Best Live Poker Hand Tracking Apps: A Complete Comparison for Serious Players
If you are serious about improving at live poker, you need hand data. Online players have long had automatic hand histories — every card, every bet, every position logged and ready for analysis. Live players, by contrast, have usually had to rely on memory, notes, or manual reconstruction. That gap is why a growing number of apps now aim to solve the live hand tracking problem, and why choosing the right one matters more than most players realize.
This guide compares the dedicated live poker hand tracking apps currently available, along with the manual methods many players still use. We evaluate each option on the factors that matter most in live play: logging speed, data completeness, export compatibility with PokerTracker 4, Holdem Manager 3, and Hand2Note, social sharing, pricing, and platform availability. If you are looking for the broader context on why tracking live hands matters and how it fits into your study process, start with our complete guide to tracking live poker hands.
What to Look for in a Live Poker Hand Tracking App
Before diving into individual apps, it helps to understand what separates a good live hand tracker from a less effective one. The live table environment creates constraints that general-purpose note apps — and even many purpose-built poker apps — fail to account for.
At-table logging speed. You play 25–30 hands per hour at a live table, with roughly 30–60 seconds between hands. Any app you use needs to keep pace. If logging a hand takes longer than the gap between deals, you will fall behind and eventually stop using the app.
Data completeness. A hand history that says "I had KK, raised, got called, flopped an ace, and lost" is a story, not data. Useful hand tracking captures positions, stack sizes, bet amounts, board cards, and the action on each street — structured data you can filter, review, and import into analysis software.
Export format compatibility. For many players, export format is the deciding factor. PokerStars text format remains the de facto standard for hand-history interchange, widely supported by leading analysis tools. If your tracking app cannot export in that format, your live hands stay disconnected from the rest of your study workflow.
Social sharing. For players who share hands on X, Instagram, or in study groups, the ability to generate clean visual hand summaries directly from the app saves time.
Data ownership and privacy. Who owns the hand data you log — you, or the app? Can the app sell or share your raw hand histories? Does it run ads that feed your behavioral data to third-party networks? Can you delete your account and data on a clear timeline? Does the app name its third-party providers, or describe them generically? These questions are easy to overlook, but they define what happens to your data after you record it. For a deeper look at how to evaluate poker app privacy policies, see our guide to poker app data ownership.
Pricing and platform. What does it cost, and does it run on your phone?
The Comparison: All Dedicated Hand Tracking Apps
The live poker hand tracking space is small but growing. Here is every dedicated option, evaluated on the criteria above.
LiveHands
What it is: A mobile app for iOS and Android focused on one core task: helping players capture live poker hands quickly at the table and move them into review, analysis, and sharing workflows. Street-by-street action recording using a custom keypad, with one-tap export in PokerStars format to files that import cleanly into analysis tools.
At-table speed: The interface uses tap-based card selection, contextual action buttons, and a custom chip-entry keypad — all built for the 30–60 seconds you have between hands. Table Memory keeps you in flow across an entire session: return to any tournament and stacks, blinds, and positions carry forward automatically. Win/loss results from each hand update all stack totals, and the button advances so the next hand starts with accurate counts and positions across the table. Between hands you can adjust the table setup (new blind level, seat changes, stack updates) without leaving the flow. Hands auto-save continuously, so nothing is lost if you get interrupted — you can resume logging a draft hand right where you left off.
Data completeness: LiveHands captures full hand-level data, including positions, stack sizes, bet amounts by street, cards, pot sizes, SPR, and showdown results. Hands are stored as structured data rather than free-form notes. The app also calculates pot sizes, side pots, and net profit/loss automatically, and it supports notes, favorites, and filters for reviewing hands by outcome, position, betting line, or pot type. During table setup and hand logging, players can toggle the on-screen display between currency and big blind (BB) values for stacks, bets, and pots — useful for seeing standardized stack depths across different blind levels.
