PokerStars did not have rakeback for many years. Therefore, offering sites like PokerStars became an obligation for affiliates. However, in 2026, they redesigned their StarsReward program, and everything changed, although many players still prefer other online poker sites. If you want to avoid opening more chests, our article gives you the best alternatives to PokerStars.
The poker industry has evolved dramatically over the last few years. There are increasingly more competitors on the market and what we could call “sister sites of PokerStars” because they remind us of the rise of the Red Spade Room in the last decade: hundreds of tables, high rakeback, and a friendly atmosphere for players from different countries.
As of 2026, the online poker landscape offers a diverse range of experiences. You can now compete for WSOP bracelets, engage in high-stakes Spin&Go games, use cryptocurrencies for betting, qualify for the World Poker Tour, and even embark on a poker cruise. This variety is a testament to the healthy competition among the top poker rooms.
In the following table, we have compiled the best alternatives to PokerStars:
| Category | Poker site | Welcome bonus |
|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Best alternative to PokerStars | GGPoker | 100% up to $600 |
| ✅ Best high-rakeback alternative to PokerStars | ACR Poker | 100% up to $2000 |
| ✅ Best crypto alternative to PokerStars | CoinPoker | 150% up to $2000 |
| ✅ Best casual-friendly alternative to PokerStars | WPT Global | 100% up to $3,000 |
| ✅ Best full-ring alternative to PokerStars | BetOnline | 100% up to $1000 |
| ✅ Best HUD-friendly alternative to PokerStars | RedStar Poker | 100% up to $2000 |
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| PokerStars | GGPoker | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | 100% up to $600 | 100% up to $600 or $100 tickets |
| Rakeback | 15%-60% | 24%-80% |
| Regular promos | Early Bird Zoom (2x Points NL500$) | Monthly Giveaway $10M+ |
| Fast Poker | Zoom (up to NL500$) | Rush& Cash (up to NL500$) |
| Spins | Spin&Go NLH, PLO | Spin&Gold 3-, 6-max |
| HUD support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Crypto cashier | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC) |
After GGPoker overtook PokerStars in player traffic, the gap between the two platforms continued to grow. In 2025, GGPoker set a new world record by reaching a peak of 600,000 simultaneous connections.
Currently, the main similarity between GGPoker and PokerStars may be the size of their welcome bonuses: both offer 100% up to $600. However, GGPoker also gives new players an alternative option at first deposit: a $100 ticket bonus. In addition, newly registered users gain immediate access to 30 daily missions with a combined prize pool of $350.

So what else sets the online poker market leader apart from its main competitor?
Finally, thanks to its partnership with the World Series of Poker, GGPoker is the only online platform outside the US where players can win an actual WSOP bracelet.
| PokerStars | ACR Poker | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | 100% up to $600 | 100% up to $2,000 |
| Rakeback | 15%-60% | 27%, or 10-65% |
| Regular promos | Early Bird Zoom (2x Points NL500$) | The Beast, Sit&Crush Races |
| Fast Poker | Zoom (up to NL500$) | Blitz (up to NL100$) |
| Spins | Spin&Go NLH, PLO | Spinz |
| HUD support | ✅ Yes | Yes |
| Crypto cashier | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT, USDC) |
PokerStars exited the US online poker market many years ago, and today ACR Poker is widely regarded as the primary platform where US players can compete with opponents from around the world.
Many longtime PokerStars players who transition to ACR experience a strong sense of nostalgia when they encounter the room’s loyalty program. The Elite Benefits system closely mirrors the core concepts of the former PokerStars' Supernova program.

Just as importantly, ACR Poker provides enough traffic to support meaningful rakeback. During peak hours, the platform regularly features more than a hundred active cash tables, including the fast-paced Blitz format.
Finally, an interesting note: Chris Moneymaker, one of PokerStars’ most iconic ambassadors who represented the brand for 17 years, has been a Team Pro at ACR Poker since 2021.
| PokerStars | CoinPoker | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | 100% up to $600 | 150% up to $2,000 |
| Rakeback | 15%-60% | 33% + VIP |
| Regular promos | Early Bird Zoom (2x Points NL500$) | $12K Daily Cash, $5K Weekly MTT Races |
| Fast Poker | Zoom (up to NL500$) | No |
| Spins | Spin&Go NLH, PLO | No |
| HUD support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Crypto cashier | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (BTC, USDT, USDC, WEPE, CHP) |
CoinPoker is one of the main alternatives to PokerStars in the field of modern, blockchain-based poker rooms, offering anonymous gameplay without the need for verification.
