So you’ve caught the poker bug! The game that takes a minute to learn but a lifetime to master is your new passion. Great. It’s a fantastic card game that continues to challenge you no matter whether you play for fun or thousands of dollars. You can’t get enough, can you? Unfortunately for various reasons it’s not convenient for you to play live poker. Maybe you don’t feel like the long drive to the nearest casino or local card room. Maybe the live game options are too limited or you don’t like the environment (e.g. smoke, drinking, and the crowd). What you really want is to play online poker with friends from the comfort of your own home as your schedule allows.

• Poker With Friends online, free
• Play Heads Up Poker Online With A Friend

• Seven Card Stud used to be a fixture at casinos in the United States, particularly on the East Coast, but with the rise of Texas Hold’em, this card game has largely fallen by the wayside. 7 Card Stud poker is still common in private, offline poker games especially in those dealer’s choice home games where the person with the button gets to choose the poker variant to play.
• Poker Heat is a free poker Texas Hold ’Em app that can be played through Facebook, or downloaded for Apple and Android devices. You can easily connect with friends and invite up to four other people to sit.

Thankfully, there are many options to play texas holdem against friends and get your online poker fix. Social media, mobile apps, and websites offer a range of online poker options for fans to play at their convenience.

The great thing about playing heads up poker against friends online for free rather then play with real playing cards is the fact that it’s so much easier. You don’t need to worry.

Free-to-play

Zynga

Poker With Friends online, free

Zynga, the very popular game maker of Farmville, Words with Friends, Empires and Allies, Cityville, CastleVille, Indiana Jones and MafiaWars, first created a Texas Hold’em game that has become the most popular free-to-play poker game in the world. The four-year-old game boasts over 30 million players, over 7 million playing daily, who interact and play online poker in a fun and friendly environment. Zynga has broadened the appeal and access by adding iPhone, Android, Yahoo!, and Google+ playing options to the original Facebook access to play their poker game.

Players have the option to play at any table and interact with friends from around the world. A limited amount of virtual chips are available for free. Players can play casual Hold’Em tables, tournaments or higher chip value VIP tables. Players can complete challenges, chat, or give/receive chip gifts.

If you burn through your chips too quickly, or want to move up and play higher levels, you have the option to purchase the virtual poker chips for real money. Although the chips hold no real value and can’t ever be cashed out, if your desire is to experience poker with friends at the highest possible level, Zynga offers many competitive levels.

Epic Poker

The people behind the exclusive high stakes professional poker tour, Epic Poker League, have created a fun and free social media poker game on Facebook. The game was introduced in 2011 and has grown to have over 50,000 monthly active users. The graphics are sharp and vibrant, the software is fast, and you can upload a custom avatar to personalize your account. Use the promo code PlayforFree and you receive 50,000 chips when you sign up to play virtual poker. Like Zynga, you also have the option to purchase additional chips for real money.

Sin City Hold’em

Launched in August of 2011, Sin City Holdem has build up to over 500,000 monthly active users for their well constructed poker game. The graphics have more a a hand drawn feel, as opposed to the more cartoon like features of competitors. Player can accomplish various fun achievements or other task to accumulate virtual chips. A friend’s leader board and real-time online friends list add to the social aspect of the site.

There are many other free-to-play poker games with lesser followings. Once we move from the social media sites like Facebook, Google+ and Yahoo that offer free poker, we find many real money poker offerings that also offer free-to-play opportunities.

* A note to those who prioritize the social aspect of their poker, be on the lookout for Aces Hangout, which incorporates Google+’s group live camming with the online poker game making for an intriguing social poker experience where your every reaction and poker face will be on display.

Real Money Poker Options for U.S. Players

For those whose prefer to play United States Texas Holdem for real money, there are several options available to you; mobile apps, subscription poker, and real money online poker rooms.

Mobile Phone Apps

There are a couple options for Americans who like to take their poker wherever they go. The apps work on iPhone, iPad, Android and Tablet devices allowing you to bet and bluff your way to fun and profit.

