Hitster alternative
A free Hitster alternative for Home Assistant.
Same idea, no cards: a song plays, everyone guesses the year. Here is how Beatify and the card game compare, honestly.
Side by side
Beatify vs. Hitster
| Hitster (card game) | Beatify | |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | A box of song cards; more music means another edition | Nothing. Free and open source, 70 playlists, 8,724 songs |
| Cards | Required: each song is a printed card | None. Songs come from playlists |
| Music sources | Fixed printed deck | Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music, Plex, Jellyfin, local files |
| Speakers | A phone or a speaker paired to it | Sonos, Alexa or any Music Assistant speaker you own |
| Game mechanic | Place each song on your timeline | Guess the year, or title and artist. No timeline placement |
| Players | Limited by the components | 20+, each on their own phone, no app |
| Setup | Open the box | Home Assistant 2025.1+, a supported speaker, one HACS install |
Without cards
Can you play Hitster without cards?
Hitster itself needs its printed cards: the app only plays the song behind the QR code on a card. Beatify plays the same kind of game with no cards at all. Songs come from 70 built-in playlists, play through your own speakers, and everyone guesses the year on their phone.
Which one
Who should pick which
Buy the box if
- you do not run Home Assistant
- the timeline mechanic is the point for you
- you play away from home
Install Beatify if
- Home Assistant already runs your house
- you want your own music, not a printed deck
- you want the whole room on the big speakers and the TV
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is there a free Hitster alternative?
Beatify is free and open source (MIT). It runs on your own Home Assistant and needs no purchase and no account.
Does it work with Apple Music?
Yes, through Music Assistant. Spotify, YouTube Music, Tidal, Deezer and Amazon Music work too, or your own library.
Can I play a music quiz on Sonos?
Yes. Beatify plays directly on Sonos speakers, and on Alexa or any speaker Music Assistant drives.
Do I need a music subscription?
Not necessarily. Streaming is one option; your own Plex, Jellyfin or local library is another.
Hitster is a trademark of its respective owner. Beatify is an independent open-source project, not affiliated with or endorsed by it.