QuizUp alternative
A QuizUp alternative for 1v1 quiz battles
QuizUp went offline in March 2021. Buzrr's duel mode is the closest replacement we know how to build: you against one opponent, seven timed multiple-choice questions, speed counts.
What is Buzrr?
Buzrr is an open-source quiz platform that runs in the browser. A host builds a multiple-choice quiz — by hand or with AI — and opens a live room; players join from their own phones or laptops with a 6-character code, a link or a QR code, without creating an account. Signed-in users can also play ranked 1v1 quiz battles. Buzrr is licensed under AGPL-3.0, so anyone can read the code or run their own instance.
What QuizUp players miss
Head-to-head, right now
QuizUp matched you against a real opponent for a short, timed match. There was always someone to play.
A reason to keep playing
Winning against better players, climbing, and challenging friends to a rematch.
It's gone
The app was removed from the App Store in January 2021 and its servers shut down on 24 March 2021.
QuizUp vs Buzrr 1v1 battles
QuizUp details are from its Wikipedia article; Buzrr details are from our code.
| QuizUp (2013–2021) | Buzrr duels | |
|---|---|---|
| Match format | 1v1, seven rounds of timed multiple-choice questions (six normal, one bonus) | 1v1, seven timed multiple-choice questions |
| Scoring | Points for accuracy and speed, doubled in the bonus round | Up to 1,000 points per correct answer, decaying with time |
| Topics | Over 1,000 official categories plus user-created topics | One shared pool of moderator-approved community questions |
| Opponents | Friends or random opponents | ELO matchmaking with a bot fallback, or a friend via invite link (unrated) |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Windows Phone | Any modern web browser |
| Status | Servers taken offline on 24 March 2021 | Active and open source (AGPL-3.0) |
How Buzrr's 1v1 battles work
Seven questions, one opponent
A duel is seven timed multiple-choice questions. Correct answers earn more the faster you are, and the higher total wins.
ELO matchmaking
Matchmade duels are rated. The matchmaker looks for someone near your rating and widens the search the longer you wait. If nobody suitable is queuing, you play a bot pitched at your level rather than waiting.
Friend challenges
Send an invite link for an unrated match against a friend.
Browser, not app store
Duels run in any modern browser. There's nothing to install — and because the code is open source, it can't disappear the way QuizUp did.
Buzrr features you'd use
Ranked 1v1 quiz battles
Seven questions against one opponent, matched by ELO rating. If nobody near your rating is queuing, you get a bot opponent instead of an empty wait.
Challenge a friend
Send an invite link for an unrated 1v1 match against someone you know.
Speed-based scoring
A correct answer earns up to 1,000 points, sliding to 100 at the time limit; wrong answers score 0. Answer time is measured on the server, not on the player's device.
Runs in the browser
Nothing to install for hosts or players. It works on phones, tablets and laptops.
Live hosted quiz rooms
The host runs the room from one screen and moves it along question by question. Players join with a 6-character room code, a join link or a QR code.
Open source (AGPL-3.0)
The full source — web app, game server and AI service — is public on GitHub.
How a Buzrr duel works
- 1
Sign in. Duels need a Buzrr account so your rating has somewhere to live. Sign in with Google.
- 2
Queue. Open 1v1 and start searching. The matchmaker looks for someone near your ELO rating and widens the search the longer you wait.
- 3
Play seven questions. Both players get the same seven timed multiple-choice questions. Faster correct answers earn more points.
- 4
Win, lose, adjust. The higher total wins and both ratings move. Your match history is on your profile.
Who Buzrr suits — and who it doesn't
Buzrr is a good fit if…
- You miss quick head-to-head trivia matches.
- You want a rating that moves when you win or lose.
- You'd like to challenge friends with a link.
What Buzrr doesn't bring back
- Buzrr doesn't have QuizUp's 1,000+ topic categories: duel questions come from one shared pool of community quizzes approved by moderators.
- There are no native mobile apps, topic communities or social feed.
What it looks like
QuizUp alternative FAQ
- Is there a QuizUp replacement?
- QuizUp shut down in March 2021. Buzrr offers the same core loop: ranked 1v1 matches of seven timed multiple-choice questions with ELO matchmaking and friend invites, in the browser. It doesn't recreate QuizUp's topic categories or social features.
- Do I need an account for Buzrr duels?
- Yes. Duels are rated, so your rating needs an account to live on. Hosted quiz rooms, by contrast, let players join without one.
QuizUp facts checked October 2026.
What people use Buzrr for
- Trivia nights without the answer sheetsWhether it's a regular pub quiz or a trivia night over video call, Buzrr does the marking and the leaderboard so the quizmaster can concentrate on the banter.
- Quiz rounds for college fests and club eventsFest quiz rounds, society inductions, freshers' nights, hackathon breaks — Buzrr gets a hall full of people answering on their own phones with one QR code on the screen.
- Quick quizzes for team buildingA Friday quiz, an all-hands icebreaker, an offsite warm-up. Drop the join link in chat and the whole team is playing inside a minute, remote or in the room.
Other alternatives and comparisons
- Kahoot! alternativeLive rooms with a code, speed scoring and leaderboards — open source, self-hostable, plus ranked 1v1 battles.
- Quizizz (now Wayground) alternativeFor people who used Quizizz for its live quiz game, now that it has become Wayground.
- Slido alternativeFor Slido quiz, trivia and game sessions — not its Q&A or polls.
- Mentimeter alternativeA standalone quiz game instead of quiz slides inside a presentation.
Open source and self-hosting
Play your first 1v1 battle
Sign in with Google and hit Start 1v1. Your rating starts at 1200.
QuizUp is a trademark of its owner. Buzrr is not affiliated with QuizUp. See also Buzrr pricing.