PokerStars vs PartyPoker: A Comprehensive Comparison for Online Poker Players
Introduction: Comparing Two Titans of Online Poker
PokerStars and PartyPoker are two of the most renowned names in the online poker industry. Both platforms have significantly shaped the evolution and popularity of poker across the globe. While their histories share many similarities, crucial differences—especially regarding their market focus and approach since 2006—have set them apart.
This in-depth guide examines PokerStars and PartyPoker across all critical factors: software, game diversity, traffic, bonuses, player quality, and more. By the end, you’ll know which site best suits your online poker needs.
Platform Software & User Experience
PokerStars: Advanced and Customizable Experience
PokerStars has built a reputation for providing one of the most polished and stable poker clients in the industry. The desktop application offers:
– Intuitive and appealing interface
– Extremely reliable performance with minimal disconnects
– Advanced filters to sort games by game type, buy-in, table size, and more
– Extensive customization: select table backgrounds, automate rebuys, set preferred seating, and tailor multi-tabling layouts
Their mobile app, available for both iOS and Android, supports multi-tabling and delivers a seamless poker experience, making it the top choice for serious mobile players.
PartyPoker: Modern and Enjoyable, with Entertaining Features
PartyPoker’s software has undergone several upgrades. Its latest version presents:
– Modern interface with improved aesthetics
– Strong overall stability and responsive gameplay
– Convenient game filters and reasonable customization
– Unique touches, like sending emoticons to opponents for added fun
While it may not be quite as feature-rich as PokerStars, most players will find PartyPoker’s client efficient and enjoyable, especially for casual and mid-stakes play.
Verdict: PokerStars edges ahead due to its advanced customization and renowned stability, but PartyPoker remains highly competitive and enjoyable for most users.
Game Selection: Variety and Special Formats
PokerStars: The Home of Poker Variety
No online poker operator can match PokerStars’ breadth of game variations, making it a haven for those who crave diversity. Besides standard No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha, PokerStars offers:
– Seven Card Stud
– Five Card Draw
– Deuce to Seven (Triple & Single Draw)
– Razz
– HORSE
– Badugi
– Eight Game Mix
– 6+ Hold’em
– 5 & 6 Card Omaha
All these variants are available across a range of stakes, both in cash game and tournament formats.
PartyPoker: Mainstream Focus
PartyPoker sticks primarily to popular options: No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and 6+ (Short Deck) Hold’em. Additional poker variants are not supported, which may disappoint those interested in games like Stud or mixed formats.
Conclusion: If you want diverse poker options, PokerStars is unrivaled. For standard Hold’em and Omaha action, both platforms are solid choices.
Cash Games and Fast-Fold Formats
Cash Game Stakes and Player Volume
PokerStars features cash tables for almost every budget, starting at micro-stakes ($0.01/$0.02) and ranging up to $200/$400. It consistently boasts more simultaneous tables and player traffic at higher levels compared to PartyPoker.
PartyPoker similarly offers a good spread, from $0.01/$0.02 up to $50/$100. However, action typically peaks at lower to mid-stakes (up to $5/$10), with higher stakes attracting less consistent traffic.
Fast-Fold Poker: Zoom vs. Fast Forward
PokerStars’ Zoom and PartyPoker’s Fast Forward offer fast-fold action for rapid gameplay. PokerStars supports these games for both Hold’em and Omaha, and across a wider range of stakes, including heads-up formats. The player pool is generally larger, resulting in a smoother experience.
PartyPoker’s Fast Forward is only available in 6-max format, with a smaller player pool and no heads-up fast-fold tables.
Summary: For high stakes and large player pools, PokerStars is superior. However, PartyPoker is ideal for softer games at low to mid-stakes.
Tournament Offerings and Special Formats
PokerStars: The King of Online Tournaments
No platform rivals PokerStars for tournament selection and scale. It offers:
– Busy daily schedules across all buy-in levels
– Major events like Sunday Million, WCOOP, SCOOP, and Micro Millions
– Satellite qualifiers for live series, especially European Poker Tour stops
These large fields and sky-high guarantees constantly draw both recreational and professional players.
PartyPoker: Competitive, But Smaller Scale
PartyPoker has worked hard to develop a robust tournament schedule, including its flagship PartyPoker Million event. While guarantees are generally smaller than PokerStars, this results in more manageable tournament fields, creating reduced variance and more frequent cashes for skilled players.