Switch Poker

Switch Poker offers a mobile poker app for both the iPhones/iPads and Android/Tablet devices. At present, their poker game can be played heads-up or 6-max versions of No-Limit Hold’em cash games with intentions to to add full ring (9 seat), Sit & Go’s, Multi-Table Tournaments, Fixed Limit Holde’m and Pot Limit Omaha in the coming months. The nice aspect about their site is the option for playing more than one table.

Terminal Poker

Terminal Poker’s entry in the real money mobile poker app world for iPhone/iPad and Android/Tablet offers a fun and fast paced version of the game that removes most of the down time associated with poker so you can concentrate more on hands you actually play. They accomplish this by pooling players and moving you to a new virtual table as soon as you fold a hand. The approach is less social, but more focused on the poker purists interested in seeing as many playable hands as possible. The Terminal Poker app can be accessed directly so there is no need to install any software from an App Store.

Subscription Poker

One 100% legal form of real money poker is the subscription model where you pay a monthly fee for the right to play poker on the site where you can win money from their prize pools. Subscriptions sites are treated under the same rules as sweepstakes, but some individual states are not eligible due to local legislation (i.e. Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington).

ClubWPT

This most established subscription poker site charges $19.95 each month for the opportunity to play free Hold’em against friends on their site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They claim to have over 25,000 registered members promising $100,000 in monthly prizepool payouts. They are associated with the World Poker Tour and occasionally offer live entries into WPT events as prizes. There is an extensive point and reward system along with pure freerolls so you can enter their larger point buy-in events.

Spade Club

SpadeClub offers membership for $19.99 per month which allows access to over 2,500 tournaments every month for your chance at over $100,000 in prizes.

GoldRushPoker

GoldRushPoker is a subscription poker site where players can win prize money, automobiles and seats to live tournaments. They have three level of subscription that runs from $19.95 to $29.95 a month.

SouthPoint Poker

The unique spin that SouthPointPoker is taking on the Zen Entertainment Network, is that the site is completely free. It has the same points and rewards of many of the subscription sites, but without the monthly subscription rate. Players can win points as reward for doing well in their poker games which can be redeemed for various prizes. Any player can earn free points to enter the many events offered by logging on daily or completing surveys, questions of the day, referring a friend or taking up special offers. Their big promotion is to offer one $10,000 buy-in to the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event each week to one winner.

Real Money Online Poker Rooms

Lastly, for committed poker players looking to play traditional real money online poker on their computer, there are still some poker room websites that offer real money texas holdem. They all come with some level of risk in light of the U.S. Department of Justice crackdown on the three largest online poker sites (PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker) in April of 2011. The DOJ used UIGEA regulations that prohibited money transfers to any offshore poker sites as justification for action, so any poker site still offering real money poker is a potential future target. With that in mind, the remaining poker sites serving the U.S. market are considerably smaller and have taken precautions to avoid the abuses that haunted the large three poker rooms. They all allow “one on one” poker, also referred to as heads up matches against friends, for free or real money.

Of those still offering real gaming, the most established poker rooms include Cake Poker on the Cake Network, Lock Poker, Minted Poker on the Everleaf Network, Bovada and BetOnline. There are quite a few other smaller poker room options on these same networks for those willing to dig deeper.

Lock Poker – Located on the Merge Network, Lock is one of the most popular destinations for real money poker players since Black Friday. Fronted by a number of respected young poker pros like Chris Moorman, Casey Jarzabek, Melanie Weisner, Jason Young and Leo Margets, Lock offers numerous promotions and bonuses to encourage real money play on their site.

Minted Poker – Located on the smaller Everleaf Network, Minted Poker offers Texas Hold’em geared to newer players. There are numerous freerolls and promotions geared to the smaller limit player. The traffic is less than some other sites, but the software and play is more fishy than some of the busier sites.

