Rave – Watch Party

Watch together, from separate places

Rave – Watch Party lets people watch video together online while chatting by text or voice. It is aimed at friends or family who want company during a film or video, even when they are not in the same room. The app can bring video from supported streaming services into a shared session; it also supports watching personal video files stored in Google Drive.

What to check before joining

Shared viewing depends on the service and content being available to the people in the session. For paid streaming services, participants may need their own subscriptions. Check which sources are supported and what access they require before planning a watch party. A shared session also means sharing reactions or conversation with its participants, so consider who you invite and what you are comfortable discussing.

The supplied information does not specify which phone permissions the app requests. If you install it, review Android’s permission prompts and allow only access that makes sense for the features you use. In particular, consider whether voice chat needs microphone access, and whether access to a cloud account is appropriate for the videos you intend to watch.

Who is behind it

Rave Inc. is the listed developer. The app has a 4.37 out of 5 rating from about 909,000 reviews and is listed with 50,000,000+ installs. Those figures show that many people have used and rated it; they do not tell you whether its current features, privacy practices or supported services suit your needs. Check the developer’s current privacy information before connecting accounts or sharing personal files.

A choice, not a commitment

Rave may be useful if you regularly watch with people who live elsewhere and are willing to use a shared app for video and conversation. If you usually watch alone, or would rather not connect streaming or cloud accounts, you may not need it. Think about how often you would use it and whether everyone in your group can access the same content. You can decide later; there is no need to add another app unless shared viewing is something you actually want.