Key features of CoinPoker include:
When it comes to game structure, CoinPoker largely follows the classic PokerStars model: low rake combined with solid rakeback. Players receive a flat 33% rakeback each week, and the regular World Cash Game Championship runs on rake-free tables. There is also a dedicated rake race for high-volume grinders.
CoinPoker also mirrors PokerStars in its approach to high-stakes action. Nearly every evening, the lobby features games with stakes reaching 1K/2K₮ at 7-max tables and up to 2.5K/5K₮ in heads-up formats.
Overall traffic is concentrated at 7-max Hold’em tables, with limits up to $500NL. During peak evening hours, more than a hundred of these tables are typically running.
| PokerStars | WPT Global | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | 100% up to $600 | 100% up to $3,000 |
| Rakeback | 15%-60% | 30% PLO, 40% Table starter NL10K+ |
| Regular promos | Early Bird Zoom (2x Points NL500$) | Super Giveaway (Tickets Lottery) |
| Fast Poker | Zoom (up to NL500$) | Flash (up to NL60$) |
| Spins | Spin&Go NLH, PLO | Global Spins |
| HUD support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Crypto cashier | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (20 Coins) |
WPT Global is the newest online poker site in our top list, but also one of the fastest-growing. In just a few years, the poker room has managed to surpass PokerStars in terms of player traffic.
WPT Global is heavily oriented toward recreational players. Poker tracking software is not supported, and a proprietary AI system conceals tables in the lobby that already have two or three strong winning players seated.
Mandatory straddles and antes add extra action, with 8-max tables being the most popular format. WPT Global’s game lineup is fairly standard, featuring NLH, PLO, PLO5, and Fast Poker. Among the less common options, Short Deck is also active, a format only otherwise available at GGPoker.
Rakeback is distributed selectively: 30% is allocated to Omaha players, while 40% goes to players opening high-stakes Hold’em tables. Rake across all cash games is set at just 4%.
A standout feature of WPT Global is its satellite system, which allows players to qualify for WPT events around the world.
Overall, for players seeking a genuinely different alternative to PokerStars, WPT Global stands out as one of the most compelling choices.
| PokerStars | BetOnline | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | 100% up to $600 | 100% up to $1,000 and satellite tikets |
| Rakeback | 15%-60% | 10%-30% +VIP |
| Regular promos | Early Bird Zoom (2x Points NL500$) | Jackpots, Rake Races |
| Fast Poker | Zoom (up to NL500$) | Boost (NL10-50$) |
| Spins | Spin&Go NLH, PLO | Windfall NLH, OFC |
| HUD support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Crypto cashier | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (15+ Coins) |
BetOnline doesn’t offer massive traffic or especially generous bonuses, but it remains a solid alternative to PokerStars for players who prefer a smaller, more specific poker room with a modern client, weaker player fields than the major sites, and a wide selection of cryptocurrencies.
BetOnline Poker does not offer microstakes, with cash games starting at $0.05/$0.10. At the same time, BetOnline is not geared toward high rollers, as maximum limits are capped at NL/PLO $1,000. The client supports a wide range of table formats:
All BetOnline cash tables include a jackpot feature, with random bad beat prizes that can reach tens of thousands of dollars.
In addition, the poker room automatically credits a 100% first-deposit bonus of up to $1,000 with the bonus code "POKER1000", and rewards regular play with 10–30% rakeback, along with the chance to earn extra payouts through multiple leaderboard races.
| PokerStars | RedStar | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | 100% up to $600 | $200 up to $2,000 |
| Rakeback | 15%-60% | 20% or 35% |
| Regular promos | Early Bird Zoom (2x Points NL500$) | Twister Races, Lottery $25,000, Reload |
| Fast Poker | Zoom (up to NL500$) | Speed (no trafic) |
| Spins | Spin&Go NLH, PLO | Twister, Age of The Gods |
| HUD support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Crypto cashier | No | ✅ Yes (10 Coins) |
The iPoker network, which includes RedStar, has experienced strong traffic growth in recent years and now offers almost the same number of tables as PokerStars.
Thanks to its distinctive action distribution, RedStar is particularly well-suited to PokerStars players who are accustomed to grinding large volumes of 6-max tables at mid-stakes (NL20–$200) while earning a solid 35% rakeback. During peak hours, up to two hundred tables are active at these limits alone.
Notably, RedStar is the only poker room where players have access to both a built-in and external HUD software.
Additional features include a generous 200% first-deposit bonus of up to $2,000, an exclusive monthly lottery with a $25,000 prize pool, reload bonuses, and €12,500 Weekly Twister Races.
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