Cake Poker – Located on the Cake Network, Cake has been around since 2004. The software is solid and graphically pleasing. The site has had an inconsistent history in terms of promotions, customer service, and security, but has weathered through the years to become an overall medium sized reliable option for players.

Bovada – The rebranded Bodog Poker is a long standing sportsbook and poker room. They have recently introduced software to remove player identities and the possibility of player tracking. The atmosphere has typically been one of wilder than average play due to the heavy sportsbook focus, but that has changed with recent software changes.

BetOnline – One of the top five U.S. sportsbooks recently launched their own poker room. Players can use Visa, eChecks and money orders via Western union and MoneyGram to move money on and off the site.

There are hopes that 2012 will see the introduction of legislation that would fully regulate and legalize online poker in the United States. If and when that happens, the online poker landscape will change dramatically and many new options will appear. Until then, check out one of the online options to work on your game and compete against friends and fish alike. Playing free poker online with a friend has virtually no risks associated. You can face off heads up if you wish and benefit from various free-rolls to win real money in the process.

Poker is the ultimate social game. A huge part of the fun for most poker players is getting together with friends to throw some cards around and get into it with some animated table talk.

With the advancement of modern technology and online poker software, friends don’t have to meet at an actual table anymore. And those that can’t always meet up for their local home game now have several options for taking their weekly game online.

You can now set up easy and free online poker with friends on a poker site in just a few minutes.

Chat features and video conference software like Zoom can enhance the experience with that much-adored trash talk. You can even tailor your game to your specific preferences including poker variation (Hold’em, Omaha etc.), cash games, tournaments, or even a turbo Sit & Go.

There are a couple of really solid online poker sites you can use which let you play for real money or play money, depending on your location. Here’s all the info you need to play multiplayer poker online with friends.

Best Sites to Play Online Poker with Friends

Best Poker App to Play Online with Friends

Neither the PokerStars or 888poker apps have “play with friends” options yet. If you want to take advantage of PokerStars’ excellent Home Games feature to play with only your friends, you all need to download the desktop poker client.

Like the PokerStars app, 888poker doesn’t yet offer the play with friends feature on the poker app. An additional challenge with 888 is that players using a Mac won’t find this feature either. As of 2021, players needed to use a Windows-based system to play online poker with friends.

Play Poker Online with Friends in the US

Whether you’re separated from friends by geography or just looking to string together a quick event while your friends are at home, US players will find a couple of good options to play against friends online.

Here are the best to keep in mind when you’re ready to set a home game up:

Set Up a Home Game on PokerStars

The biggest name in poker offers its highly rated Home Games feature that lets you play poker online with friends remotely. Players in US states with access to PokerStars for regulated real money online poker, which include Pennsylvania,New Jersey and Michigan, can meet up with friends online to play poker in private cash games and tournaments.

Anyone in other states across the USA can use the Home Games feature at PokerStars.net to play for virtual currency. You can also, of course, use play money at the tables but exchange real money among your friends.

Setting up a home poker game with friends online at PokerStars is pretty easy but requires some initial coordination and effort.

All players will need to register an account and download the software client to get started:

Setting up an account via any of our links ensures you a $30 free play bonus or an up to $600 deposit match bonus. After setting up an account, follow these steps:

• Log in and look to the right side of the lobby.
• Click on the image of three dots at the bottom offering more options.
• Once selected, click on “Home Games.” You can then click on the option to create a poker club.
• Give your poker club a name and set the invitation code for players who you plan on inviting. This is a password so your friends can get in the club.
• Once that’s complete, your new poker club is ready to go. Invite your friends with the name of the club and invitation code.

Here’s how it looks as you go through the sign-up process:

PokerStars will send you an email invitation you can forward to other players so they can easily find your club and join. As club manager, you’ll need to approve them to let them in the game.

At PokerStars Home Games, you can add specific colors and images to customize your club as well. When your players are approved and ready for action you can then schedule tournaments and cash games as you like.

