Poker Mavens alternative
Outgrowing Poker Mavens? Meet Poker Engine.
An honest comparison for operators deciding what to run next.
Poker Mavens is affordable, well-known play-money software for a Windows server. Poker Engine is built for running a poker business: a cashier, compliance tools, bots, agents, native apps and the source code.
Poker Mavens vs Poker Engine
Poker Mavens details from briggsoft.com (version 7.36), checked 3 November 2026. “Not listed” means the Poker Mavens site doesn’t mention it.
| Poker Mavens | Poker Engine | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Play-money poker | Real-money and play-money sites |
| Server | Windows | Linux with Docker, or Kubernetes |
| Player apps | HTML5 web app in the browser | React web app plus native iOS and Android apps |
| Cashier and payment providers | Not listed | Stripe, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, CoinPayments, BTCPay Server, bank transfer and more |
| KYC, AML and fraud tools | Not listed | Included |
| Bot players | Not listed | Six strategy profiles |
| Agents and clubs | Not listed | Agent hierarchy, commissions, clubs |
| Tournaments | Freezeout, bounty, rebuy, re-entry, shootout, satellites; MTT on Pro and Gold | MTT, Sit & Go and satellites, rebuys and re-entries |
| Source code | Not listed | Professional and Enterprise |
| Price | $39.95 / $149.95 / $499.95 (Lite, Pro, Gold) | €2.500 or €5.000 per year, €10.000 one-time |
Which one fits?
When Poker Engine is the better choice
- You take deposits and pay out winnings
- You need KYC, AML and fraud review
- You want bots to fill tables while you grow
- You work with agents or run clubs
- You want your own apps in the App Store and Google Play
- Your developers want the source code
When Poker Mavens may suit you better
For a small play-money game with friends on a Windows PC, Poker Mavens costs far less. It also offers some variants Poker Engine doesn’t, such as five- and six-card Omaha, Courchevel and Razz, and run-it-twice.
Switching from Poker Mavens
Questions Poker Mavens operators ask us.
Is Poker Engine more expensive than Poker Mavens?
Yes. Poker Mavens starts at $39.95; Poker Engine starts at €2.500 a year. The difference pays for a platform built for running a poker business: cashier, compliance, bots, agents, apps and support.
Can I move my Poker Mavens site to Poker Engine?
Yes, as a migration project. We help bring your players, balances and history across. Tell us about your site.
Does Poker Engine run on Windows?
It runs on Linux servers with Docker; Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is recommended. A small VPS from about €7 a month is enough to start.
Do my players need to install anything?
No. Players use the website in any modern browser, and you can also publish native iOS and Android apps.
See the difference for yourself
Open the live demo next to your Poker Mavens site and compare.