Tracking Tools and HUDs

Poker tools have become essential for serious players who want to improve their game and track results with precision. Among the most popular software categories are HUDs (Heads‑Up Displays), Poker Trackers, and Bankroll Managers.

These tools help you analyze your poker, study opponents, and keep control of your money. Some operators permit HUDs and trackers, others ban them, and some now even offer their own built‑in HUDs to level the playing field. Bankroll apps, meanwhile, are always legal to use because they simply track your money.

This complete guide explains what HUDs, trackers, and bankroll managers are, how they work, which software is the best today, and what poker rooms allow or ban them.

What Are Poker HUDs, Trackers, and Bankroll Managers?

Poker software has advanced significantly over the last 20 years. What once required hand‑written notes or spreadsheets can now be automated with specialized software that tracks your play, analyzes opponents, and manages your bankroll. To understand these tools, let’s look at each one in detail.

Poker HUDs (Heads‑Up Displays)

A HUD is a Heads‑Up Display: an on‑screen overlay that presents statistics about you and your opponents in real time while you play online. It does this by reading your hand histories (through your linked tracker database) and calculating how often each opponent takes certain actions.

HUDs turn raw data into numbers such as:

• VPIP (Voluntarily Put $ In Pot): The percentage of hands a player plays by calling or raising preflop. Example: If someone’s VPIP is 45%, they are entering nearly half of their hands — they are very loose. A VPIP of 15% means the player is selective and tight.
• PFR (Pre‑Flop Raise): The percentage of hands a player raises before the flop when they choose to play. Example: A player with VPIP 30% but PFR 5% plays many hands but rarely raises — likely a passive calling station.
• Aggression Factor (Agg%): This stat measures betting vs checking/calling on postflop streets. High aggression suggests frequent betting and raising; low aggression means the player mostly calls or checks.
• 3‑Bet Percentage: The frequency with which a player re‑raises preflop. Example: If an opponent 3‑bets 12% of hands, their re‑raise range is very wide (many hands beyond AA, KK, QQ, AK) and you can adjust by tightening up.
• C‑Bet Percentage: How often a player makes a continuation bet on the flop after raising preflop. Example: If someone raises preflop and then C‑Bets 85% of the time, they are very aggressive and may be bluffing often. A player who only C‑Bets 30% usually has a hand when they bet — they give up too frequently without one.

HUDs allow you to:

• Spot tendencies in real time. If a player’s stats show loose/passive tendencies (high VPIP, low PFR), you can open more hands and expect calls.
• Identify nits or tight players. Low VPIP and high PFR stats usually reveal disciplined players you should respect when they enter a pot.
• React with confidence in marginal spots. Rather than guessing, you can base decisions on thousands of hands worth of data.

For example, you might see a stat line like VPIP 40 / PFR 5 / Agg 18%. That player is loose, calls a lot preflop, and doesn’t attack much postflop. Against them, you can value bet thinner and bluff less often.

Do HUDs also show hero stats?

Yes, HUDs (Heads‑Up Displays) can show hero stats — meaning your own statistics such as VPIP (Voluntarily Put Money in Pot), PFR (Preflop Raise %), or Aggression Factor. Most HUD software (PokerTracker 4, Holdem Manager 3, Hand2Note, DriveHUD, etc.) allows you to configure this.

By default, many HUDs hide hero stats while you play, because you already know what actions you are taking. However, enabling them can be useful because it lets you see how your opponents perceive you. For example:

• If your VPIP shows 35% over the current session, other players with HUDs will see that you are loose — even if you “feel” like you’ve been tight.
• If your PFR is 5% while VPIP is 30%, you will appear to be a passive player who calls too often.
• If your Aggression Factor is high (>3.0), your table image is very aggressive, which may provoke more calls when you bluff.

Some software shows session‑only hero stats (reset each time you play), while others can display long‑term cumulative hero stats. Reviewing these numbers after a session is especially valuable: it helps you check whether your actual play matched your intended ranges and strategy.

Pro Tip: Configuring your HUD to show hero stats helps you understand your table image. This mirrors how you appear to other HUD users at the table, and allows you to adjust in real‑time if your actual style drifts from your game plan.

