Spades Plus Review: Is Zynga’s Spades App Worth It?

Our verdict: a hugely popular Spades app, with a casino-style coin economy. Spades Plus by Zynga has a 4.7-star average from about 185,000 App Store ratings, so there’s a big community to play with. It offers Partners, Solo, Whiz and Mirror, tournaments, and invite-only tables with your own rules. The catch: games are played for coins, you can buy more coins in the app, and there are ads. It’s online only.

Best for: players who want a big, busy online Spades community on their phone.

What is Spades Plus?

Spades Plus is a free Spades app for iPhone, iPad and Android, made by Zynga, the company behind Words With Friends. It’s the most-rated Spades app we checked, with about 185,000 App Store ratings and an average of 4.7.

It’s an online multiplayer game, and the listing says it requires an internet connection. There’s no mention of an offline mode against the computer.

The listing also says Spades Plus is intended for adults and doesn’t offer real-money gambling.

Game modes

• Classic: partnership Spades, bidding with your partner
• VIP: partnership Spades at custom tables
• Solo: no partners, everyone scores for themselves (Cutthroat)
• Mirror: you must bid the number of spades in your hand
• Whiz: you must bid Nil or the number of spades in your hand

There are also tournaments, including a 16-player event, and Knock-Out challenges. Suicide Spades isn’t listed.

Private tables and house rules

You can create your own table and choose:

• the game mode
• the bet amount in coins
• the final point target
• whether Nil and Blind Nil are allowed
• whether chat is on

Set the table to Invite Only, and you have a private game for your crew. You can add friends and chat in public or private.

Coins, costs and ads

This is the part to understand before you download. Spades Plus is free, but it runs on virtual coins. You get a welcome bonus and a daily login bonus, and tables are set up with a bet amount in coins.

When you run low, the app sells coins and “cash”:

The app shows ads, and the App Store lists “Infrequent/Mild Simulated Gambling” in its 13+ age rating. Its privacy label says purchases, location and usage data are used to track you for advertising.

Some reviewers say they feel pushed to buy coins, mention rising minimum bets, and complain about bots taking over when a partner leaves. Zynga replies that the deal is random.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Free to download on iPhone, iPad and Android
• 4.7 stars from about 185,000 App Store ratings
• Partners, Solo, Whiz and Mirror modes
• Invite-only tables with your own target score, Nil and Blind Nil settings
• Tournaments and Knock-Out challenges
• Daily coin bonus

Cons

• Games are played for coins, and the app sells more, up to $21.99 a pack
• Ads, and tracking for advertising
• Online only, with no offline game against the computer listed
• No Suicide Spades
• Some reviewers report pressure to buy coins and bots replacing partners who leave

Who is Spades Plus for?

Spades Plus suits you if you want a large online Spades community on your phone, enjoy tournaments, and don’t mind a coin system. Set up an invite-only table, and it also works for a crew that wants to play by its own rules.

It’s not the best fit if you just want to learn or practice in peace, or if you’d rather avoid coin purchases and ads altogether.

Alternatives to Spades Plus

• Tableza: our top pick, free in your phone’s browser, with no coins to buy, a computer at three levels and hints on easy. Read our Tableza Spades review.
• Spades Royale: another big Spades app with partners, 2-player and Cutthroat modes. Read our Spades Royale review.
• VIP Spades: an app and website with Suicide as well as Solo, Whiz and Mirror, and free training against the computer. Read our VIP Spades review.

See every app compared in our Top 3 Best Spades Apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Spades Plus free?
It’s free to download and play, but games use coins. You get daily bonuses, and the app sells more coins from $0.99.

Is Spades Plus real money gambling?
No. The listing says it doesn’t offer real-money gambling. You can buy coins, but you can’t win real money.

Can I play Spades Plus with friends?
Yes. Create a table, set it to Invite Only, and invite your friends.

Does Spades Plus have Blind Nil?
Yes, as an option when you create a custom table.

Can I play Spades Plus offline?
The listing says it needs an internet connection and doesn’t mention an offline mode.

Is Spades Plus on Android?
Yes. It’s on iPhone, iPad and Android.