The best poker apps in Canada let you play on any iOS or Android device, wherever you are. With our top picks, you won’t find much of a difference between desktop and mobile play, with these apps offering the same access to bonuses worth thousands of dollars, cash games starting at $0.01/$0.02, and MTTs with million-dollar prize pools. And yes, you can multi-table too.
We test poker apps for ease of use, connection and app stability, mobile-friendly features like bet sliders and quick bet buttons, and more. Before we take a more detailed look at our recommendations, here’s a full list of the best CA poker apps available today.
Top Poker Apps
In This Guide
Pros and Cons of Poker Apps
There are lots of benefits to using poker apps, from fast play on the go to speedy logins and exclusive bonuses, but there are some drawbacks too.
- Access poker with one tap
- Ultra-fast access to tables
- Play from anywhere and on the go
- Never miss a tournament
- App exclusive bonuses are available
- Multi-tabling is harder
- Tricky to use third-party tools
Mobile Poker Apps vs Desktop Play
Let’s see how the best poker apps compare to their desktop counterparts.
- Convenience – Mobile poker apps are more convenient. Pull out a phone and play, regardless of your location. But because of the small screen size, it’s more cumbersome to try to multi-table. Desktop computers have a clear edge.
- Tools – If you like to run third-party study and assistance tools while playing online poker, a desktop computer makes things much easier. The larger screen allows you to display different programs more easily.
- Connection – Depending on your exact location, you’re more likely to run into signal issues on a mobile phone than you would with a fixed internet connection. What’s more, there’s no danger of your computer trying to take a call mid-hand.
- Social – Using a desktop requires you to be fixed in place. On mobile, it’s easier to get a group of you in the same room, all playing together – even if you’re seated at different online tables.
- Bonuses – Apps almost always offer the same promotions as desktop poker sites. But from time to time, brands run special mobile-only bonuses to help promote their app. That gives mobile players an extra chance to cash in.
Best Poker Apps in Canada for Beginners
Selecting the best poker app for new players depends entirely on what you’re looking to achieve.
It’s possible to play No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha from just $0.01 / $0.02 at certain apps, so micro-stakes are covered. You’ll also find several daily freerolls, plus “centrolls” – tournaments with a buy-in of just one cent. These are ideal for newcomers seeking to build a bankroll.
But it attracts a higher standard of player than some other poker sites in Canada at the higher stakes. If you’re looking for the softest possible games, try out a few different apps before settling on your favourite.
Poker App Bonuses
Canada’s best poker apps provide a plentiful supply of bonuses to new and existing players.
Typically, such promotions are available on both desktop and mobile. But, on rare occasions, you might find special offers for mobile users only.
Welcome Bonus
It’s rare to see a poker app without some form of welcome bonus, as the industry is highly competitive. They come in several forms, but they’re always exclusively reserved for first-time registrants.
Deposit Bonus
As the name suggests, these require a real-money deposit before you can claim your reward.
Add money to your account, and you’ll receive a percentage bonus on top. For example, a 150% bonus on a deposit of $100 would yield a $150 bonus, totalling $250.
Deposit match offers may be awarded to existing players, often referred to as “reload bonuses.” But the high percentage deposit bonuses are generally reserved for welcome offers.
No Deposit Bonus
The opposite of a deposit bonus, this type of promotion is increasingly rare. They’re usually given to new players. But it’s not impossible to find no-deposit offers for existing players, often as part of a VIP program.
All you need to do is create an account – and possibly opt into the promotion manually – to receive your free bonus credits.
These are undoubtedly one of the best poker bonuses, as you don’t need to risk any of your own money to start playing.
Tournament Tickets
Some poker sites offer free entry to selected tournaments as part of the welcome package or as a reward for loyal players.
We’re not talking about freeroll tournaments here, where none of the players involved pay a buy-in. These are regular tournaments with a real-money entry fee, but your bonus tickets allow you to play for free.
Game Types on Online Poker Apps
It’s time to look into the different games on offer on Canada’s best poker apps. It’s not a complete list, and you might find additional variants on some apps, but these are the most common.
