The best apps to pick a movie with friends

There are two basic ways to pick a movie as a group. Either everyone votes on a shortlist and the most votes wins, or everyone swipes through suggestions until you all like the same one. Votes suit bigger groups and group chats; swiping suits two or three people with time to browse.

Here are six options worth knowing, with who each one suits. Prices and features are as listed on each product's own page in October 2026. Full disclosure: the first one is ours.

1. Movie Night Polls: a group vote with real posters

You search the movie catalog, add a shortlist, and share one link. Each option shows its poster, and voters can watch the trailer and see where it's streaming before they pick. Nobody needs an account or an app to vote, and when you close the poll the winner is tallied for you. Ties become co-winners. There's a movie poll maker walkthrough if you want the details, and a Discord bot if your group lives there.

Best for groups of four or more, especially in a group chat where people vote at different times. The free plan covers five polls a month with up to six movies each; Pro (CA$4.99 a month) lifts those limits and adds scheduling, live results, and private or anonymous polls.

The honest limits: it's a web app with no swipe mode, and someone has to build the shortlist. If you don't have one, the AI Curator can suggest a few from a one-line description.

2. Swyf: swipe until everyone matches

Swyf is a swipe-to-match app for couples, friends, families and flatmates. You create a group, share an invite link, and everyone swipes right or left on movies and shows. When everyone in the group likes the same title, it's a match, and the app shows where it's streaming. Groups are meant to stick around, so you can swipe again next week.

It's free with no ads, with one group included. Swyf Pro is $1.99 a month, $17.99 a year or $24.99 once. The catch for groups: it's an iPhone app, so a friend on Android can't join in.

3. FlickPicker: swipe within the services you pay for

FlickPicker also works by swiping and matching, with group sessions for three or more people. Its strength is filtering: you only see titles on the streaming services you subscribe to, and you can start from a mood such as Scary, Funny or Chill. Matches go to a shared watch list.

It's free with ads, and removing ads is a one-time $1.99. It runs on iPhone and iPad and needs a recent iOS version (26.2 or later), so check everyone's phone before you plan around it.

4. The poll already built into your group chat

If the shortlist is three titles everyone already knows, the poll built into your chat app may be all you need. WhatsApp polls can be set to one vote per person by turning off "allow multiple answers". Messages on iPhone has polls with up to 12 options, as long as everyone is on iOS 26 or later. Discord polls take up to 10 answers, with an emoji on each.

They're free and instant, but they're text only: no posters, trailers or streaming info, so they work best when nobody needs convincing.

5. StrawPoll: a general-purpose poll

StrawPoll makes quick polls on the web without signing up. Polls run until you close them or until a deadline you set, and bots and VPN users are blocked from voting by default.

The free plan is supported by ads that voters see. Uploading your own images is a paid feature, so on the free plan your movie poll is a list of titles. It suits groups that run polls about lots of things, not just movies.

6. Wheel of Names: when you'd rather leave it to chance

Sometimes the group is happy with any of the finalists and just needs something to decide. Wheel of Names is a free website where you type in a list and spin to pick one at random. No account is needed.

It's quick and fair in its own way, but nobody's preference counts. It works well as a tie-breaker after a vote.

How to choose

Two of you on the couch with time to browse: a swipe app like Swyf or FlickPicker is a good fit, since matching on two phones is quick and fun.

Five or more people, or anyone planning ahead in a group chat: a vote on a short list works better. Swiping needs everyone on the same app, and the bigger the group, the harder it is for everyone to like the same title. A shared link lets people vote whenever they see it, from any phone.

Everyone in the same room: put the shortlist on the TV or pass a link around, vote, and spin a wheel if it's still tied. If the real problem is that nobody will commit, see how to pick a movie when your group can't agree.