Poker Software: A Comprehensive Guide to Programs Used by Professionals

To reach the heights of poker, one must learn systematically. Reading books, watching videos, discussing strategy with colleagues, and practice — there are various ways to learn the game. Working with specialised software is one of the most effective methods. Let's discuss useful poker software.

What Software Poker Players Use

At the dawn of online poker, players' needs were entirely met by statistical software and basic calculators. 

Professionals use various software combinations. The specific choice depends on the player's skill level, discipline, and poker room.

Later, alongside Holdem Manager and PokerTracker, SharkScope emerged — a service for finding information on opponents in tournaments. Parallel to the industry's growth, the poker software market also evolved. Want to comfortably play multiple tables? Use StarsCaption. Need to create charts for each position? Take Flopzilla. As the average skill level of players increased, so did the demand for advanced software.

To win today, one must use every opportunity to gain an advantage. Systematically working in poker software will provide an edge over opponents. Therefore, we recommend using the most modern poker software. Do not dismiss classic tools: a tracker in skilled hands is useful both in 2007 and 2025. Let's look at current statistical software, solvers, auxiliary programs, and other tools.

Hand2Note

Hand2Note collects hand history in a database and provides statistics on opponents. 

The new version of H2N supports macOS. Previously, the tracker didn't work on Apple computers.

Information from the HUD will allow making better decisions during hands. Importing the history will enable analysing mistakes and improving skill levels away from the tables. Advanced filters and graphs will provide players a large volume of data for growth. Compared to its competitors, H2N stands out for its innovative tools, hand import speed, and the number of supported rooms. Hand2Note operates on over 50 poker sites.

How to Try for Free. Previously, the developer offered a free basic version of Hand2Note 3 without term limits. Newbies had the opportunity to play immediately with HUD and import hand history. After the release of the new tracker version — Hand2Note 4 — the free H2N3 was removed. Now players are offered a 30-day trial of Hand2Note 3. You can also download a trial of Hand2Note 4. The current tracker is available for free testing for 14 days.

Alternatives. The overall impression of Hand2Note is marred by two facts: price and distribution model. An annual subscription to the reduced version of the tracker — H2N Learner — costs $192. For Hand2Note Pro, they ask $588 a year. Therefore, many poker players opt for simpler options like Holdem Manager 3 or PokerTracker 4. Both trackers offer lifetime licenses. Many players prefer to pay once $100, rather than spending from $16 to $49 each month.

SharkScope

SharkScope provides a lot of useful information about opponents in tournaments. The service data can help make the right decision at a critical tournament moment.

SharkScope allows you to hide your results from search

SharkScope answers questions like:

• How many tournaments has the opponent played?

• How much has he won or lost?

• What is his average buy-in?

• What form is he in?

Conclusions about the opponent can be drawn from the graph and symbol next to their nickname. For example, one should play more cautiously against holders of a shark or diamond star. To avoid searching for information on each opponent individually, you can purchase SharkScope HUD. The software will automatically pull information on opponents at the table. Since September 2023, the service does not support PokerOK and other rooms of the Good Game network. The lack of data from the most popular modern poker platform is a significant disadvantage of SharkScope.

How to Try for Free. Registered users of the service get 5 free searches per day. Recently, the feature does not always work. Often, attempting to find information returns the notification “An active SharkScope subscription is required to use this feature.” To fully work with the service, a subscription is required. The most budget-friendly plan — Bronze with 10 searches per day — costs $7 a month when paid for annually. Professionals might prefer the Silver or Gold subscriptions. The first offers 150 searches a day, the second — 1,000.

Alternatives. In the 2000s, players used: PokerTableRatings, Official Poker Ratings, Macropoker, and Tournament Shark. By 2025, none of them survived. There are no alternatives to SharkScope.

Flopzilla

The main value of Flopzilla is the ability to dissect a specific hand. Regular hand analysis allows learning from personal mistakes. 

Flopzilla trains combinatorics and teaches to think in ranges

Working with ranges is also highly beneficial. Save separate charts for: raises, calls, 3-bets, 4-bets. The updated Flopzilla Pro was integrated by the developer into the GTO+ solver. As a result, users can import ranges and boards from one program to another.

How to Try for Free. The developer provides a 7-day trial. 

Alternatives. Among other poker calculators, we highlight Power-Equilab and Oranges Calculator. The distribution model disfavors the first. A subscription to Power-Equilab costs $42 a year, whereas a lifetime license for Flopzilla is $25. The variety of products is a disadvantage of Oranges Calculator. The calculator's creator offers 13 software variations. However, he carefully copied Flopzilla's interface, simplifying the switch from one calculator to another. Let's also mention FreeBetRange — an application for constructing ranges in a browser.

