Trivia company vs. software
Hire a Trivia Company or Run It Yourself? An Honest Cost Comparison
A trivia company brings the host, the questions and the answer app, and charges you every night. Trivia software gives you the questions, the TV display and the scoring for a monthly fee, and you supply the host. Here is what each one really costs, what you get, and who each one fits.
The short answer
Trivia companies that publish their rates charge about $150 to $175 a night. For one night a week, that's $7,800 to $9,100 a year.
Trivia software like NSB Games costs $45 a month per game ($540 a year), $250 for a 1-year plan, or $79 a month for all seven games.
So the real question isn't price. It's whether you have someone who can run the mic. If you do, software saves thousands. If you don't, a company (or a freelance host using software) is worth paying for.
What trivia companies charge
Most companies quote by phone. These are the numbers we could find in public, with where they came from.
| Company or source | What they say | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trivia Mafia | $150 a night for a 4-week trial, then a flat $175. Prizes, A/V setup and host tips are extra. The venue buys prizes. | Their website, 2026 |
| Sporcle Events | Priced by how many people play, between a minimum and maximum rate given one-on-one. First agreement is 12 weeks. | Sporcle blog, 2018 |
| Geeks Who Drink | Not published. Ask for a quote. | Their website, 2026 |
| Untappd for Business | Professional trivia hosts cost $150 to $500 per event. | Untappd guide, 2022 |
| FSR Magazine | Two restaurants paid $150 and $185 a night. | FSR article, 2014 |
Your yearly cost calculator
Put in your own numbers. Prizes aren't included because the venue pays for them either way.
Trivia company
$9,100
per year
Software + your host
$948
per year
Difference
$8,152
saved per year with software
Company cost = price per night × nights per week × 52. Software cost = the plan for a year + your host's extra pay × nights per week × 52.
What you get with each
| Trivia company | Trivia software (NSB Games) | |
|---|---|---|
| Host | A trained host is included. | Your bartender, manager or DJ, or a freelance host you hire. |
| Questions | Written by the company. | A new 60-question game every week, an AI builder for any theme, or your own. |
| Answers and scoring | Usually the company's answer app, run by the host. | Teams answer on a phone (no app), answers are auto-graded and the leaderboard updates on your TV. |
| Equipment | Some hosts bring sound gear. Others use yours (Trivia Mafia charges $20 for a loaner PA). | Your TV, a laptop with Chrome, your sound system and a mic. |
| Marketing | Often a listing on their site, posters and social graphics. | A free poster and social post maker. You do the posting. |
| Schedule | Set with the company. Changes need notice (Trivia Mafia asks for 15 days). | Any night, any time, as often as you like. |
| Commitment | Often a starting agreement (Sporcle's is 12 weeks). | Month to month, or a one-week pass that never renews. |
| Other games | Some companies also sell bingo or theme nights. | All 7 NSB games for $79 a month: pub quiz, music bingo, Name That Tune, trivia bingo, picture bingo, a survey game show and a bingo caller. |
Who should pick which
Hire a trivia company if
- Nobody on your staff wants to be on the mic.
- You want a polished host with a following from week one.
- You'd rather pay for marketing help than do it yourself.
- Your trivia night already brings in far more than the nightly fee.
Run it with software if
- You have a bartender, manager or DJ who's good on the mic.
- No trivia company covers your town or your type of venue.
- You want trivia on more than one night, or music bingo and other games too.
- You want to choose the night, the length, the themes and the prizes.
The middle path: a local host with your software
You don't have to pick between a big company and hosting it yourself. You can pay a local DJ or a regular who loves trivia to run the night on your own software. You keep the night, the teams and the schedule, and you set the host's pay.
If you're a DJ or host, the same idea works in reverse: bring your own trivia, music bingo and game show nights to venues in your area. Our pricing section has a calculator for hosts too.
Switching without losing your teams
- 1
Keep the same night, time and prizes
Teams come back for the habit. Change one thing at a time.
- 2
Announce it two weeks ahead
Tell teams at the end of the night and post it. Phone answers and a live leaderboard are an easy selling point.
- 3
Do a practice run with your host
Start the 7-day free trial and walk through the Pub Quiz Pro host guide once before the first real night.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to have trivia at a bar?
Companies that publish rates charge about $150 to $175 a night, and industry guides quote $150 to $500 per event. Running it yourself with software costs $45 to $79 a month, plus prizes and whatever you pay your host.
Is trivia night worth it for a bar?
Many venues say yes. Bars interviewed by CNBC reported trivia nights bringing in about 30% more revenue, up to nearly double other weeknights. Results depend on your crowd and how consistent the night is.
Can a bartender run trivia night?
Yes, with software that does the scoring. The game shows on the TV, teams answer on their phones, answers are graded automatically, and the host reads a built-in script.
What do I need to run trivia myself?
A laptop with Google Chrome, a TV, your sound system, a microphone, a host and prizes. Setup takes about 10 minutes.
Who pays for trivia prizes?
Usually the venue, whether you hire a company or not. Trivia Mafia, for example, asks venues to give the same prizes every week worth $30, $20 and $10.
Do players need an app?
Not with NSB Games. Teams scan the QR code on the TV and play in their phone browser. Printable answer sheets are there for anyone without a phone.
Try running it yourself, free for 7 days
No credit card, no contract. Questions? Text Shane, the DJ who built it.
More comparisons
Geeks Who Drink alternative · Rockstar Bingo alternative · Trivia night software
Sources
- Trivia Mafia: get trivia at your venue (rates)
- Trivia Mafia venue FAQ (prizes, loaner PA, schedule changes)
- Sporcle: pub owner FAQ (October 2018)
- Geeks Who Drink: trivia for pub owners
- Untappd for Business: how to make money hosting trivia night (August 2022)
- FSR Magazine: restaurants are real winners at trivia night (August 2014)
- CNBC: trivia night boosts profit for bars and restaurants (April 2023)
Company names are trademarks of their owners. NSB Games is not affiliated with any company named here. Prices were checked in November 2026 and can change.