Comparison · Updated July 2026
PokerStove Alternative (2026) — Free Online Equity Calculator
PokerStove was the legendary equity calculator that defined the genre — first released in 2003, used by every serious online player in the 2000s. Andrew Prock's tool was free and it worked. But development stopped in 2008, and in 2026 finding a legitimate installer is genuinely difficult. If you searched for a PokerStove download and landed here instead: the math you want is free in your browser, no install needed.
PokerStove's math is still correct, but the project has been unmaintained since 2008 — it's a discontinued Windows-only app with no Omaha or Pineapple support, no mobile, and no reliable download source. PokerPro is browser-based, supports Hold'em + Pineapple + Omaha PLO, includes AI hand analysis, and is actively developed (last update July 2026). If you're trying to download PokerStove today, just use the free odds calculator instead.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | PokerPro | PokerStove |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Hold'em equity | ||
| Range vs range calculator | ||
| Omaha (PLO) equity | ||
| 3-Card Hold'em / Pineapple | ||
| Platforms | Any browser — Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile | Windows only |
| Install required | None | Windows installer |
| AI Hand Reviewer | ||
| GTO trainer + preflop charts | ||
| Active development | Yes (July 2026) | No — discontinued 2008 |
| Reliable download / access | Just open the URL | Hard to find a legitimate installer |
| Free |
Where PokerStove wins
Honest take — PokerStove is genuinely better for these use cases:
- →Historical credibility — used by virtually every winning online player from 2003-2010
- →Andrew Prock's algorithm was groundbreaking and the math is still correct
- →If you have it installed, it still runs without internet
- →The original — many tutorials and forum posts reference it specifically
Where PokerPro wins
- Actively developed — last update July 2026 (PokerStove last update: 2008, 18 years ago)
- Browser-based — works on Mac, Linux, ChromeOS, mobile. PokerStove is Windows-only. Start with the free odds calculator.
- Multi-variant — Hold'em + Pineapple + Omaha PLO. PokerStove is Hold'em only.
- AI Hand Reviewer — Claude-powered hand analysis. Didn't exist in 2008.
- 19 other free tools — pot odds, ICM, push/fold, variance simulator, GTO trainer, hand replayer, etc.
- Easy to access — open the URL, start calculating. No hunting forums for a working installer.
Why PokerStove was abandoned
Andrew Prock, PokerStove's creator, focused on the commercial successor 'PokerStove Pro' which evolved into other tools. The free version stopped getting updates around 2008. The codebase wasn't open-sourced, so the community couldn't continue development. The original installer still works on Windows but is increasingly hard to find on legitimate sources.
Is PokerStove still useful in 2026?
If you have a working install, the math is still correct — Hold'em equity calculation hasn't changed. But you're missing:
- •Omaha PLO support (Hold'em-only)
- •Pineapple variant
- •Range vs range against modern solver-derived ranges
- •Mobile / Mac / Linux compatibility
- •AI features (didn't exist in 2008)
- •Active bug fixes or feature additions
- •Modern UI conventions (dark mode, responsive design, keyboard nav)
Why a modern replacement matters
Poker theory has evolved significantly since 2008. Modern players use solvers (PioSolver, GTO+, Solver-lite), AI-powered hand analysis, and tools that weren't possible in the 2000s. PokerPro is built around these modern workflows: AI Hand Reviewer for instant feedback, GTO Trainer for drilling spots, range library for solver-derived ranges, and a 5-lesson Poker 101 course for beginners. PokerStove was state-of-the-art in 2008. PokerPro is state-of-the-art for 2026.
Migration: from PokerStove to PokerPro
If you're a long-time PokerStove user transitioning to a modern tool, the workflow translates almost directly:
- •Card selection: Same 13×13 grid layout, click hands to add to ranges.
- •Range editing: Same paradigm. Click cells, see live combo count.
- •Equity output: Same percentages, same precision (Monte Carlo).
- •Board input: Same — click flop/turn/river to fix the runout.
- •Practical learning curve: 3-5 minutes to feel at home.
Other PokerStove successors compared
PokerPro isn't the only option, and the right pick depends on what you used PokerStove for:
- •Equilab alternative — Equilab is the closest spiritual successor to PokerStove: a free Windows desktop equity calculator. Our comparison covers where it still holds up and where it's aging the same way PokerStove did.
- •GTO Wizard alternative — if you've outgrown pure equity math and want solver-based study, GTO Wizard is the modern high end ($39–$229+/mo). That comparison covers what a free stack can and can't replace.
- •Free odds calculator — the direct PokerStove replacement on this site: hand vs hand, hand vs range, and range vs range equity, in your browser.
The honest verdict
- You can't find a working PokerStove installer (most common reason)
- You're on Mac, Linux, or mobile
- You want Omaha PLO or Pineapple support
- You want AI-powered hand analysis
- You want active development and modern features
- You have a working PokerStove install on Windows and don't need new features
- You explicitly want the original 2008 tool for historical/study reasons
- You only care about Hold'em equity math and nothing else
No signup, no download, runs in your browser.
Frequently asked
Is PokerStove still available for download in 2026?
Working downloads are increasingly hard to find. Andrew Prock's original site is no longer maintained. Some forums still host the installer but legitimacy varies and downloading from unofficial sources carries malware risk. PokerPro avoids this entirely — it's a browser-based tool, no download needed.
Is PokerStove math still accurate?
Yes. Equity calculation math (Monte Carlo simulation, hand evaluation algorithms) hasn't changed. PokerStove's numbers are still correct. The issue is everything around the calculator: the project hasn't kept up with new variants (PLO, Pineapple), new platforms (Mac, mobile), or new features (AI analysis). The math is fine; the package is dated.
Why did PokerStove development stop?
Around 2008, Andrew Prock pivoted to commercial pro-grade tools (Poker Stove Pro, eventually parts of the modern ProPokerTools ecosystem). The free PokerStove wasn't updated after that. The codebase wasn't open-sourced, so the community couldn't fork or continue development.
What's the closest modern equivalent to PokerStove?
Equilab and PokerPro are the two most direct successors in the free tier. Equilab is more like the original PokerStove philosophy (Windows desktop, no AI, calculator-first) but is also dated. PokerPro is more modern and broader (browser-based, multi-variant, AI features) but goes beyond pure equity calculation. For a calculator-only experience that mirrors PokerStove's original simplicity, Equilab is closer; for a complete modern training platform, PokerPro.
Is using PokerPro safer than downloading PokerStove from a forum?
Yes. Browser-based tools don't carry malware risk in the same way executables do. Downloading PokerStove from an unofficial source means trusting whoever uploaded the installer didn't tamper with it — risky in 2026. PokerPro runs in your browser sandbox; the worst case is a buggy webpage, not a compromised system.
See also our full alternatives index, all 36 free tools, and the free Poker 101 course.