Are Poker HUDs Worth It? Comparing the Most Popular Options

[CRStals]

Part 2 of 4 — Are Poker HUDs Worth It? Comparing the Most Popular Options​

(Including Embedded HUDs like GG Poker)

One of the next big decisions you’ll face when investing in a solid poker HUD is which one to buy. To help with that decision, we’re profiling five of the most popular poker HUDs on the market, plus GG Poker’s built-in SmartHUD, so you can compare six options side by side.

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🚨 Important Note​

This article is NOT an advertisement.

• No affiliate links
• No paid promotions
• No “best HUD” recommendation

The goal is simple: compare features and limitations so you can decide which HUD best fits your game. If something stands out to you, do your own research before purchasing.

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🔍 What We’ll Cover​

• PokerTracker 4
• Hold’em Manager 3
• Hand2Note
• DriveHUD
• GG Poker’s Embedded SmartHUD

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💥 PokerTracker 4​

PokerTracker 4 (PT4) is one of the most widely used HUDs today, largely due to how long the company has been producing poker software. Originally launched in 2001, PT has gone through multiple major overhauls and remains a staple for both amateur and professional players. Its longevity as one of the first true online poker tracking tools has helped cement its place in the market.

✅ Pros​

• Multiple HUD configurations that can change as cash games or tournaments progress
• Note-taking and hand-flagging available while playing
• Leak analysis tools to identify weaknesses in your game
• Detailed reporting to summarize profits and win rates

❌ Cons​

• Small Stakes version is limited to 50NL cash games and $22 MTTs
• Higher stakes require the more expensive Pro version
• Requires significant computing power; can lag on older machines
• No mobile or tablet support
• Interface is less user-friendly compared to newer software

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💥 Hold’em Manager 3​

If a player isn’t using PokerTracker, chances are they’re using Hold’em Manager 3 (HM3). These two products have dominated the market for years. HM originally launched in 2009, positioning itself as a more modern alternative to PT3. The current version of HM3 was updated in 2019 to better match today’s standards.
The biggest advantage HM3 has over PT4 is its user interface, while PT4 still holds the edge in deep analytics and customization.

✅ Pros​

• Sleek HUD design with access to 2,000+ data points
• Pre-programmed bet sizing options
• Live play tracking with real-time graphs
• Displays additional info such as pot odds and SPR
• Full-stakes package costs less than PT4 (around $100)

❌ Cons​

• Statistical analysis isn’t as deep as PT4
• Not compatible with Mac
• Requires toggling between pre-flop and post-flop stats
• Can be challenging when multi-tabling

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💥 Hand2Note​

Hand2Note is one of the most advanced HUDs available and is often viewed as a step beyond PT4. It offers dynamic, real-time HUDs that adjust based on player tendencies, all while keeping the table visually clean. This software is in a class of its own when it comes to customization and performance with large datasets.

✅ Pros​

• Best-in-class customization
• HUD dynamically adjusts based on opponent behavior
• Better performance with large databases than PT4
• Smart leak detection
• Ability to import live hands into the database

❌ Cons​

• Database can lag or freeze as it grows
• Compatibility issues with some poker rooms
• Learner subscription limits you to 200k hands and 25NL / $22 MTTs (~$200/year)
• Pro subscription allows unlimited hands but costs nearly $600/year

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💥 DriveHUD​

DriveHUD entered the market in 2016, with DriveHUD 2 launching in 2021. Designed by poker professionals, it focuses on ease of use, clean dashboards, and affordability. While it sacrifices some depth, it appeals strongly to low- and mid-stakes players.

✅ Pros​

• Clean, intuitive interface
• Easy player labeling (including tilt indicators)
• Lower upfront cost than most competitors
• Small-stakes license: ~$25/year (with minimal renewal fees)
• Low-stakes license usable up to 100NL / $33 MTTs

❌ Cons​

• Shallower analytical depth than PT4 or Hand2Note
• Requires yearly license renewal
• Can lag when poker sites update software
• Fewer advanced features overall

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💥 GG Poker’s Embedded SmartHUD​

GG Poker has banned all third-party HUDs, opting instead for its own built-in SmartHUD. The goal is to level the playing field and reduce the advantage of external tracking software. SmartHUD is fully integrated into the GG Poker client and is the only HUD allowed on the platform.

✅ Pros​

• Only approved HUD for GG Poker and its affiliates
• Simple design with expandable player data
• Free to use — no external software required
• Pre-configured and ready immediately
• Tracks opponents’ cash and tournament winnings

❌ Cons​

• No customization options
• Everyone uses the same interface
• Cannot create personal stats or layouts
• Not adaptable to individual play styles

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🎯 Final Thoughts​

HUDs have fundamentally changed online poker. Since information is power, playing without one can put you at a serious disadvantage.
That said:

• Not everyone plays stakes that justify premium software
• Not everyone has the budget for top-tier tools
• Not every HUD fits every play style

Choosing the right HUD depends on what you play, how often you play, and your long-term poker goals. Hopefully, this breakdown helps you better understand what’s out there—and what may already be used against you.

