Long distance doesn't mean boring nights in. From movie parties to online cooking dates, these 25 virtual date night ideas will make any night feel special — most of them totally free.
A shared movie night with WatchTogether is the top virtual date idea for a reason: it's free, instant, requires no downloads, and the built-in video call means you can see each other's faces the whole time. Start your movie night in under 60 seconds →
Watch any movie or show together in real-time. Share your screen from Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, or any streaming service. Built-in video call means you see each other's reactions. Takes 60 seconds to set up.
Free RecommendedEach person suggests a genre. You pick randomly and watch whatever comes up. Romantic comedies, horror, 80s action — the surprise is part of the fun. Use WatchTogether for the shared screen.
FreeTake turns showing each other your favorite childhood movies. It's a surprising way to learn more about your partner while watching something nostalgic together.
Free with streamingPick a documentary on a topic neither of you knows much about. Netflix, YouTube, and Peacock have enormous free documentary libraries. Watch and discuss afterward — built-in chat makes this easy.
FreeIntentionally pick a notoriously terrible movie and riff on it together like your own private MST3K. Rotten Tomatoes' worst-rated films list is a great starting point.
Free with streamingWatch a movie from a country neither of you has been to. Netflix has an excellent international section. Makes for great conversation about culture, travel, and places you'd like to visit together someday.
Free with NetflixJackbox games (Quiplash, Drawful, The Jackbox Party Pack) are perfect for virtual dates. One person owns the game, shares their screen via WatchTogether, and everyone plays from their phone. Hilarious every time.
Paid (one person buys)Free online Pictionary. Create a private room at skribbl.io, share your screen, and take turns drawing and guessing. No download required — great for all skill levels.
FreeUse Kahoot, Sporcle, or JetPunk to run a live trivia night. Pick a theme — 90s movies, geography, each other's personal history — and compete. Share the screen so you both see the questions live.
FreeGartic Phone is a free multiplayer drawing + description telephone game. You describe a drawing, the next person draws it, the next person describes that drawing... Hilarious results every round.
FreeMany escape rooms now offer free or paid online versions you can solve together via video call. Websites like Trapped.fr, Exit the Room, and various Itch.io games have free browser-based options.
Free options availableChess.com, Lichess (free), and BoardGameArena offer free multiplayer board games including Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Scrabble. Play while on video call for the full date-night feel.
FreePick the same recipe, order the same ingredients, and cook together on video call. Set up your phone or laptop in the kitchen, put on music, and cook "together." Then eat while video calling.
FreeEach person orders or picks up 3 wines, beers, or spirits in advance. On the date, pour the same drink at the same time and rate them together. Makes an excellent recurring tradition.
Cost of drinksFind a restaurant chain that delivers to both of your cities. Order the same meal and eat together on video call — the closest thing to sharing a restaurant meal over distance.
Cost of foodOrder each other a mystery snack box (Amazon or SnackCrate) to each other's address. Open and taste them together on video call — reaction videos are half the fun.
Low costThe British Museum, Louvre, Smithsonian, and NASA all have free virtual tours. Share your screen with WatchTogether and walk through exhibits together, discussing what you see.
FreePick a city you both want to visit someday. Watch YouTube travel vlogs of that city together, then explore streets in Google Maps Street View. Dream-plan your future trip.
FreeYouTube, Twitch, and various artist websites stream concerts live. Watch a live or archival concert together using WatchTogether screen share. Create a playlist of songs that mean something to you both.
Often freeIf you both support the same team or sport, watching together online recreates the energy of a live viewing party. Use WatchTogether to share the stream and react to every play in real time.
Depends on streaming serviceUse apps like Stellarium Web (free, browser-based) together. Point your phones at the sky or use the app to explore constellations while on video call. Simple, romantic, and works anywhere.
FreePick a short book or long-form article to read separately during the week, then meet to discuss it. Great for intellectual connection. Pair it with the same drink and a comfortable video call.
Free or low costYouTube has thousands of free drawing, painting, and craft tutorials. Follow the same tutorial at the same time on video call. Share results — terrible art is funnier than good art.
FreeEach person creates a Spotify playlist of 10 songs that describe how they feel about the other. Share and listen together on video call, explaining why you picked each song. Surprisingly emotional and memorable.
Free with SpotifySpend an evening on Google Docs or Notion building a shared bucket list together — restaurants to visit, countries to travel to, experiences to have. Dreaming together is one of the most romantic things couples can do.
FreeThe most popular virtual date night activity is watching a movie together, and the best tool for it is WatchTogether. Here's exactly how to set it up:
Put it in your calendars. Block the time. A virtual date night that's planned in advance feels more special than an impromptu "want to watch something?" message. Dress up if you want. Light a candle. Set the scene.
Close other browser tabs, put your phone on do-not-disturb, and find a quiet space. The biggest killer of virtual date energy is getting interrupted by notifications or roommates. Treat it like you would a real in-person date.
Take turns planning each virtual date. One week one person picks the movie and orders a surprise snack. Next week the other person plans a game night. The anticipation of "what's planned tonight?" adds excitement to every date.
WatchTogether's built-in video call is much more intimate than just text chatting. Seeing each other's faces — especially for reactions to movies or games — is what makes a virtual date feel like an actual date.
Have a closing ritual — always watch the credits together, always rate the movie on Letterboxd, always end by saying what you loved about the evening. Rituals make recurring virtual dates feel like a shared tradition.
A shared movie night using WatchTogether is consistently rated the best virtual date activity because it's immersive, free, and the built-in video call recreates the feeling of being in the same room. Start at watchtogether.watch.
Schedule it in advance, dress up or create a nice atmosphere at home, plan the activity instead of winging it, use video calls so you can see each other, and end with something meaningful like discussing the movie or sharing your favorite moment from the date.
The best free virtual date ideas are: WatchTogether movie night (free), skribbl.io drawing game (free), online trivia on Kahoot or Sporcle (free), Gartic Phone (free), virtual museum tours (free), cooking the same recipe together (cost of ingredients), and YouTube concert watching (free).
The easiest way is WatchTogether. The host creates a room at watchtogether.watch, starts their streaming service, shares their screen, and sends the room code to their partner. The partner joins with one click — no downloads, no account. Built-in video call means you watch together face-to-face.
Great non-movie virtual date ideas include: online game nights (Jackbox, skribbl.io, Gartic Phone), simultaneous cooking dates on video call, virtual museum tours, online stargazing, custom playlist exchanges, virtual escape rooms, and working on a shared bucket list together.