ICMIZER

ICMIZER is the best push/fold trainer for tournament players. The software will teach you to go all-in profitably and avoid losing calls. 

Without short stack game skills, success in tournament poker cannot be achieved

An indispensable tool for players: MTT, Sit&Go, Spin&Go. Users can both upload their hand history for analysis and practice decisions in the trainer. ICMIZER can: automatically parse a player's session, find errors, and suggest profitable actions. There is a browser version of the software. 

How to Try for Free. The developer provides a 7-day trial. The trial supports all functions.

Alternatives. In the past, Sit&Go players highly rated SNG Wizard. Now, paying $100 for outdated software is pointless. Among ICMIZER competitors, we highlight HoldemResources Calculator. The calculator can analyse the push/fold stage in tournaments with a focus on GTO. The interface is a drawback of HoldemResources Calculator. ICMIZER is significantly more understandable than HRC.

GTO Wizard

GTO Wizard is a leading tool for mastering balanced poker. It teaches how to use the right frequencies and prepares for any opponent's action. 

GTO Wizard is suitable for both cash game players and tournament regulars

Allows loading and analysing hand history. Users can dissect specific hands as well as practice decisions in the trainer. GTO Wizard offers players an extensive library of ready-made solutions, which is constantly being expanded. Tournament players are offered 3 subscription levels. Each adds new features and increases the number of hands available for analysis.

How to Try for Free. After registration, base preflop solutions and 1 postflop solution per day will be available to players. The trial allows practising up to 10 situations daily on the Practice tab.

Alternatives. Among GTO Wizard competitors, we note: RangeConverter, Deepsolver, and GTOBase. Each falls short of the leader in terms of available tools and depth of analysis.

Jurojin Poker

Jurojin Poker simplifies playing multiple tables at once. The software can:

• assign hotkeys;

• convert stacks into big blinds;

• switch player focus to the active table;

• save betting profiles for preflop and postflop;

• provide brief information on opponents' actions in a hand;

• arrange tables on a monitor screen according to a pre-defined template. 

The specific list of functions depends on the poker room

Jurojin Poker supports all popular platforms: PokerOK, GGPoker, PokerStars, PokerKing, RedStar Poker, TigerGaming, Winamax, 888Poker, CoinPoker, PPPoker. 

How to Try for Free. The developer offers an indefinite trial for low-stakes players. The software works for free in:

• multi-table tournaments with buy-ins up to $5;

• spin-and-go tournaments with buy-ins up to $2;

• cash games up to NL10 stakes inclusive.

Alternatives. The main value of Jurojin Poker is its universality. The software supports most popular poker rooms and applications. However, there are specialised tools for specific platforms:

If you play in one poker room, you might consider a less expensive alternative to Jurojin Poker. For example, an annual subscription to StarsCaption costs $24. Jurojin Poker's price is considerably higher — $300 per year. A hidden argument for StarsCaption is that the program will arrange windows on the monitor screen for free if the player hasn't launched PokerStars. Therefore, regulars of Americas Cardroom, Betsson, and other rooms can save when playing at multiple tables.

Conclusion

Working with poker software is an effective way to improve your game level. At the start of your career, a tracker and calculator will suffice for progress. As you grow in skill, it is necessary to transition to more complex tools, such as solvers and push/fold trainers. Supporting poker programs will also be beneficial. They relieve routine off the player and allow more time for making better decisions. 

FAQ

Which Poker Program Should You Buy First?

The most beneficial at the start of your career is a poker tracker. We recommend considering: Hand2Note, Holdem Manager 3, PokerTracker 4, DriveHUD 2. Each statistical program can be evaluated for free with a trial.

How to Learn to Play with a Short Stack in Tournaments?

ICMIZER will help practice short stack play. Analyse your own hand history or practice making decisions in the trainer.

Where is it Better to Create Raise, Call, 3-Bet Ranges?

Working with ranges is convenient in poker calculators: Flopzilla, Power-Equilab, Oranges Calculator. Each program can group hands and colour them differently. FreeBetRange also deserves attention.

How to Learn Information About an Unknown Opponent in a Tournament?

SharkScope gathers data on opponents in tournaments. The service indirectly indicates the opponent's skill level, provides information on the number of tournaments played, total earnings, and other metrics.