Texas Hold’em
When you first learn how to play poker, the game is most probably Texas Hold’em. After all, it’s the most popular form of the game in the world, not just Canada.
It’s so beloved, particularly in the No Limit format, because it’s a perfect blend of psychology, mathematics, and risk. That said, you can also play this community card-based game with a Pot or Fixed Limit structure, and it’s just as enjoyable.
Whatever the setup, each player receives two hole cards, which must be combined with those on the board to make the best possible hand.
Omaha
All the best poker apps in Canada offer Omaha, along with several popular variants, including 5-Card Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo.
The most common form of the game is structured almost exactly like its Texan cousin, with just one key difference. Players receive four cards and are required to use exactly two of them when forming their hand.
This results in many more potential hand combinations than Hold’em, meaning draws are more likely to get there.
2-7 Triple Draw
Once called “Kansas City Lowball,” 2-7 Triple Draw is popular with high-stakes cash players. Only the very best poker apps offer it, as it’s not as popular as games like Hold’em and Omaha.
2-7 Triple Draw is a lowball game, so the aim is to make what would traditionally be the weakest possible hand. Everyone receives five cards, and you’ll have three opportunities to discard and try to “improve” your hand.
It’s played using 2-7 rules, rather than A-5, meaning straights and flushes play. As a result, the best possible holding is 7-5-4-3-2.
Short Deck
Another game popularised by high-stakes cash players is this modified form of Hold’em.
The standard 52-card deck is reduced to just 36 – hence the game’s name – by removing every 2, 3, 4, and 5. This also explains the alternative moniker, “Six Plus Hold’em.”
Whatever you call it, many of the best poker apps are starting to offer it.
Short Deck is a fascinating game that features much more action than standard Hold’em. There are some quirky rules, too, as a result of the missing cards. Flushes now beat full houses, as they’re harder to hit, while 9-8-7-6-A becomes the lowest possible straight.
Free Poker Apps
When you’re new to the game, it’s tempting to start out with a free poker app, but we don’t recommend it.
While there’s no financial risk involved with these play-money apps, there’s no incentive to play properly, either. As a result, the standard of play is appalling.
Most hands involve multiple players shoving all-in, and there’s little, if any, post-flop play. You just won’t learn anything that’s applicable in a real money game.
A free poker app might be good for picking up the basics, such as poker hand rankings or how blinds work. But if you’re looking to gain authentic experience and sharpen your strategy, it’s better to play on a real money poker app.
You can still find ways to minimize the risk, if that’s a concern. Claim a bankroll-boosting welcome bonus – perhaps even some free tournament tickets – or stick to playing in freeroll tournaments.
Either way, the standard will be much higher, and you’ll learn far more than you ever would using free poker apps.
Poker App Tools
In addition to the many different mobile apps that actually let you play poker, you’ll find many other useful poker software tools, such as that can help you become a profitable player.
- Tracking software – Build a comprehensive hand history database to help you spot and plug gaps in your game.
- GTO solvers – These poker apps use game theory principles to help you understand optimal poker strategy in any given situation. Example: GTO Wizard, a leading poker solver and hand analysis tool.
- Heads-Up Displays – A HUD offers assistance during and after a session, by providing important statistics about you and your opponents. Example: Holdem Manager 3, which combines one of the best HUDs with hand tracking software.
- Equity tools – The ability to calculate hand or range equities is an important weapon in any poker student’s arsenal. Example: Flopzilla, one of the cheapest hand range analysis tools.
Our Verdict
Ready to download a poker app and start playing? Remember to keep the following pointers in mind.
- Free poker apps – You’ll learn nothing at all from play money apps. Stick to the real deal, using freerolls and bonuses to build your fledgling bankroll.
- Poker app bonuses – Examples include new player signup offers, some of which include free tournament entries. Look out, too, for exclusive mobile app bonuses.
- Real apps are legal – Canada does have legal poker sites and apps of its own. However, the best real money poker apps are based offshore.