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💬 How Do You Use HUDs?​

• Which HUD do you use and why?
• How have you customized it?
• What advice would you give someone buying their first HUD?

Join the conversation and let’s all sharpen our poker edge together.

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[pirateglenn]

I bought PT4 quite some time back and it served a good purpose because it tailored well to being a tracker well designed for small stakes.
I think with any tracker though, its only as good as the data you feed into it and how often you use it/play.
What is did do for me was tighten up my game with regards to bet sizing/opening ranges and also helped me identify the hands where i was losing more often - it tracked card by card play for me and the overlays i had on this enabled me to identify within 12 months - the type of games that were more profitable for me based on my style of play.
There are better trackers out there for sure but this one has worked well for me. My advice to anyone looking to invest in a tracker is to identify your limits first and then be honest with your reasons - identify what areas of your game could be improved.

Also to add to this - a good HUD will enable you to keep more data on your play and opponents and my advice is - make accurate notes, especially if you find you are coming up the same players on a regular basis.

 

[hardongear]

I play mainly by feel/TAG/exploitive. I have very few HUD stats showing at the table. And yet I'll still swear by using a HUD and it's well worth paying for. Hell PT4 could charge double I'd pay it. If for nothing else but how easy it makes studying/doing hand reviews. Besides I winning player will have his money back from purchasing a tracker in a few winning sessions or 1-2 months depending on stakes he's playing.

Any player playing without a tracker isn't serious about being a winning player. Personally I've only tried 2 trackers. HM2 and PT4. I prefer PT4 myself both are well worth the their price in my experience.

Fwiw I never used a tracker when I first started 20+ years ago despite them being available. The first tracker I purchased was purchased completely from poker winnings.

Cheers!!!

 

[najisami]

• Which HUD do you use and why?
• How have you customized it?
• What advice would you give someone buying their first HUD?

Hi Chris,
Nice one again.
TBH, I only used a HUD for about 3 or 4 months. I bought PT4 and was very impressed at 1st. Customizing it wasn't that difficult. I just needed some basic information anyway, like VPIP, PRFR, PF3B, PFCB (About 6 of them). As soon as I started getting used to it, I had a problem with my PC. It just went black on me after I (kind of) hit the keyboard with my elbow. So, I had to fresh install windows. When I downloaded the poker client and opened a table, I liked it without all the clutter. I knew I could reinstall PT4 and keep the HUD off, but I didn't feel motivated enough to do it till today. And to add to my laziness, PS discontinued its services here. Now I only play on GG (And Replay)...
If anyone is buying a HUD for the 1st time, I suggest they should read a tutorial thoroughly.

 

[Goggelheimer]

Thanks for this article.

I’ve tested all the major HUDs/trackers (PT4, HM3, H2N3, H2N4, DH2).
My main tool is still PT4, mainly for tracking results and reviewing hands after sessions.
DH2 works well for cash game players with solid stats and features, but the tournament graph is basically unusable since the X‑axis is fixed on a date scale rather than a cumulative tournament scale like the competitors.
H2N (both v3 and v4) only makes sense if you’re already a winning mid‑stakes+ player – the yearly fee is far too high for beginners or micro/low‑stakes players.
PT4 and HM3 come from the same company but target different audiences: HM3 focuses on ease of use, while PT4 is highly configurable.

I’ve customized some HUDs, using free versions from the data warehouse (PT4) or setups found on Nathan Williams’ site.

Advice:

• For pure cash game players, DH2 is the best choice, also considering pricing and yearly renewal.
• For advanced users, PT4 remains the strongest option.
• If you reach mid‑stakes as a semi‑pro or full‑time pro and earn well above the yearly fees, H2N4 becomes the best choice.

 

[Sunz of Beaches]

I bought hold em manager 2 long time ago but could not get the software to work on my old computer. Even after watching multiple tutorials and trying everything the software would not load in hands. At some point i gave up and since then the only hud i use is the in-built one on GG and 888. I think hm2 in not suported anymore anyway so that was basically monney thrown out of the window as i bought it and never really used it.

 

[TeUnit]

I think it comes down to how much you put into the hud - the more you customize it, the more data you feed it, the more you use it to study - the better it is.

I like to think of a hud like a good pair of boots, the more you wear them the better they get.

 

[Tero]

I have owned PT4 almost from day 1 but today its value is negligent. On Stars one has to have one only to keep up with the crowd, but since so many other sites have banned them, and getting one's hand histories from other sites has been made difficult enough, the point of having a HUD is mainly FOMO.
So if you're not planning to play at Stars and you don't have a HUD yet I suggest you save your money for other useful poker tools.

