2026 Comparison

Best GTO Poker Training Sites Compared

We broke down pricing, features, free tiers, and GTO focus across the five biggest poker training platforms. Spoiler: one of them is free to start and undercuts everyone on price.

Last updated: March 2026

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Side-by-Side

The full comparison

Every major poker training site, compared on the things that actually matter: price, content quality, and whether you can start without a credit card.

Feature Downbet Run It Once Upswing Poker Crush Live Poker Red Chip Poker
Price FREE / $14.99 / $49.99 $24.99 – $99.99/mo $999 one-time
Courses $199–$999		 $19.99/mo $5/week (~$260/yr)
Free Tier ✓ 10 lessons/mo ✕ No ✕ No ✕ No ~ Some free articles
GTO Focus ✓ Core curriculum ✓ Strong ✓ Strong ✕ Live/exploitative ~ Mixed
Interactive Quizzes ✓ Every lesson ~ Some courses ~ Limited ✕ No ✕ No
Structured Path ✓ Beginner → Advanced ~ Choose your course ✓ Lab curriculum ~ Topic-based ✓ CORE system
Pro Marketplace ✓ Browse & book ✕ No ✕ No ✕ No ✕ No
Mobile Friendly ✓ Responsive web ✓ App available ~ Web only ~ Web only ~ Web only
Preflop Charts ✓ Included ✓ With elite ✓ Included in Lab ✕ No ~ Basic
Content Library 21+ lessons (growing) 1,000+ videos 200+ hours (Lab) 200+ episodes 40+ modules
Best For Budget-conscious learners who want GTO fundamentals Serious online grinders Players willing to invest big upfront Live casino players Casual students wanting structure
Platform Breakdowns

Honest look at each platform

Run It Once

$24.99 – $99.99 /mo

Founded by Phil Galfond, Run It Once is the 800-pound gorilla of poker training. The Essential plan ($24.99/mo) gives access to a massive video library, while Elite ($99.99/mo) unlocks GTO trainers, advanced courses, and a solver-like tool. The content quality is consistently high, with instruction from some of the best players in the world. RIO is the gold standard for high-stakes online players.

Strengths
  • Massive content library (1,000+ videos)
  • World-class instructors (Phil Galfond, etc.)
  • GTO trainer tool on Elite plan
  • Dedicated mobile app
  • Active community and forums
Weaknesses
  • No free tier — $24.99/mo minimum to start
  • Elite at $99.99/mo is expensive for casual learners
  • Content can be overwhelming without clear path
  • Much of the advanced content assumes prior GTO knowledge
Best for: Serious online grinders playing mid to high stakes who want deep, video-based GTO content and can justify $25–$100/month in training expenses.

Upswing Poker

$999 one-time (Lab) / $199–$999 courses

Upswing Poker, co-founded by Doug Polk, takes a different approach: pay once, own the content. The flagship product is the Upswing Lab ($999 one-time), a comprehensive course covering preflop charts, postflop strategy, and GTO concepts. Individual courses by guest pros range from $199 to $999. There's no subscription — you pay upfront and get lifetime access.

Strengths
  • One-time payment — no recurring cost
  • Lab is comprehensive (200+ hours)
  • Preflop charts included with purchase
  • High-profile instructors (Doug Polk, etc.)
  • Structured curriculum in the Lab
Weaknesses
  • $999 upfront is a huge barrier for most players
  • Individual courses also expensive ($199–$999)
  • No free tier or trial period
  • Content updates are slow (you bought a snapshot)
  • No interactive practice tools
Best for: Players who prefer a one-time purchase over subscriptions and have $999 to invest upfront. Good for self-directed learners who want a complete library without monthly costs.

Crush Live Poker

$19.99 /mo

CLP focuses exclusively on live, in-person poker — the games you play at casinos and card rooms. The content is practical and exploitative (adjusting to how live players actually play) rather than GTO-focused. Bart Hanson's podcast-style episodes break down real hands with an emphasis on population reads and live tells. At $19.99/mo, it's reasonably priced for its niche.

Strengths
  • Best resource specifically for live poker
  • Affordable at $19.99/mo
  • Practical, real-hand analysis
  • Exploitative strategy that works against live players
Weaknesses
  • Not GTO-focused — won't help you with solver work
  • No free tier
  • Limited to live poker (not useful for online play)
  • No interactive quizzes or structured curriculum
  • No preflop charts
Best for: Live casino grinders at $1/$2 to $5/$10 who want to exploit common tendencies at their local card room. Not the right choice if you're studying GTO or playing online.

Red Chip Poker

$5/week (~$260/yr)

Red Chip Poker offers the CORE system — a structured, module-based curriculum covering fundamentals through advanced concepts. It's billed weekly at $5, which works out to about $260/year. The content mixes GTO and exploitative strategies, trying to bridge online and live play. Their community forum is active, and the structured learning path is one of their strongest selling points.

Strengths
  • Structured CORE curriculum with clear learning path
  • Weekly billing ($5) feels low-commitment
  • Mix of GTO and exploitative strategy
  • Active community and forums
Weaknesses
  • $260/year adds up — more expensive than it looks
  • No free tier (free articles only)
  • GTO content isn't as deep as RIO or Upswing
  • No interactive quizzes or practice tools
  • No coaching marketplace
Best for: Casual to intermediate players who want a structured curriculum and prefer weekly billing. Good for players who want a mix of GTO and exploitative strategy.
FAQ

Common questions

Which poker training site is cheapest?
Downbet is the only platform with a real free tier (10 lessons/month, no credit card). Its paid Pro plan at $14.99/mo is the cheapest unlimited option. The next cheapest is Crush Live Poker at $19.99/mo, followed by Run It Once Essential at $24.99/mo.
Which is best for learning GTO poker?
For GTO fundamentals, Downbet and Run It Once are both strong. Downbet's interactive quiz approach helps concepts stick, while RIO has a deeper video library. Upswing's Lab also covers GTO well but costs $999 upfront. Crush Live Poker is not GTO-focused.
Is Upswing Poker worth $999?
If you'll commit to watching 200+ hours and don't want monthly bills, the Lab is solid. But $999 upfront is a real barrier, and the content doesn't update as frequently as subscription sites. For most players, starting with a cheaper subscription to see if poker training sticks makes more sense.
Can I start learning poker for free?
Yes. Downbet offers 10 free lessons per month with no credit card required. That's enough to learn preflop fundamentals, basic pot odds, and introductory GTO concepts. If you want more, Pro is $14.99/mo. Red Chip has free articles but no free structured lessons.
What about PokerCoaching.com and other sites?
We focused on the five most popular platforms for GTO and general poker training. PokerCoaching.com (Jonathan Little) is another option, typically $99+/mo. There are also solver tools like GTO Wizard and PioSolver which complement training but are separate from lesson-based platforms.
Do any of these sites offer coaching?
Downbet is the only platform with a built-in pro marketplace where you can browse and book 1-on-1 coaching with verified winning players. The others don't offer direct coaching connections — you'd need to find a coach separately.

Start with the free option

You don't need to commit $25/month or $999 upfront to start learning GTO poker. Try Downbet free — 10 lessons per month, interactive quizzes, preflop charts. No credit card, no catch. Upgrade later if you want unlimited access.

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Free tier includes 10 lessons/month with quizzes • Pro $14.99/mo • Elite $49.99/mo

Not sure where to start? Read our complete guide to learning GTO poker