Bar Trivia Software for Bar Owners: Free Trivia Nights on Your TVs
A weekly trivia night is one of the easiest ways for a bar, restaurant or brewery to bring groups in on a quiet night and keep them at their tables. TVivia is free bar trivia software: it turns the TV over your bar into a live game show, and guests play on their own phones.
Why bar owners use TVivia
- $0 to run. There's no quizmaster to pay, no subscription and no special equipment. TVivia is supported by a small ad bar on screen.
- It runs itself. TVivia asks the questions, runs the timer, reveals answers, scores every team and announces the winner, so your staff can keep serving.
- Nothing to install. Guests scan the QR code on your TV and they're in, with no app store and no sign-up.
- Built for a busy room. The questions show on every phone, answers lock when time runs out, and you can pause for announcements or food runs.
- Your own questions: add rounds about your bar, your town or your regulars with the free question builder.
- Something for every crowd: classic pub quiz categories on most nights, and fandom theme nights (Friends, The Office, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Disney and more) when you want a special event.
Set up bar trivia in three steps
- Put TVivia on your TV. Open tvivia.com in your smart TV's browser, or connect a laptop by HDMI, and choose Host on this screen. To show the game on several TVs, send the same picture through an HDMI splitter.
- Choose the Bar Night preset. It sets 6 rounds of 10 questions, 30 seconds per question, classic categories, Easy → Hard difficulty, host-only control and answers that lock when time's up.
- Press Start when your tables have joined. Teams join on one phone each, and latecomers can scan the corner QR code to join mid-game.
What a TVivia trivia night looks like
Each round opens with a title card and its category, then questions appear on the TV with four color-coded answers, and teams lock in on their phones. After each question the correct answer lights up, with a fun fact to read out, and an animated leaderboard runs between rounds. The final round counts double, a tie-breaker settles any tie for first place, and the champions get a podium, fanfare and confetti. A standard Bar Night game runs roughly 40–50 minutes.
Tips to make it a weekly draw
- Same night, same time, every week. Consistency builds regulars.
- Offer a simple prize, such as a bar tab, a free appetizer or a spot on a champions board. Follow your local rules on alcohol promotions.
- Promote it in the venue and online with table tents, a chalkboard, social posts and event listings.
- Run theme nights now and then using the Fandom Night preset.
For the full playbook, read our guide to running a trivia night.
Bar trivia FAQ
How much does TVivia cost for a bar?
Nothing. TVivia is free for bars and restaurants. A small ad bar at the bottom of the screen supports it.
What equipment do I need?
A TV with a web browser, or any laptop connected to the TV, plus Wi-Fi or cellular service for guests' phones.
How many teams can play?
A single game supports up to about 100 players or team phones.
Can guests cheat by changing their answer after the reveal?
No. Answers lock when the timer ends, and the correct answer isn't sent to phones until then.
Can I control the game without guests interfering?
Yes. With Host only control, only your screen can start, pause, skip or restart the game.
Do I need a trivia host?
No, but a host can make it even more fun. Many bars have a staff member read the fun facts and hand out prizes. See TVivia for trivia hosts.