Games like Heads Up
Heads Up made one phone enough for a whole party: hold it to your forehead, friends act out the word, guess as many as you can. If you want that feeling without paying for an app — or you want something a bit different — here are the alternatives worth your time.
Play upheads free →No app, no download, no sign-up — it runs in your browser on any phone.
1. upheads — the free browser version
The closest thing to Heads Up that costs nothing and installs nothing. Open upheadsgame.com in your phone's browser, pick a deck, hold the phone to your forehead and tilt down for a correct guess, up to pass. 33 decks and 2,400+ words are unlocked from the start, including movies, celebrities, animals, viral videos, pop hits, slang, sports and a kid-friendly deck.
What it adds over the original: a teams mode for 2–4 teams with a cumulative scoreboard, no repeated words within a session, your own custom deck, and it works offline once loaded. What it does not do: video recording of the round.
Play upheads free →2. Charades (the original, no batteries)
Silent miming, two teams, a bowl of slips. Slower and quieter than Heads Up, but the acting gets more creative precisely because talking is banned. Use a ready-made word list to skip the setup.
3. Taboo
Describe a word without using five forbidden related words. Harder and more verbal than Heads Up: the fun comes from watching someone tie themselves in knots trying to avoid the obvious clue. Needs the card deck or an app.
4. Fishbowl
Three rounds on the same set of slips: describe freely, then one word only, then mime only. It builds on itself and turns into the funniest game on this list by round three. Free, needs paper and a bowl.
5. Celebrity forehead (sticky notes)
Everyone wears a name on their forehead and asks yes/no questions to figure out who they are. Runs across the whole room at once instead of one turn at a time, which makes it good for mingling parties.
6. Pictionary
Drawing instead of acting. Better for a seated group around a table, and a good change of pace after a couple of loud rounds of guessing games.
7. Codenames
A word-association team game with a grid of cards and two spymasters. Quieter and more strategic — the opposite energy to Heads Up, and a good way to wind an evening down.
8. Guess the song
Play five seconds of a track, first team to name it scores. Works with any playlist, and a pop hits list is a ready-made source of songs most people know.
Which one should you pick?
Loud group, one phone, want to start in ten seconds → a Heads Up-style guessing game. Group that likes talking their way around a problem → Taboo. Group of eight or more with paper handy → fishbowl. Seated, drinking tea, want to think → Codenames.
More free party games you can play in a browser
Not Heads Up alternatives exactly, but the same idea: open a page, no app, no sign-up, and the whole room can play.
This or That game — two options on screen, everyone picks a side, then you see how the split compares. It has a full-screen mode for a TV or projector and a Would You Rather version with tougher dilemmas. Good as a warm-up before a louder game.
Most Likely To — read a prompt such as “Who’s most likely to retire to a farm with way too many goats?”, count to three and everyone points at someone. Add the players’ names and it keeps score, then hands out awards at the end. There are separate lists for couples, families, work and kids.
Imposter game — everyone at the table gets the same secret word except one player, who only knows that they are the imposter. You go round the room giving one-word clues, then vote on who was faking it; if you catch them, they get one guess at the word. Pass a single phone around, or put everyone on their own device with a four-letter room code. 3–20 players, free in the browser.
Spectrum Party — one player gets a scale between two opposites (cold to hot, overrated to underrated) and gives a single clue; their team turns the dial to where they think it lands. A Wavelength-style team game for 4–20 players, free in your browser.
Bingo caller — classic number bingo for a big room: a free online caller draws and reads out each number (75-ball or 90-ball) on a laptop or TV, and you can print the cards from the same site. Easy for grandparents and kids alike, and nobody has to be the one shouting numbers.
Is there a free Heads Up game?
Yes — upheads is free in your browser, with every deck unlocked and no account. It is an independent game inspired by the same idea, not affiliated with Ellen DeGeneres' Heads Up! app.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free version of Heads Up?
upheads is a free, browser-based game in the same spirit: hold the phone to your forehead, friends act out the word, tilt to score. Every deck is unlocked and there is nothing to install or pay for.
Can I play Heads Up online without downloading an app?
Yes. upheadsgame.com runs entirely in your mobile browser, so you can start a round in a few seconds without visiting an app store. You can add it to your home screen if you want an app-like icon.
What game is similar to Heads Up but free?
upheads for the same forehead-guessing format, or classic charades and fishbowl if you would rather use paper. Taboo is the closest paid board game equivalent.
Is upheads the same as Heads Up!?
No. upheads is an independent party game inspired by the same charades-style format. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Ellen DeGeneres' Heads Up! app.
Do these games work with two players?
Two is the minimum for guessing games: one guesses while the other gives clues. They get better with four or more, and best when you can split into teams.
More game ideas
Ready to play?
Grab one phone, gather everyone around and start a round. Every deck is unlocked and it is free.
Play upheads in your browser →