How to watch Friends and stream every episode of the classic sitcom

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Head back to the 90s for the show's 30th anniversary

The cast of Friends in a promotional image for the show
(Image credit: Max)
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Watch Friends as one of the most successful TV shows of all time hits a major milestone as the sitcom reaches its 30th anniversary. The classic comedy is streaming all over the world, so read on as we explain the viewing options where you are, and how to tune in when you're away from home. 

Where to watch Friends online

• Aired: 1994-2004
• FREE Stream: TVNZ+ (New Zealand)
• US: Max
• UK: Netflix
• CA: Crave
• AU: Binge | Netflix

Watch anywhere: try the top VPN around 100% risk-free

Over the course of ten seasons, Friends followed the lives, loves and losses of six twenty-somethings in Manhattan, New York. For the uninitiated, the group consisted of The highly strung and fiercely loyal Monica Geller (Courtney Cox), her neurotic and pragmatic older brother Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) and his college buddy, sarcastic jokester Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry). There’s also Monica’s high school best friend Rachel Green (Jannifer Aniston), who re-enters her life in the show’s pilot, Chandler’s roommate Joey (Matt LeBlanc), an would-be actor and classic ladies man and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), the quirky, cheerful tonic to the rest of the group's emotional drama. 

The comedy was beloved by critics and audiences during its time on air, sweeping awards shows and winning six Emmy's among other accolades. Even today, the show remains hugely popular across a number of streaming platforms and there was even a Friends: The Reunion, in which the cast came back together to talk about their time on the show.

Newcomers and long-time fans alike can watch all 10 seasons on streaming services around the globe, so read on as we explain how to watch Friends online and from anywhere. 

Can I watch Friends on Netflix?

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In the UK, the entire Friends saga is available to watch on Netflix. Although there isn’t a free trial, the basic plan which includes ads and costs just £6.99 per month. It gives you access to movies/TV shows in the Netflix catalog.

Currently, if you want to watch back the Friends: The Reunion, you'll need to make most of one of our Sky TV deals to catch-up on the one-off special on Sky Go. Alternatively, you can get a Now TV membership.

Alternatively, every Friends season is available to buy as a one-off purchase for £14.99 each from Rakuten TV, Prime Video, and Apple TV.

Brit abroad? You can use a VPN to watch Friends on your UK Netflix subscription from anywhere in the world.

Friends is also available to stream on many of the service's international platforms. As well as being one of the best Netflix UK shows available, it can also be found on a number of other libraries, including Netflix Australia and Netflix India. You can also find it on Netflix in the likes of Germany, France, Ireland, and more.

How to watch Friends free online

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How to watch Friends for FREE in New Zealand

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You can relive every moment of Friends absolutely free on TVNZ+ in New Zealand with all 236 episodes available on the platform. 

Outside New Zealand? Remember that Kiwis abroad can use a VPN to tune into TVNZ Plus while away from home, and watch Friends for free, just as you would normally.

How to watch Friends from anywhere

How to watch Friends online from anywhere

For those away from home looking to watch Friends, you’ll be unable to watch the show like you normally would due to annoying regional restrictions. Luckily, there’s an easy solution.

Downloading a VPN allows you to stream online, no matter where you are. It's a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.

Use a VPN to watch Friends from anywhere:

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How to watch Friends around the world

Where to watch Friends online in the US 

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Max currently has the rights to Friends in the US, so it is the best choice for streaming all 10 seasons, as well as Friends: The Reunion, which sees all six friends get back together to discuss the decade long cultural phenomenon.

HBO comes as a part of most cable packages. Otherwise you can get it through cord cutter options like Sling TV, DirecTV or YouTube TV.

Alternatively, as mentioned, you can watch it through Max. Max price points start at $9.99 a month with commercials. There's also the $15.99 commercial-free subscription and the Ultimate Ad-Free plan, which at $19.99 provides 4K streaming, Dolby Atmos audio, and the ability to download up to 100 titles to watch offline.

Where to stream Friends and watch every season online in Canada

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Friends left the Canadian version of Netflix in early 2021, but it can now be found in its entirety on Crave, as well as the reunion episode. You can subscribe to Crave from CA$9.99 a month.

If you wish to buy individual seasons of Friends on a one-off basis, all 10 are available to purchase for $14.99 each from the Microsoft Store and Apple TV.

Where to watch Friends and stream every season online in Australia

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For Australian fans, Binge, is another place to watch all 236 episodes of Friends if you don't already have Netflix. Binge costs AU$10 and includes a 7-day free trial. Here you'll also find the Friends reunion episode.

All 10 seasons can also be found on Australian Netflix. Alternatively, you can purchase each season individually from Google Play and Apple TV.

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Charlotte Henry
Charlotte Henry
Contributor

Charlotte Henry is a journalist who has covered all things tech and media for a number of years for various publications. She reported in-depth as tech companies became media companies and vice versa. In her newsletter, The Addition, she focuses on the ever-changing streaming ecosystem as the likes of Netflix, Apple TV+ and Disney+ fight for supremacy. Charlotte is also a close follower of sport (she’s a Spurs fan…) watching everything from Premier League football to Major League Baseball. Charlotte’s first book “Not Buying It: The Facts Behind Fake News” was published in 2019. Away from work, she can often be found at heavy metal concerts and festivals.