Best poker app for playing on your phone in the UK - what do you actually use?
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Right lads, been grinding online poker for about 3 years now and I'm getting proper fed up with playing on my laptop all the time. Want to move to mobile but honestly overwhelmed by all the options.
What's everyone actually using day-to-day? Not looking for theoretical best - I want to know what you've got installed on your phone right now and why you chose it over the others.
Mainly play NL Hold'em cash games (£0.25/£0.50 to £1/£2) and the odd tournament. Need something with decent traffic and not completely awful software.
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PokerStars mobile hands down. Been using it for 2 years and the software is miles ahead of everything else. Traffic is mental - never waited more than 30 seconds for a table at your stakes.
Yes the rake is higher than some others but you get what you pay for. Withdrawals to my Barclays usually take 2-3 days max.
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@betting_pro PokerStars is decent but have you tried 888poker mobile lately? Updated the interface last year and it's much smoother now. Plus their promotions are actually achievable unlike Stars.
Got to say though, for pure functionality nothing beats partypoker app. Multi-tabling works properly and doesn't drain your battery like the others.
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Here's something most people don't consider - server response time and lag compensation. Been tracking this obsessively because I'm sad like that.
Calculated the average delay between action and server confirmation across different apps:
T_avg = Σ(t_i × p_i) where t_i is response time for scenario i, p_i is probability
PokerStars: ~85ms average
888poker: ~110ms average
partypoker: ~95ms averageMight seem trivial but when you're 8-tabling and making split-second decisions, that extra 25ms compounds. It's like the difference between a decent broadband ping and gaming fiber.
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@ukgambler99 mate you've lost the plot measuring milliseconds on poker apps
But seriously, GGPoker mobile is criminally underrated. Their All-In Insurance feature alone makes it worth it - takes some of the variance out when you're grinding. Plus Rush & Cash is perfect for mobile sessions.
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Going to be the contrarian here - Bet365 poker app is actually solid if you're not looking to go pro. Interface is clean, integrates with your sports betting account, and the player pool is softer.
Yeah the tournament selection isn't great but for cash games at your stakes it's fine. Withdrew £850 last month and it was in my account next day.
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Anyone mentioning William Hill poker? Their mobile app got a massive overhaul 6 months ago and it's actually not terrible anymore.
That said, still think the best poker app UK players can use is PokerStars. Just wish they'd sort out their MTT structures - blinds go up way too fast these days.
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@betting_pro @mobile_gambler Cheers for the responses. Downloaded Stars and 888 to test them out.
First impression - Stars definitely feels more polished but 888 seems to have more recreational players at £0.50/£1. Is that just me or have others noticed this?
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@poker_pete_uk Yeah 888 tends to attract more casual players, especially in the evenings. Stars has more regs but also more games running 24/7.
Depends what you're optimizing for really - softer games or better software/liquidity.
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Might be a stupid question but do all these apps work the same on Android vs iPhone? Just got a new Samsung and wondering if I should stick with what I know or try something new.
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@newbie_casino Most are pretty similar across platforms now. PokerStars iOS used to be better but they've caught up on Android.
One thing I will say - make sure you've got a decent data plan if you're playing on 4G. These apps can be data hungry, especially if you're multi-tabling.
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This might be controversial but I actually prefer browser-based poker to apps. Just use Chrome on your phone and go to the desktop site. More functionality and you're not limited by what the app developers decide to include.
Obviously not as smooth but gives you more control.
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Here's my honest comparison after trying most of them:
App Traffic Software Rake Promotions Overall PokerStars 9/10 9/10 6/10 7/10 8/10 888poker 7/10 7/10 7/10 8/10 7/10 partypoker 6/10 8/10 7/10 6/10 7/10 GGPoker 8/10 7/10 6/10 9/10 7/10 Bet365 5/10 6/10 8/10 5/10 6/10 Take it with a pinch of salt obviously, but that's my experience over the last year.
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@roulette_rob Decent breakdown mate. Think you're being a bit harsh on GGPoker's software though - their mobile app has really improved.
Also worth mentioning Unibet poker if you want something different. Smaller player pool but the software is clean and they do some interesting tournament formats.
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Been following this thread with interest. Currently use Stars but getting bored of the same old games and players.
@poker_pete_uk what did you end up going with in the end? And how's the experience been compared to playing on laptop?
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@livedealer_fan Ended up with Stars as my main app but kept 888 installed as well. Stars for serious grinding, 888 for when I want easier games.
Mobile is actually more enjoyable than I expected. Obviously can't 6-table like on desktop but 2-3 tables works fine. Battery life is the main issue - need to stay plugged in for longer sessions.
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One thing nobody's mentioned - customer service quality when things go wrong. Had issues with all the major apps at some point.
Stars: Slow but thorough
888: Quick responses but sometimes clueless
partypoker: Hit and miss
GGPoker: Actually pretty goodMight not matter day-to-day but when you've got £500+ stuck in pending withdrawals, you want someone who knows what they're doing.
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@withdrawal_king So true about customer service. Had £1,200 stuck with Stars for a week last year due to some verification nonsense. Eventually got it sorted but was proper stressful.
That's why I always keep bankrolls split across 2-3 sites now. Never know when you might need quick access to funds.
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Late to the party but thought I'd add my two pence. Been testing different poker apps and tracking my hourly rates to see if the platform makes a difference.
Using statistical significance testing with α = 0.05:
H₀: μ₁ = μ₂ (no difference in hourly rates between platforms)
H₁: μ₁ ≠ μ₂ (significant difference exists)After 200+ hours across platforms:
t = (x̄₁ - x̄₂) / √(s²/n₁ + s²/n₂)Results suggest 888poker gives significantly better results (£12.40/hr vs £9.80/hr on Stars) but that's probably just player pool softness rather than the app itself.
Still, best uk poker app for profit seems to be wherever the fish are swimming!
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@casinofan_gb Finally someone else who appreciates proper data analysis! Though I'd argue your sample size might be too small for reliable conclusions across different stakes and time periods.
But yeah, player pool quality trumps software features every time. Best poker apps uk players should focus on are the ones with the most recreational traffic.