In cash games, you can set the stakes for the tables. What’s also great about Home Games is that you can select any number of games beyond online Texas Holdem, from Seven Card Stud to Badugi to Eight-Game Mix.

For tournament players, all of those games are available and players can specify their own settings including:

• Buy-in
• Number of seats per table
• Game type (regular, rebuy, knockout)
• Blind levels
• Game speed

You can also:

• Make announcements on your club site
• Set up leaderboards
• Track event results

How to Set up a Play-Money Game with Real Money on the Side

As noted earlier, players can only buy in and play a private game online with friends for real money in a legal jurisdiction. So players would all need to be located within that jurisdiction – such as all in Pennsylvania, Michigan or New Jersey.

That doesn’t mean there can’t be a little skin in the game elsewhere, though. It’s easy to collect buy-ins for your online poker game with PayPal or an app like Venmo or Zelle. Players simply transfer a few bucks using their online accounts or mobile app.

One player can act as the banker just like in a home game, and then pay out winners at the end of the night. Online payment platforms make this an easy process just like in a live home game.

How to Play Free Online Poker with Friends on PokerStars

PokerStars Home Games is really set up for all types of players and, much like the process for playing a real-money home game, the steps for setting up private games in the play money software are easy to follow. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:

• Install the desktop client software. (Remember, the app doesn’t offer this feature).
• Register an account with your name, email, and other details
• After downloading, open the software client and log in.
• Click on the three buttons at the bottom offering more options.
• Click on Home Games and the option to create a poker club.
• Give your club a name and set the invitation code.
• Set up a time for your tournament or cash game with details like stakes, number of players per table, etc.
• Once that’s completed, forward an invitation with poker club name and password to friends.
• Players can then join the club at the appointed time and get ready to play cards.

How to Set Up a Private Poker Game at 888poker

888poker currently offers legal real money online poker in New Jersey and Delaware, and friends can also meet up virtually to play for real money. Those outside NJ and DE can also set up an online poker game with just their friends using play money at the virtual tables.

The 888 software is user friendly and it’s easy to create your own poker game with friends. Here’s how to get started:

• Claim your bonus, create an account and download the 888poker software.
• Click on “Extra Games” from the middle top of the pull-down menu.
• Select “Play with Friends” to get started. This is also how players will join your “home game.”
• Click on “Create a New Game” to begin setting up your own game.

Play Heads Up Poker Online With A Friend

No Poker Club Required!

Unlike PokerStars, at 888 you can set up an individual cash game or tournament without creating a club. Players can easily create a game name and password to share with friends. You can then set the

• Start date
• Start time
• Number of seats
• Buy-in

Players will then simply provide that game name and password to join after you’ve emailed them the information. An easy 888 invitation option is provided. Simply email it to yourself and then forward that to friends.

When it’s time to play, those players simply join up using the name and password.

Which is better for poker with friends: PokerStars or 888poker?

For multiplayer poker online with friends, and especially for tournaments and different game variations, PokerStars Home Games is the best option available. Players have numerous options and it’s easy for all players to jump online and play.

That being said, the simplicity and ease which you can just set up a private table and jump in at 888poker is also great. 888poker also currently has a very good free no deposit bonus for opening a new poker account. Here’s a look at some aspects of the available sites mentioned here.

Advantages to Playing Poker Online with Friends

Obviously playing online offers a great way to keep the action going when you’re away from your friends.

Players located in different parts of the world can reconnect and communicate. Here are some other positives:

• Complete control over the game
• Easy dealing, splitting pots, and game management
• Several game variations to choose from
• Tournaments are easy to set up and run
• Players can be located anywhere

Another great advantage is that you can play with any number of players. If you have a lot of friends, a multi-table tournament is possible with the promise of a nice payout for the winner.

Only have a handful of players looking for action? You can play three- or four-handed. It’s even possible to simply play some poker with just one friend to work on your heads-up skills.

What Games Can You Set Up for Online Poker with Friends?

