Our verdict: the best Spades app for variants. VIP Spades plays Pairs, Solo (Cutthroat), Suicide, Whiz and Mirror, with Nil, Blind Nil and jokers you can turn on or off. You can practice free against the computer, and host private games for friends. It works in your browser and on iPhone and Android. Like most big Spades apps, it runs on chips you can buy, and a VIP subscription costs $9.99 a month.
Best for: players who like Suicide, Whiz or Mirror Spades, or want one app for every variant.
What is VIP Spades?
VIP Spades is a free Spades game made by Casualino. It has a 4.9-star average from about 9,800 App Store ratings.
You can play in any web browser with no download, or use the free iPhone and Android apps.
Game modes
- Pairs: classic partnership Spades. 10 points per trick bid, bags for extra tricks, and −10 per trick if you’re set. Nil is worth 100 and Blind Nil 200.
- Solo: every player for themselves (Cutthroat). Here, 5 bags cost 50 points and Nil is worth 50.
- Suicide: in each pair, one player must bid Nil and the other must bid 4 or more. See our Suicide Spades rules.
- Whiz: you must bid either your exact number of spades or Nil. No Blind Nil.
- Mirror: you must bid the number of spades you hold. Nil only if you have no spades.
- Joker-Joker-Ace: an add-on that brings jokers into Solo and Pairs.
Among the Spades apps we reviewed, it’s the only one with a Suicide mode. Trickster Cards also offers these variants, as rule options.
Practice and private games
You can practise free against the computer, which the app calls Free Training. It’s a good way to try Suicide or Mirror before playing people.
To play with friends, go to the Pairs lobby, choose “Play with friends” and host a game. As host, you choose:
- the variant
- the minimum and maximum score that ends the game
- whether jokers, Nil and Blind Nil are allowed
- a custom deck and table background
- the entry fee and prize, in chips
Make the room private, pick your seat and invite your crew. There are also clubs and a global chat.
Chips, VIP and costs
VIP Spades is free to play, with daily rewards and chips you can earn by winning games, completing achievements and joining events. Games have an entry fee and a prize in chips.
The app sells chips and a VIP subscription:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| VIP, 1 month | $9.99 |
| VIP, 6 months | $31.99 |
| VIP, 12 months | $59.99 |
| Chip packs | $4.99 to $99.99 |
The site doesn’t say exactly what VIP includes beyond “additional features and in-game advantages”. The app shows ads, and the App Store rates it 18+.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Pairs, Solo, Suicide, Whiz and Mirror, plus Joker-Joker-Ace
- Free training against the computer
- Private games with your own score limits, Nil, Blind Nil and joker settings
- Plays in your browser and on iPhone and Android
- 4.9 stars from about 9,800 App Store ratings
- Daily rewards and chips earned by winning
Cons
- Games have entry fees in chips, and the app sells chip packs up to $99.99
- VIP costs $9.99 a month, and the site doesn’t spell out what it includes
- Ads
- Rated 18+ on the App Store
Who is VIP Spades for?
VIP Spades is the pick if your crew plays Suicide, Whiz or Mirror, or you play Solo and want the proper Cutthroat scoring. Free Training is also handy for trying a new variant before you sit down with people.
If you’d rather not deal with chips, entry fees and ads, Tableza and World of Card Games are simpler free options for standard partnership Spades.
Alternatives to VIP Spades
- Tableza: our top pick, free, with no chips, a computer at three levels and hints on easy. Read our Tableza Spades review.
- Trickster Cards: the same variants as rule options, plus video chat with friends. Read our Trickster Cards review.
- Spades Plus: Zynga’s Spades app, with Solo, Whiz, Mirror and tournaments. Read our Spades Plus review.
See every app compared in our Top 3 Best Spades Apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VIP Spades free?
Yes, it’s free to play, with daily rewards. The app also sells chips and a VIP subscription from $9.99 a month.
Can I play Suicide Spades on VIP Spades?
Yes. Suicide is one of its modes: in each pair, one player bids Nil and the other bids 4 or more.
Can I play VIP Spades against the computer?
Yes. Free Training lets you practice against the computer.
Can I play VIP Spades with friends?
Yes. In the Pairs lobby, choose “Play with friends”, host a game, make it private and invite your crew.
Does VIP Spades have Blind Nil?
Yes, in Pairs it’s worth 200. The host can turn it off, and it isn’t allowed in Whiz or Mirror.
Can I play VIP Spades in my browser?
Yes. It runs in any web browser with no download, and there are free iPhone and Android apps.
