of-the-box behavior. Details and edge cases are covered above and in the FAQ.
When Teleparty is the better choice
No tool wins every time. Here’s where Teleparty is the honest pick:
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Everyone already subscribes to the same Netflix, Disney+, or Max. If you just want to watch that catalog together, Teleparty syncs it in the browser with nothing to download.
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You want zero install and built-in chat. Teleparty is a browser extension with chat baked in; junto is a CLI that drives mpv.
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Your content only exists on a streaming service. junto plays files you have, and it has no catalog and provides no content of its own.
Learn more about Teleparty at their site ↗.
Watch your own files, in sync.
No accounts, no servers, no uploads. Install junto on macOS or Linux and share a room code.