What’s great about playing online with friends is the number of games possible online. It makes for a great way to add some new games to the mix in your home game. You don’t have to worry about the intricacies involved with dealing a new game yourself at the table. Some poker variations to choose from include:

• Texas Hold’em
• Omaha
• Seven Card Stud
• 5-Card Omaha
• 2-7 Lowball (Single or Triple Draw)
• HORSE
• 8-Game Mix
• Badugi

Cash Games vs. Tournaments – Pros and Cons

Setting up an online cash game or tournament among friends is easy. Here’s a look at a few things to keep in mind when getting started.

Tournaments

Pros

• Simple to set up and meet friends online.
• Easy for budgeting and paying out winners.
• Can be set up for any number of players.
• Players know exactly what to budget for an event.

Cons

• May need to be a bit more organized than a cash game.
• When playing with multiple tables, may not allow for as much interaction as a single table.

Cash Games

Pros

• Easy to set up with your own game and stakes.
• Several game options available.
• Players can come and go as they like.

Cons

• Players looking for real money play will have to settle up offline. This is pretty simple however.
• May not always produce a full table. Players could have a short-handed table on occasion, depending on turnout.

Online Poker with Friends at Global Poker

This option may not be quite as simple (and isn’t conducive to tournaments), but players spread across the country can still get together for some cards at Global Poker.

Global Poker is a sweepstakes poker and casino site that allows you to play for virtual currency, called Gold Coins, or a separate currency called Sweeps Coins. Sweeps Coin are accumulated when you buy Gold Coins or win them in Sweeps Coin poker games or tournaments. Sweeps Coins can then be redeemed for real money.

Setting up a real money poker game with friends on Global Poker isn’t quite as easy but it can be done. Just have everyone come to an agreement on the stakes and find an empty table. It may take a bit of coordination, but might be worth it.

Each table is named, which allows players to find where everyone will be at a certain time. Be aware that these tables won’t be exclusive, however, and other players may jump in if there are empty seats.

For example, a few friends may all be up for some SC0.25/SC0.50 No Limit Texas Hold’em. A Sweeps Coin table named “Naples” offers those stakes and no one is playing there at the moment. You and your friends will simply have to jump on the table and get started. There should be several six-handed and nine-handed tables at any one time.

Global Poker doesn’t offer a downloadable app yet but its quick-play browser-based platform makes it easy for players with a phone or tablet to jump on. The functionality is also surprisingly good. On your phone you’ll still find everything that the traditional desktop version offers – including the ability to meet up with friends at a poker table.

Poker with Friends Online FAQ

Are there any other apps for poker with friends online?

Some players make use of free social gaming poker apps to play with friends. There are numerous options that allow players to play for virtual money. Many players use these and settle up with real money via online transfers using PayPal, Venmo, or another option. Real money poker apps are available in legalized US states, although none currently have the built-in Home Games with Friends feature.

Can I play poker with friends on my iPhone/Android?

PokerStars and 888poker don’t offer an option to play with friends on their mobile apps. Players will need to use a traditional desktop computer or laptop.

Players using Global Poker to meet friends at a Gold Coin or Sweeps Coin table can easily use its browser-based poker option to play on a mobile phone or tablet.

Are online poker games with friends safe?

You can feel good about playing online games at PokerStars and 888poker. They are among the safest poker sites you can find online and use intricate and cutting edge security measures to keep player information and any online funds safe.

When playing for a bit of cash on the side, however, that requires all parties willing to pony up. Make sure your friends aren’t scofflaws if they plan on getting in on the action.

Do I need to deposit any money to play online with friends?

Only if all your players who are all located in a legal jurisdiction can play for real money online. Those poker games with players who may be located around the country will have to make use of play money features.

Global Poker players meeting for ring games can use Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins. GC is a virtual currency and SC is an alternate virtual currency on the site that players can redeem for real cash and prizes.

Can I play poker with friends online entirely free?

Players can indeed battle it out for play money with friends on PokerStars, 888poker and Global Poker without depositing any real money.