Lottery Sit & Go’s: Spin & Go vs Spins
PokerStars pioneered the lottery sit & go concept with Spin & Go tournaments—three-player, hyper-turbo games with randomized prize pools that can reach up to 10,000 times the buy-in.
PartyPoker’s “Spins” mirror this format, also offering the chance to win massive payouts from a small buy-in. These games on PartyPoker often feature slightly softer competition, making them attractive for players seeking lower variance.
Player Traffic: Comparing Activity Levels
Substantial player traffic is essential for finding active games at any time. PokerStars leads the global market, routinely featuring over 9,000 players as a seven-day average, making it the busiest online poker room worldwide.
PartyPoker, although lagging behind with around 1,900 average players, still offers steady action during peak hours, especially for lower- and mid-stakes games.
Summary: PokerStars is unbeatable for sheer traffic volume. However, unless you play high stakes or require dozens of simultaneous tables, PartyPoker provides sufficient options for most players.
Player Skill Level: Where Are the Softer Games?
The overall player pool skill is an important consideration. Generally, PartyPoker is considered to have “softer” games, with a higher proportion of casual and recreational players, especially at the lower and mid-stakes. This is due to poker-focused promotions that encourage beginners and non-professional players to join.
PokerStars, by contrast, tends to attract more professional grinders, partly due to its reputation and massive tournament fields.
Over time, PartyPoker’s improved loyalty rewards have started drawing more regular, serious players, slightly closing the softness gap between the two sites. Still, if your goal is to find less competitive tables, PartyPoker often remains the preferable option.
Bonuses and Promotions: Value for New and Returning Players
PokerStars Welcome Bonuses:
– 100% deposit match up to $600 released incrementally through play
– Alternatively, deposit $20+ for a $30 bonus package including cash and Spin & Go tickets
– Ongoing regular promotions such as Spin & Go leaderboards, Platinum Pass giveaways, and short-term leaderboards
While PokerStars offers a solid starting bonus, ongoing promotions are generally considered average.
PartyPoker Welcome Offers:
– Deposit $10 for $10 in Spins tickets or deposit $20 for $30 in Spins tickets
– Daily and weekly leaderboards across cash games, tournaments, and Spins
Although the entry bonuses may seem modest, PartyPoker’s key strength lies in its cashback system.
Cashback and Loyalty Programs: Rakeback Comparison
PartyPoker provides clear, tiered cashback of up to 40% per week. It’s straightforward—all you need to do is opt in and accumulate points based on your rake:
| Points Earned Weekly | Cashback Percentage |
|---|---|
| 25 – 149 | 20% |
| 150 – 599 | 25% |
| 600 – 1,199 | 30% |
| 2,000+ | 40% |
By contrast, PokerStars utilizes a randomized “Chests” reward structure. Many players find PartyPoker’s transparent cashback system more valuable and consistent, especially for higher-volume grinders.
Banking Methods: Deposits and Withdrawals
Both PokerStars and PartyPoker support a wide range of payment methods to accommodate players from around the world, such as:
– Credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard)
– Popular e-wallets (PayPal, Skrill, NETELLER)
– Bank transfers and additional alternatives
However, the availability of specific options can vary depending on your country, due to regulatory restrictions. Both platforms are reliable about processing withdrawals and adhere to rigorous security and verification procedures.
Customer Support and Player Assistance
Efficient customer support can make a big difference. PokerStars offers support via email and social media, but recent feedback suggests response times and effectiveness could improve compared to its earlier years.
PartyPoker provides multiple support channels: email, live chat, and phone. Additionally, their help center is detailed and user-friendly, helping players troubleshoot common issues independently.
Overall, you’re likely to have a more direct and supportive experience with PartyPoker’s service team.
Which Should You Choose: PokerStars or PartyPoker?
Both PokerStars and PartyPoker are outstanding, secure options for online poker, but they each excel in different areas:
- PokerStars is unbeatable for tournament volume, game variety, and high-traffic cash tables. If you love playing mixed games or want the biggest prize pools, PokerStars is your home.
- PartyPoker offers softer cash tables, more lucrative cashback, player-focused promotions, and generally more user-friendly support. For those prioritizing value and a less competitive environment, it’s an excellent choice.
If your focus is on Hold’em and Omaha, both platforms deliver a great experience. However, for any other poker variant, PokerStars remains the more versatile option.
Make sure to choose a trustworthy site with a well-established reputation for safety and player support.