 

[neverbluff0799]

HUDs are nice to have, but they’re not magic . They mostly just remind you of things you’ve already seen at the table. After a while, it’s helpful to know who’s a nit, who’s clicking buttons, or who just won’t fold. But a HUD won’t play hands for you

 

[Newzooozooo]

I have never used these analysers myself, and I don't see the need for them. That is, if they are integrated into the platform, it is probably more of a plus than a minus, but I am used to making decisions based on my own observations and experience. If you play carefully and with focus, you will have significantly more advantages than any statistical analyser can give you.

 

[Shadow6969]

Great breakdown—this really captures the trade-offs between depth, cost, and usability.
For me, HUDs are tools, not crutches. I lean toward simplicity + reliability over ultra-complex setups. Advanced features are great, but if a HUD lags or distracts you mid-hand, it actually hurts decision-making. At small and mid stakes, clean core stats, good note-taking, and clear player labels often give more ROI than 50 hyper-specific numbers.
GG’s SmartHUD is interesting philosophically—it narrows the gap and shifts the edge back toward in-game observation and adaptation, which I don’t hate. But on sites that allow it, having some form of HUD is almost mandatory in today’s games.
For new players: start basic, learn what each stat actually means in real hands, and upgrade only when your volume and stakes justify it. The best HUD is the one that supports your thinking instead of replacing it.

 

[Iryna Stryzheuskaya]

If you treat poker professionally, you simply cannot do without it. We need to use all tools to keep up with our opponents.

 

[Andrew Popov]

If you treat poker professionally, you simply cannot do without it. We need to use all tools to keep up with our opponents.

True, you should make the most of your options simply to keep up with your opponents. This also allows you to analyze your own game and work on improving it.

It's also worth noting that many poker rooms either prohibit such software by their rules or are unavailable for technical reasons (for example, they use a browser as a poker client, and no hand history is stored on the PC, so there's no way to read it for detailed analysis).

 

[NDim]

It's a very useful tool. It just takes a bit of time to figure out the settings, but it's worth it.

 

[Gutshot Gus]

I use PT4.
I have a dual screen setup and use PT4 live to look at the hands played.
The leak tracker function works very well to keep me going down the middle of the road and staying out of the ditch.
The HUD is fantastic and can be customized to your hearts desire.

I have customized the Hud with different colors for each function and adjusted the display for VPIP and PRFR to make it simple and not so cluttered while playing live. With the VPIP and PRFR you get enough info to know the player type of the villain. I feel that too much info can clutter my brain and be disruptive.

I would suggest someone to try PT4. They will let you download it and use for 14 days free.

 

[padman400]

Yes for cash games very useful. Can't see them being much good for tournament play though.

 

[YLAN]

I was a live poker player then online. Loved the simple, raw, & natural flow of live play. Then online, studied HUDs for sometime but the HUD stats does not necessarily reflect the player's play. Became more of a distraction, HUDs are not for me at this time.

 

[aorodrigo]

Hundreds of years ago I bought HM2, and liked it. After decades, I return playing online poker and HM2 was not available anymore, and, as I didn't want to buy a software, I went to Hand2Note (that has a free version). I simply use few data, such as VPIP, 3BET and PFR, so it's ok for me

 

[Dmitriy_rus7]

To be honest, I've never used any additional programs, but I think I could give them a try.

 

[CRStals]

I bought PT4 years ago and somehow was successfully able to migrate it from my last laptop to my current one. I've enjoyed using it personally but often don't turn the HUD on, mainly because the only way a HUD truly is effective is if you have enough hands versus a player. Playing cash primarily, I don't often see the same players, and the HUD does eat up a decent amount of bandwidth on a laptop.

If I was in a tournament, that might be a dfferent story as you'll be able to get a lot of info on the same players quite quickly which definitely can help later in tournaments. For cash, I stick to using the Leak Analysis to help identify areas I need to study and move on from ther.e

 

[martinoni]

As my focus is MBs and the players are so crazy wide open ranges, then I don't mind the HUDs too much

 

[hobojim1247]

Very informative information in this thread. It helped me decide which one to buy. Does wsop and CLUBWPT allow HUDs?

 

[thedarkman]

Never used one and don't know how to use one but the bottom line is any two cards.

Omaha is even worse. Run the phrase "bad beat" through your search engine and you will see what I mean.

 

[paetel]

Great write-up! Confirms my selection process for DH2 since I mostly play low stakes Cash Games.

 

[Marcwantstowin]

Very informative information in this thread. It helped me decide which one to buy. Does WSOP and CLUBWPT allow HUDs?

Hi @hobojim1247

I know you cannot use a HUD on WSOP.com, I have never played on ClubWPT - country restrictions.