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    PokerNow Alternative for In-Person Home Games

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    Updated Nov 12, 2026

    Short answer: PokerNow and HG Poker do different jobs. PokerNow deals the cards: it's a free browser poker room where up to 10 friends play online through a shared link, with built-in video and voice. HG Poker doesn't deal cards or run online games. It's for games played at a real table: the host logs every buy-in and rebuy on one phone, counts chips at the end and sees who owes who. If your group is back around a kitchen table, you don't need a PokerNow alternative to play. You need something to keep the money straight.

    PokerNow vs HG Poker at a glance

    Scroll table horizontally →

    PokerNow HG Poker
    What it's for Playing poker online with friends Tracking a poker game you play in person
    Who deals The site deals the cards You do, with a real deck
    Where it runs In the browser (desktop or mobile), no download iPhone and Android app; free tools on hgpoker.io in the browser
    Players Up to 10 per table, or 1v1 heads-up Any home game; one host phone can run the table
    Video and voice Built in Not needed: you're in the same room
    Buy-ins and rebuys Stacks are set in the game menu Logged with one tap, with the live pot and every player's total
    End of night The game shows the chips Chip count with a check when totals don't balance, then who owes who
    Price Free, no in-app purchases (PokerNow FAQ) Free to download; HG Poker Pro (monthly or yearly) or a 3-game pass unlocks more
    Money — Doesn't hold or move money; players pay each other outside the app

    "—" means PokerNow's homepage doesn't say; it's not a claim either way. PokerNow facts on this page are from its homepage, checked on November 12, 2026.

    When PokerNow is the right call

    Keep PokerNow when your friends are in different cities, when you want a quick game without chips or cards, or when nobody wants to host. It's free, needs no signup, and friends join from a link (all from PokerNow's homepage).

    When you need something else: the in-person game

    Once the game moves to someone's house, the problems change. Nobody needs a dealer. What goes wrong is the money: a rebuy nobody wrote down, a chip count that's $20 off at 1 a.m., and a group chat arguing about who owes who. That's the job HG Poker does:

    • Add players in seconds and log buy-ins and rebuys with one tap.
    • See the live pot and each player's total as the night goes.
    • Count chips at the end, with a check when the totals don't balance.
    • The settle tab shows who owes who, marks lines settled and reminds anyone still open.
    • Players can follow along from a link or QR code, send rebuy requests and enter their own chip counts while the host approves.
    • Tournaments get a blind clock with levels and breaks, and a Room Display for the TV.

    HG Poker is a scorekeeping tool. It doesn't deal cards, run online games, hold or move money, or take a cut. When you're ready, start hosting with HG Poker.

    Free tools if you don't want an app tonight

    Watch the video: Home game poker app: full walkthrough for hosts.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is there a PokerNow alternative for in-person games?

    PokerNow is built for playing online, so for a game at a real table you don't need a replacement dealer. You need a way to track the money. HG Poker logs buy-ins and rebuys on the host's phone, counts chips at the end and shows who owes who. It doesn't deal cards or run online games.

    Can you use PokerNow for a home game where everyone is in the same room?

    You can, since PokerNow runs in any browser, but then everyone plays on a screen instead of with cards and chips. Most in-person groups use a real deck and track the money separately.

    Is PokerNow free?

    PokerNow's homepage says it's free with no in-app purchases, and friends join from a link without signing up.

    Does HG Poker hold or transfer money?

    No. HG Poker is a scorekeeping tool. It records buy-ins, rebuys and chip counts and shows who owes who. Players pay each other outside the app.

    Related guides

    Playing at a real table this week? Track it in HG Poker. Download on the App Store · Get it on Google Play