Free Trivia Software for Bars, Trivia Nights and Game Nights
TVivia is free trivia software that runs in a web browser. Put the host screen on a TV, projector or laptop, and players join from their own phones by scanning a QR code or typing a 6-character room code. TVivia runs everything a quizmaster usually handles: it asks the questions, runs the countdown, reveals the answers, keeps score and crowns the winner.
What you get for free
- 2,675 ready-made questions across 33 categories. The 20 classic ones include General Knowledge, History, Geography, Science, Sports, Movies, TV and Music, and the 13 fandom categories include Friends, The Office, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Marvel, Disney and Pixar.
- No app for players. Phones join in the browser by QR code or room code, so there's nothing to install and no account to create.
- A real game-show look: spotlights, a marquee-lit question board, countdown timers, animated scoreboards, sound effects, confetti and a winner's podium.
- Easy → Hard rounds that get tougher as the night goes on, plus speed bonuses, streak bonuses and a double-points final round.
- Automatic tie-breakers for first place, either a closest-number guess or sudden death.
- Bluff Party mode, where players write fake answers to strange-but-true facts and score by fooling each other.
- Controls built for bars: host-only control, answers that lock when time runs out, a pause button, late joining and the ability to remove players.
- Up to about 100 players per game, with teams sharing a phone if they like.
How TVivia trivia software works
- Open the host screen: on the TV or laptop everyone can see, go to tvivia.com and choose Host on this screen.
- Players join: they scan the QR code or type the room code at tvivia.com on their phones.
- Pick a preset and press Start: presets include Bar Night, Prime Time, Quick Game, Fandom Night and Bluff Party. TVivia runs the rest, so you can play along too.
Why free trivia software instead of pen and paper?
| Pen-and-paper trivia | TVivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | Written or bought by the host | 2,675 included, with fun facts |
| Scoring | Collected and added up by hand | Instant and automatic, with live leaderboards |
| Host needed | Yes, all night | Optional, because the game runs itself |
| Answer sheets | Paper and pens for every table | Players' own phones |
| Cheating on timing | Hard to enforce | The timer locks answers automatically |
| Cost | Host fees and printing | Free, supported by a small ad bar |
Who uses it
- Bars, restaurants and breweries that want a weekly trivia night without hiring a quizmaster.
- Trivia hosts and quizmasters who want a polished game engine to run their show on.
- Families and friends hosting game nights, holiday parties, birthdays and watch parties on the living-room TV.
- Offices, schools and clubs that need a quick icebreaker or team-building game.
What to look for in trivia software
Whichever tool you choose, these are the things that matter most on the night:
- No friction to join. Every app download or account sign-up costs you players. Browser-based joining with a QR code keeps it painless.
- A readable TV layout. Text has to be legible from across a loud room, and your phone should show the question too.
- Fair timing. Answers should lock automatically when time runs out.
- Host control. You need to be able to pause, skip and stop players from starting or skipping from their phones.
- Question quality and variety. Look for a mix of difficulties and categories, so every table has a round it can win.
- Total cost. Many trivia platforms charge monthly subscriptions or per-event fees. TVivia is free.
Frequently asked questions
Is TVivia really free?
Yes. There is no subscription, trial or player limit fee. TVivia is supported by a small ad bar at the bottom of the screen.
Do players need to download an app?
No. Players join in their phone's web browser by scanning a QR code or entering a room code.
What equipment do I need?
A TV or projector with a web browser, or a laptop connected by HDMI, plus internet access for the screen and the phones.
Can I use it for a pub quiz?
Yes. Use the Bar Night preset for 6 rounds of 10 questions with 30-second timers and answers that lock when time runs out. Teams can share one phone.
Can I write my own questions?
Yes. Use the free question builder to type questions or paste them from a spreadsheet. Then publish the set to get a code, and load it on the TV under ⚙ Settings → My questions.