PokerStars Alternatives: Why Play Poker Pros and Grinders When Other Poker Sites are Full of Fish?
There was a time when PokerStars was the only place to play. The choice of games, big tournament guarantees, and slick software made them stand out from the other sites.
For me, choosing PokerStars as your main site in 2024 is crazy.
There are grinders, even in the penny games, which will sit for hours, literally sucking life out of the games. If the ‘eastern euro’ tax does not get you, the rake will (regardless of what Daniel Negreanu says, high rake is a poison on the games). Support, which used to be top quality is now cold and corporate.
With their focus on the more profitable sports betting and casino games, it is obvious to me that Stars are more interested in maximising their rake, and are no longer passionate about poker, or the interests of recreational players.
I'm predicting that PokerStars are overtaken as the number one site this year - by the excellent (and player-focused) GGPoker.
This page dives into the alternatives to PokerStars for different types of players. Under the summary table I have outlined the pros and cons of each site – then go into depth on the different styles of poker (tournament events, lottery sit n goes and so on).
A quick note for US readers: This page is focused on the big international brands. I have covered the offshore US sites in depth on my best US poker sites page.
Table: Best Alternatives to PokerStars in 2024
Alternatives to PokerStars in 2024: My Easy Top Pick - GGPoker
By the time you read this, GGPoker may well have overtaken Stars to become the biggest online poker room. If not, it will be close!
There are a ton of good reasons for this. I have switched almost all of my play there this year - of course I also keep an eye on the other sites, it's my job after all.
If you are not familiar with GG, then here are the highlights:
Novel Bonus Structure: You can pick a matched bonus, or opt for $100 in tokens with a minimum deposit. Add the $350 more via the 'Honeymoon for New Players' challenges, and you have a shot at a big bankroll without risking much money. The long list of promotions (see the promos tab for them) and generous loyalty scheme then kick in.
Brand New Poker Formats: You get Rush and Cash (with spash pots), Battle Royale, Flip N Go, All-in or Fold SNGs and Spin and Gold formats to try. Add short deck, PKO tournaments and all the regular formats on top, and this site always has something to keep you entertained.
Soft Tables: Sure, there are grinders, though when you compare GG to the other sites, it is definitely more recreational. Weekends feel like people are simply throwing money at you.
Fresh New Software: Not much chat (who needs the abuse anyway!), instead emojis and animations are used at the tables. You can stake people, sell your action and enjoy a custom deal making system at final tables. The GGPoker mobile client is excellent too.
Events / WSOP Qualifiers: Online tournament events are running all the time. They cover all the time zones, and include some giant guarantees. GG host online WSOP and WSOP Circuit events, and let you qualify for the live events too.
You can probably tell I'm a fan. It just feels like GG has a passion for poker, while the legacy sites have turned them into passive cash cows.
Check out the latest events are promos, and grab your $100 in tokens now over at www.ggpoker.com
Another Solid Alternative to PokerStars: Party Poker
Party Poker have always been the place to head for recreational poker. All these years later, this is still the brand best known by people that don’t play poker.
A lot has changed since their ‘glory days’ in 2006 – you’ll be surprised how many of these changes are positive.
There is high stakes action, there are a certain percentage of ‘grinders’ – overall, there are way more recreational / amateur / fun players compared to PokerStars.
You’ll get $30 / £40 in tokens to try out the different games for a $10 deposit at Party. This makes for a low-risk way to see just how much softer the games are than other sites. Use bonus code SNGPLANET to claim – see www.partypoker.com for more!
Here are the key reasons that I rate Party as my number one alternative to PokerStars:
- Brand name which still attracts first time / recreational players
- Cash back into your account each Monday (tip: play on Mondays, the fish get rebates too!)
- Excellent choice of soft games, with 100’s of tables at the lower to mid stakes
- Events like PowerFest and qualifiers for live events, which attract huge fields
Software has Been Upgraded Too
New software will come as a positive surprise if the last time you played at partypoker was back in the day. The download will give you the full functionality. This is recommended if you are playing on a desktop or laptop.
You can access the games via smartphone apps too. These are smooth, though obviously things like multi-tabling are harder. Party apps work best for short games like Sit n Goes, as well as the fast fold cash games.
There are other sites covered below, though in 2024, I strongly believe that partypoker is a solid alternative to Stars.
Check out the soft games, and claim your $30 / £40 welcome bonus (bonus code = SNGPLANET) now over at www.partypoker.com
Alternative to PokerStars #3: Unibet Poker
This pick is an outlier. Unibet takes a completely different angle than the other sites. Their tables are rich, colourful and cartoon-like. You won’t find multi-table grinders at this site (though there are plenty of games). If anything, the action will seem slow if you are used to the mainstream sites.
If you are playing poker to relax, want a fun and entertaining environment and a more social feel – then Unibet makes a great pick.