Export: One-tap export as PokerStars-format hand history files that import directly into leading desktop analysis tools including PokerTracker 4, Holdem Manager 3, and Hand2Note. LiveHands generates .txt files ready for direct import — individual hands or entire tournaments in bulk — to your phone's file system or directly to Google Drive. For the complete import workflow, see our guide to importing live hands into PT4, HM3, and Hand2Note. Users also have the ability to one-tap share the hand history .txt file with a friend or coach.
Social sharing: Visual share cards that turn any hand into a narrative-driven image designed for posting to X, Instagram, or study groups. The share card design adapts automatically to different hand densities.
Pricing: $10/month after a 7-day free trial with full feature access, no credit card required.
Platform: iOS and Android across 15 countries (North America, Europe, and Oceania). Multi-currency support: USD, EUR, and GBP.
Strengths:
- Fast structured capture designed for live play.
- Native standard hand-history export to desktop analysis software.
- Complete hand lifecycle in one app — log, review, edit, export, share.
- Edit previously logged hands using the same guided flow as initial logging.
- Seat-index architecture with automatic dealer button rotation.
- Supports no-limit holdem tables with 2–10 players.
- Local-first data storage with optional cloud sync, plus draft auto-save for reliability.
- Explicit user data ownership: no ads, no ad-tracking, a named third-party provider list in the privacy policy, a 30-day account deletion timeline, and GDPR provisions with appointed EU and UK representatives.
Limitations:
- Designed exclusively for live tournament poker — purpose-built for serious players.
Best for:
- Players whose workflow includes desktop analysis software and who need direct-import compatibility.
- Students working with coaches, and coaches who want structured hand histories in a format they can use immediately.
- Players who prioritize speed and data completeness above all else.
Fastroll Poker
What it is: A dedicated live poker hand tracking app (iOS and Android) with a tap-based UI designed for at-table speed. Endorsed by Bart Hanson and integrates his "Crush Live Call-Ins" content. Free tier available; premium features require a paid subscription.
At-table speed: The tap-based interface is quick, and the "draft hands" feature lets you bookmark a hand with minimal information and fill in details later — useful when you do not have time to record everything in the moment.
Data completeness: Solid hand-level capture with positions, stacks, actions, and cards. Includes a personal database with filters and built-in equity calculators.
Export: Fastroll takes a different approach to export. It offers four human-readable formats (Default, Emoji, Discord, and Plain Text) via copy-to-clipboard, which works well for sharing and discussion but not for direct import into analysis-software-compatible workflows. If your process depends on desktop analysis software like PT4, HM3, or Hand2Note, that limitation matters.
Pricing: Crusher plan at $149.99/year, $14.99/month, or $4.99/week, with a 14-day free trial. Basic logging features are available in the free tier.
Platform: iOS and Android.
Strengths:
- Strong ratings (4.9/5 on iOS).
- Purpose-built for speed with the draft hands feature.
- Built-in equity calculators.
- Bart Hanson integration adds educational value.
- Available on both platforms.
Limitations:
- No standard hand-history export for direct import into desktop analysis software.
- No social sharing card generation.
- Higher price point at $149.99/year compared to other options.
Best for:
- Players who want fast at-table logging with built-in equity tools and do not need analysis software import compatibility.
- Players in the Bart Hanson / CrushLivePoker community.
Pokerscope
What it is: A free-to-start app (iOS, Mac, and Android) with an innovative shorthand converter that transforms abbreviated notes into structured hand replays. Also includes a GTO trainer, equity drills, and bankroll tracking. PokerStars-format export and other advanced features require the paid Pokerscope Edge tier ($49.99/year or $6.99/month) — the free tier is for logging and review only.
At-table speed: Instead of structured at-table input, Pokerscope relies on shorthand conversion. You enter abbreviated notes such as "hero bu kk open 15, sb 3b 50, flop A72r," and the app converts them into a fuller hand replay. In practice, that workflow is usually better suited to post-session reconstruction than between-hand logging.