Poker Trackers

A tracker is the engine that powers your HUD. Every time you play a hand online, most poker clients save a text file of the hand history. Tracker software imports these files into a database (usually PostgreSQL or an internal equivalent), and then it can:

• Record every hand you’ve ever played on supported sites.
• Calculate winrates over time (bb per 100 hands) and display graphs of variance or profits.
• Filter results by position, hand type, stack size, or opponent statistics.
• Replay hands in a visual replayer to analyze key decisions.
• Identify “leaks” in your game, such as losing too much from the blinds or being too passive in 3‑bet pots.

Trackers aren’t only about statistics — they are also learning tools. For example, you can search for all hands where you held AK, faced a 3‑bet, and were out of position. The tracker will retrieve every instance and show how profitable your line was, helping you refine strategy with tangible evidence.

What makes them essential:

• They give you an honest view of your game. Many players think they win more than they do. Trackers show the reality in numbers.
• They let you study your opponents away from the table, finding out who bluffs too much or who folds to aggression.
• They serve as the database that feeds your HUD. Without a tracker, your HUD would have no data to display.

Bankroll Managers

Bankroll management is about tracking money, not actions. A bankroll manager app is specialized software for logging your poker finances. Unlike a tracker, which auto‑logs hands, you usually input sessions manually.

Common features:

• Enter stakes, buy‑ins, cash‑outs, and location (live or online).
• Generate graphs showing profit, loss, and bankroll growth over time.
• Run variance simulations to predict expected downswings.
• Set goals (e.g., grow bankroll to $ 5,000 before moving up stakes).

Examples:

• On mobile, apps like Poker Income and Poker Analytics let live players quickly log sessions.
• Online grinders can use PT4/HM3’s built‑in bankroll graphs if they already own a HUD/tracker.
• Budget‑minded players can use free spreadsheets, which remain effective for simple bankroll logging.

Why a bankroll manager matters:

• Poker variance is brutal. Even winning players face tough downswings. A bankroll manager helps you separate short‑term noise from long‑term progress.
• It enforces discipline — you’ll know when you actually can afford to move up in stakes, and when to move down.
• It provides peace of mind for recreational players who don’t want to lose track of wins and losses.

How They Work Together

Each of these tools plays a different role, but they are most powerful when combined:

• The tracker records all hands into a database.
• The HUD uses that database to overlay stats on opponents while playing.
• The bankroll manager shows the bigger financial picture of wins and losses.

Together, they form the complete toolkit of serious poker players — from micro‑stakes hobbyists who want financial discipline, to grinders who need full HUDs and advanced databases to survive competitive online environments.

The Best Poker HUDs and Trackers

HUDs and trackers are almost always bundled together — you rarely find one without the other. They are the backbone of serious online poker play in environments where HUDs are permitted.

The Best Poker Bankroll Tracking Apps

Not all players want a heavyweight HUD and tracker. Bankroll apps and trackers offer lighter, simpler tools to log profits, losses, and progress. Perfect for casual players, mobile users, and mixed game enthusiasts.

How HUDs, Trackers, and Bankroll Managers Work

Understanding how these tools operate provides context for why they are so powerful.

How a HUD works:
A HUD overlays stats on your online poker table in real time. As you build hand histories through your tracker, the HUD reads from that database and displays key stats under each opponent. Example: Player A shows VPIP 18% and PFR 15% — meaning they only play ~18% of hands and usually raise when they do — a sign of a tight‑aggressive opponent. Player B shows VPIP 45%, PFR 8% — this player plays almost half their hands but rarely raises, a clear loose‑passive.

How a tracker works:
Every hand you play is saved in a text file by the poker site (if allowed). The tracker imports these files into a database (PostgreSQL in PT4/HM3, custom engines in H2N). You then can:

• Filter by position, hand, opponent, date.
• See graphs of your winrate over time.
• Review hands one by one with replays.
• Identify leaks using built‑in reports (e.g. losing too much from the blinds).

How a bankroll manager works:
Bankroll apps usually work through manual entry: after a session, you log your location, stakes, buy-in, cash-out, and notes. The app compiles historical performance, graphs your profit/loss across time, and helps ensure you follow bankroll rules (e.g., don’t play above your bankroll). Some even add variance calculators to model swings.

These three systems complement each other: HUDs for real‑time decisions, trackers for post‑session study, and bankroll tools for financial survival. Combined, they are the full feedback loop for long‑term success.

How to Choose the Right Tool

The right choice depends on your goals, your volume, and your environment.

• If you are a beginner or recreational player:
  • Start with a free browser-based or mobile bankroll tracker. This gives you clarity on results without overwhelming detail.