What you won’t find here are the grinders. There are cash games, 1 table tournaments and MTTs. Some mid-sized buy-in tournaments attract a few good players. On the whole these are full of regular people having a laugh.
Here are my top reasons to choose Unibet as an alternative to PokerStars:
- Brilliant software, the tables look like no other site (in a positive way)
- Lack of pros: This is a very recreational site
- Qualifiers to the live ‘Unibet Open’ games around the country.
- Smooth app, which makes the most of the unique software.
New player at Unibet get £ / EUR 20 extra on deposit, then a play-through bonus based on how much effort you put in worth up to another £500. There are plenty of tokens for tournaments and other player promos in the pipeline too.
Check out the colourful and unique software (and soft games!) over at www.unibet.com now!
Alternatives to PokerStars: Cash Games, Tournaments and Sit N Goes
This section looks at the alternative sites from a different angle. Instead of listing the attributes of the rival sites, the different formats of poker are considered. Some players will prefer one kind, others will indulge in all 3. Whichever appeals to you, there is a mix of alternative poker sites to Stars / Full Tilt that work.
Cash Games:
On the surface, cash games look similar wherever you play. Sure, the buy-in structures and table sizes will vary. What really counts is the speed / smoothness of play, your ability to multi-table – and the proportion of grinders to recreational players.
As you move up, you’ll naturally encounter more experienced players. Fish sitting at a $500 table have no chance at all. Tools make a big difference. With GG, Party and Unibet, you won’t find players collecting your data (and highlighting your weaknesses) using 3rd party software.
You can also consider the fast-fold games. These need decent sized player pools to work. Both Party and 888 have these for Hold’em, though not for PLO.
For me the GG cash games are the sweet spot. I’d avoid them during the (European) daytimes, though evenings and weekends will see plenty of fishy action.
Tournaments:
A lot to cover here. Sure, nobody can quite match the Sunday Million or WCOOP. You’d be surprised just how big the tournament events at the alternative sites to Stars have become. GGPoker are heading the pack here, with both regular and event guarantees that are impressive.
It is not only the big events, day to day tournament schedules might not get the headlines – though they do provide opportunities to break through for new players all the time.
All the sites have expanded the variety of formats compared to a few years ago. Progressive Knockouts (where your bounty increases the more people you eliminate) are all the rage at the moment. These sit alongside fast-fold variations, rebuys, turbos, second chance, PLO (and other poker variants).
Buy-ins literally start in cents, with a peak in field sizes between $5 and $22.
One big advantage of playing at the alternatives to PokerStars listed here is that the field sizes are more manageable. If you have ever sat at 4am on a work-night, waiting for the final few tables of a tournament to end, then you’ll know what I mean!
Tournament Events
All the PokerStars alternatives have events. These days, they are scheduled at the same time as the popular Stars events like the SCOOP and WCOOP.
My pick here is Party Poker. Their ‘PowerFest’ events are the biggest, though there are plenty of others targeting different poker formats and buy-in ranges. There are always plenty of satellites for these bigger buy-in tournaments. Many new players break through each time – some making money in the process.
Grab $30 / £40 for a tiny deposit at party poker while you check out when the next big events start. Use bonus code SNGPLANET. See www.partypoker.com for details!
Other poker events worth a mention are the Online WSOP events at GGPoker. If you enjoy live tournaments, GG is the main place to take a shot at qualifying for the live WSOP in Las Vegas each year. You can qualify for the Main Event, or the smaller buy-in side events . See www.ggpoker.com in the spring for details.
Sit n Goes / Lottery Sit N Goes:
The final area I’ll compare the PokerStars’ alternatives on is their single table tournaments. These used to be a staple at all the online poker sites. With the introduction of lottery sit n goes (which were started on iPoker), the recreational player pool that enjoyed these games in the past is largely absent.
Lottery Sit N Goes covers a category of super-turbo games with random prize pools. These are 3 handed games, with the quickest version (Blast! Poker at 888) only taking 2 minutes. The appeal is that you can win up to 10,000x your prize pool.
My vote goes for the Spin and Gold Games at GG in this category. You get a choice of 3 or 6 handed games, and the prize pools are huge.
Wrapping Up: Which Poker Sites are the Best Alternatives to PokerStars?
After so many details, the bullets in the table at the top of the page should now make a lot more sense. This table is repeated below.
I wrestled with a love / hate relationship with Stars for many years. They have the liquidity, the big tournaments and the variety – credit where credit is due. They also have all the pro grinders. I’m sure you’ll know that these opponents are a tax on your profits, even if you can beat them.
For me, both Party and 888 have stepped up their game in the last couple of years. These sites are growing - and offer a more recreational place to play than Stars. Sure, there are pros on all sites. The trick is to get the right balance. If there are not enough new or fun players on a site, things become a real grind…