3RTCAbout 3RTC
Watch videos together with friends, in perfect sync
3RTC is a free watch party app. Play a YouTube video or a movie file from your own device, and everyone in the room sees the same moment at the same time, while you talk over voice chat and react in the chat.
What you can do
- YouTube in syncPlay, pause and seek once, and it happens for everyone.
- Your own video filesStream an MP4, WebM or MKV file straight from your device. No uploading.
- Clear voice chatNoise suppression, echo cancellation and push-to-talk.
- Live chatMessages, images, emoji reactions and a soundboard.
- Shared queueLine up what to watch next and vote to skip.
- Phone and computerWorks in the browser, and installs like an app.
How it works
- Open 3rtc.me, type your name and tap Create a room.
- Share the 5-digit room code, link or QR code with up to two friends.
- Add a YouTube link or pick a video file, and press play. Everyone stays in sync.
Peer to peer, by design
Most watch party services send everything through their own servers. 3RTC connects your devices directly using WebRTC, the same technology video-call apps use. A small connection server only helps the devices in a room find each other; video, voice, chat and images then travel straight between you, encrypted. That is what keeps it fast, private and free to run. See the privacy page for exactly what is and isn’t shared.
Frequently asked questions
Is 3RTC free?
Yes. There is no account, no subscription and no ads. Open 3rtc.me, create a room and share the code.
How many people can watch together?
A room holds up to 3 people. Everyone connects directly to everyone else, which keeps video, voice and chat fast and private, and 3 is the size where that works well on ordinary home and mobile connections.
Do my friends need to install anything?
No. 3RTC runs in any modern browser, on computers and phones. You can also install it from the browser menu ("Install app" or "Add to Home screen") so it opens like a normal app.
Can we watch a video file that only I have?
Yes. Pick an MP4, WebM or MKV file on your device and the others can stream it straight from you. Playback starts after a few seconds, the file is never uploaded to a server, and your friends do not need their own copy.
Does it work with YouTube?
Yes. Paste any YouTube link and play, pause and seeking stay in sync for everyone in the room. You can also line up a queue of videos and vote to skip.
Is the voice chat good quality?
Voice goes directly between you at high bitrate, with echo cancellation and noise suppression that removes background noise like fans and keyboards. You can use an always-on mic or push-to-talk.
Does my video or voice go through your servers?
No. A small connection server introduces the devices in a room to each other, and after that video, voice, chat and images go directly between devices, encrypted by WebRTC.
Why can’t my friend connect?
Direct connections work on most home Wi-Fi and mobile networks, but some very strict networks (some offices, schools and public Wi-Fi) block them. Trying a different network, such as mobile data, usually fixes it.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes. 3RTC has a phone layout with the video on top and chat, queue and people in tabs below, plus hold-to-talk for voice.