• If you are an online grinder on sites that allow HUDs:
  • Use a full tracker + HUD suite such as PokerTracker 4 or Hand2Note. These give you the competitive edge against large fields and help dissect your own play.

• If you are a Mac user:
  • Poker Copilot is your best HUD/Tracker option. For bankroll tools, Poker Analytics works well on iOS.

• If you are a live player:
  • Poker Income or Poker Analytics are the best apps for logging live sessions. HUDs and trackers are less useful outside online play.

• If you are bankroll-conscious or aiming for professional play:
  • Use variance calculators built into bankroll apps or external spreadsheets. This ensures proper risk management.

Always check your poker site’s policy on HUDs and trackers. Regulated sites like PokerStars and partypoker have cracked down on HUD use; some others allow them. Bankroll apps, being external, are always legal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are HUDs legal?

It depends on the poker room. Some operators, particularly recreational‑friendly ones, have banned HUDs entirely because they wanted to level the playing field between pros and casuals.

Other sites, however, still allow HUDs but only if you use approved software. PokerStars is the biggest example: they permit common HUDs like PokerTracker 4, Hold’em Manager 3, and DriveHUD 2 but prohibit advanced or automated features that cross into real‑time assistance.

Finally, some poker rooms now offer built‑in HUDs of their own, such as GGPoker (Smart HUD), 888poker (Gameplay HUD), and BetRivers Poker (HeroIQ HUD). These integrated HUDs give all players the same limited stats by default.

Bankroll apps and off‑table trackers are always legal because they don’t interact with the poker client in real time — you use them for study and session logging after play ends.

Which HUD is best for Mac?

For Mac users, the best native option is Poker Copilot — it was originally designed specifically for macOS and now also supports Windows. It gives VPIP, PFR, Agg%, 3‑bet stats and more in a lightweight, user‑friendly package. Poker Copilot has a cleaner setup than traditional PC‑only solutions and does not require emulation.

PokerTracker 4 also offers a Mac client and is more full‑featured, with advanced filters, databases, and reporting tools. While PokerTracker 4 is extremely powerful, it has a steeper learning curve than Copilot.

If you are a beginner on Mac, Copilot is usually the simplest choice. If you want depth, PokerTracker 4 is the better long‑term investment.

Are there free bankroll trackers?

Yes. Several solid options are available completely free or in freemium models:

• Poker Income — one of the longest‑running bankroll tracker apps, available for iOS and Android. Lets you input sessions manually and see graph results.
• Poker Bankroll Tracker — free Android app, ad‑supported, combining bankroll logging with odds calculation and a tournament calendar.
• Free Excel or Google Sheets templates can also be customized to your exact needs. These are widely shared in forums and are great for players who prefer manual tracking with no app dependency.

These free tools cover the basics: logging wins and losses, keeping disciplined bankroll records, and setting bankroll targets. For most recreational players, this is all they need.

Do I need to pay for a HUD or bankroll app?

Not necessarily. Many free tools exist, and some premium HUDs/trackers offer free trials. Casual players can get plenty of value from free bankroll apps (like Poker Income), spreadsheets, or free browser‑based odds calculators.

However, serious grinders almost always invest in premium software. If you’re playing regularly with the goal of long‑term profit, the insights from full‑featured, paid software can easily pay for themselves.

Can I use a tracker without a HUD?

Yes. A tracker works independently of a HUD. Even if HUDs are not permitted on your poker site, some platforms still allow you to download hand histories. These can be imported into tracker software and studied after your session.

Be careful though — some poker rooms that ban HUDs also restrict or block hand history downloads, which means trackers may not function at all on those sites. On sites that do provide hand histories, trackers remain valuable even without a live HUD, because the database and reports give you insights for off‑table study and long‑term improvement.

What’s the difference between a tracker and a bankroll app?

A poker tracker manages hand histories. It imports all the hands you play, organizes them into databases, and then lets you analyze performance: win‑rates by position, profitability of specific hands, or leak‑finding across thousands of sessions. Trackers power HUDs and are primarily about game analysis.

A bankroll app manages money. It records buy‑ins, cash‑outs, profits, losses, and bankroll goals. You can log live sessions or online results manually. These apps emphasize financial clarity — making sure you’re rolled for your stakes and helping you survive variance.

Some modern trackers include bankroll features, but they can be overwhelming to casual players. Dedicated bankroll managers remain simpler, cheaper, and easier when you just want to know if you are up or down, without digging into poker math stats.