Data completeness: The shorthand converter produces structured replays with positions, stacks, and actions. Output quality depends on what you include in the shorthand — more detail produces a more complete hand history.
Export: PokerStars-format export on the paid Edge tier, which connects Pokerscope to the same desktop analysis workflow as LiveHands — one of only two apps in this comparison with that capability, though here it sits behind a subscription rather than the free tier.
Pricing: Free tier available; Pokerscope Edge is $49.99/year or $6.99/month, adding PokerStars-format export, unlimited hand notes, unlimited drills, advanced filters, and custom card designs.
Platform: iOS, Mac, and Android.
Strengths:
- Free tier to get started.
- Analysis-software-compatible export (rare among competitors), on the paid Edge tier.
- Innovative shorthand approach.
- Cross-platform including Android.
- Responsive developer.
- Feature-rich, with a GTO trainer and equity drills included.
Limitations:
- Small user base (~14 ratings on iOS).
- Relies on post-session shorthand reconstruction rather than at-the-table structured capture.
- Feature scope has expanded significantly (GTO trainer, bankroll tracking, equity drills), which may spread development focus across many areas.
- No visible business model, which may affect development sustainability.
Best for:
- Players comfortable with shorthand notation who prefer post-session reconstruction.
- Players who want PokerStars-format export bundled with a broader study toolkit (GTO trainer, equity drills, bankroll tracking).
Pokerbase
What it is: A poker tracking app (iOS, Android) combining bankroll tracking, hand recording, hand replayer, and social features. One of the more technically ambitious apps in this space. Free to download, but it is freemium — several features and its top tier require a paid subscription.
At-table speed: Modern, well-designed interface with hand recording and a visual replayer. The breadth of features means hand logging is one of several priorities rather than the sole focus.
Export: No PokerStars-format export. The Elite tier adds direct hand export to GTO Wizard, but the core focus is in-app review and community sharing rather than feeding PT4, HM3, or Hand2Note.
Pricing: Free to download (freemium). Paid tiers: Pro at $8.33/month billed annually ($99.99/year) or $12.99/month, and Elite at $24.99/month billed annually ($299.99/year) or $39.99/month. Some features (PDF export, casino balances) and Elite-only tools (Hand AI Exploit Reviews, GTO Wizard export, voice-input session logging) require payment.
Platform: iOS and Android.
Strengths:
- Modern interface.
- Social features built into the core experience.
- Hand replayer with visual board.
Limitations:
- Covers a lot of ground — bankroll, hands, social, replayer — which means hand logging shares priority with other features.
- Not purpose-built for at-table speed.
- No PokerStars-format export (Elite adds GTO Wizard export only).
- Despite the free-to-download label, core features and the Elite tier require a paid subscription.
Best for:
- Players who want a social poker experience with community hand sharing built in.
Manual Methods: Notes, Journals, and Memory
Before dedicated apps existed, serious live players used what they had. Many still do.
Phone notes apps remain the most common fallback: they are fast to open and easy to use, but the result is usually unstructured text with no clean export path to analysis software. Paper poker journals, including products like SplitSuit's Poker Journal, offer more structure and discretion but cannot be digitally exported, searched, or filtered — for a deeper comparison, see our article on paper poker journals vs hand tracking apps. Voice memos are quick to capture but slower to process later. Memory alone is the least reliable method; after a long live session, most players remember only a fraction of the most important decisions.
