One big screen ● everyone's phones
The free Jackbox alternative where the answers are GIFs.
Same living-room formula — one big screen, everyone plays from their phone — but free, in the browser, and every answer is a GIF. Write your own questions, let the room vote, crown a champion.
How it works
Sign in, write 1–20 questions or hit "Surprise me" for a ready-made pack. Two minutes, tops.
TV, projector, laptop — or share the window on Zoom, Meet, or Teams. Players scan the QR or type the PIN.
Question up → GIF answers → anonymous voting → points → podium. 10 minutes of the room quoting each other.
GIF Mania vs. Jackbox, honestly
| GIF Mania | Jackbox Party Pack | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to host and play | $10–35 per pack (the host buys) |
| Where it runs | Any browser — nothing to install for anyone | Host needs Steam, a console, or a store app; players join in the browser |
| Players | 4–20 in one game | Most games 8–10 (+ audience mode) |
| Content | Your own questions or curated packs — English, Spanish, Portuguese or Hebrew, optional kid-friendly GIF filter | Fixed, professionally-written games |
| Remote play | Built for screen-share: share the stage, phones do the rest | Works by streaming the game window |
| Setup time | ~2 minutes to a live lobby | Install + launch + pick a game |
What Jackbox does better
Fair's fair: Jackbox ships dozens of distinct games with professional writing, voice acting, and production polish — if you want variety across a whole evening and don't mind paying, it's excellent. GIF Mania does one thing — the GIF-answer game show — and does it free, for more players, with your own questions. Many groups run both in one night.
Questions, answered
FAQ
Is GIF Mania really free?
Yes — hosting is free and playing is free, for everyone in the room. You don't even enter a card.
Do players need to download anything?
No. Players open gifmania.app/play on their phone, enter the PIN, pick a name. Only the host has an account.
Can we play it like Jackbox on a TV?
Yes — any TV or projector works, and smart TVs can open gifmania.tv directly.
Does it work over Zoom for remote teams?
Yes: the host shares the game window in the call and everyone joins from their phone, wherever they are.
How is it different from What Do You Meme?
That's a physical card game with fixed caption cards; GIF Mania is live, digital, uses the whole internet's GIFs, and the room votes.
Jackbox Games and The Jackbox Party Pack are trademarks of Jackbox Games, Inc. What Do You Meme is a trademark of What Do You Meme, LLC. GIF Mania is not affiliated with or endorsed by either.