If you are recording hands at the table for the first time, any method beats no method. The question is what you want to do with the data afterward — if you want to import into PT4, HM3, or Hand2Note, you will eventually need structured digital capture.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Feature | LiveHands | Fastroll | Pokerscope | Pokerbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Hand logging | Hand logging | Shorthand conversion + toolkit | Bankroll + hands + social |
| At-Table Speed | Purpose-built (tap-based, custom keypad) | Purpose-built (tap-based, draft hands) | Post-session shorthand | Part of broader app |
| PokerStars Export | Yes (file-based) | No (clipboard text) | Yes (paid Edge) | No (GTO Wizard on Elite) |
| PT4/HM3/Hand2Note | Direct import | Not compatible | Compatible via PS format (Edge) | Not compatible |
| Session Continuity | Table Memory (stacks, blinds, positions carry forward) | Draft hands (bookmark and fill in later) | Manual shorthand | Manual entry |
| Social Share Cards | Yes | No | No | Community sharing |
| Pricing | $10/mo (7-day free trial) | $149.99/yr ($14.99/mo) | Free tier; Edge $49.99/yr | Free tier; Pro $8.33/mo, Elite $24.99/mo |
| iOS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Data Ownership | Explicit user ownership; no ads; 30-day deletion | Broad usage rights; ad-supported free tier | Not addressed; no ads | Data shared with ad and analytics partners |
| Unique Strength | Speed + analysis-software export | Draft hands + equity tools | PS-format export + study toolkit | Social features |
Which App Is Right for You?
The best choice depends less on brand preference and more on what you want your hand data to do after the session.
If you use desktop analysis software (PT4, HM3, Hand2Note, etc.): LiveHands and Pokerscope are the only options with native PokerStars-format export that feeds directly into these tools. LiveHands captures hands at the table between deals with structured input and includes export on its standard plan; Pokerscope converts shorthand notes after the session and gates PokerStars-format export behind its paid Edge tier. The choice comes down to whether you prefer at-the-table logging or post-session reconstruction. LiveHands is also the stronger option for coach-student workflows, since coaches receive structured hand histories ready for immediate import.
If data ownership matters to you: The apps in this comparison handle your data very differently — from explicit user ownership with no ads, to broad usage rights and ad-network tracking. See our guide to poker app data ownership for a detailed breakdown of what you are agreeing to.
If you want at-table speed and built-in equity tools but do not need analysis software import: Fastroll is purpose-built for speed with draft hands and equity calculators. It is one of the stronger pure logging options for players who do not need analysis software export.
If you want a social poker experience with community hand sharing: Pokerbase has built-in social features that the other apps lack.
If you want a study toolkit with analysis-software export and prefer post-session entry: Pokerscope has a free tier for logging and review, and its paid Edge tier ($49.99/year) adds PokerStars-format export plus a GTO trainer and equity tools. The trade-off is that capture happens through post-session shorthand reconstruction rather than at-the-table structured input.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use more than one of these apps?
Yes, and many players do. A common combination is a dedicated hand logger (LiveHands or Fastroll) for hand capture alongside a separate session tracker for results and bankroll management. Hand tracking captures decisions; session tracking captures results.
Do I really need PokerStars-format export?
If you use or plan to use any of the leading desktop analysis tools that accept this format, then yes. If you do not use analysis software and review hands within the app itself, export format is less critical.
What about card room phone policies?
Most card rooms allow phone use between hands but restrict it during active play. Check your specific card room's policy before your first session.
Is there a free option that covers most needs?
For in-app logging and review, yes — Pokerscope has the most capable free tier, and phone notes or a paper journal cost nothing. But if "most needs" includes export into PT4, HM3, or Hand2Note, expect to pay: PokerStars-format export sits behind a paid tier on every app that offers it, including Pokerscope's Edge plan. No app currently offers free analysis-software export.
Start Tracking Your Live Hands
The biggest difference between live and online poker is still the data. An online site captures every hand for you automatically, while at a live table the burden is on you — so you need a tool that keeps up with the pace of play and produces data you can actually use afterward.
Plug the data leak in your live game. LiveHands helps you capture your hands quickly at the table between deals and export them to the analysis tools serious players already use—so you can review more effectively and improve faster. Try it free for 7 days.