The Worse You Draw, the Funnier It Gets: Play Gartic Phone with Friends Anywhere

Q: Can you play Gartic Phone on desktop?

Yes, On desktop, you can send an invite link and hop on a video call if your group isn't in the same room.

Jessica Santero - Staff Writer

Updated 25 September 2026

Contents

Jump to:

How Gartic Phone works
Is Gartic Phone worth downloading?
How I evaluated Gartic Phone
FAQ

Gartic Phone combines broken telephone with Pictionary. This one is a top-notch pick, it earned a perfect score on my list of the best trivia and game night apps, and you're not limited to mobile since it also works on desktop.

5 out of 5 overall

Gartic Phone

Free, with ads
Available for iOS, Android, and desktop

Best for: A mixed-age group that wants to draw, not just answer questions

App Store Google Play

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How Gartic Phone works

If you're downloading the app, everyone needs to download the app. One person starts a game, and the rest join by invite code or QR scan.

I went ahead and played on desktop because I'm already a bad artist. I needed a bigger screen.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut

If you're the starting player, you need to write a very interesting question. You can choose from multiple categories to help your guests or friends along the broken telephone line, or you can just keep it normal and have anything go. The group then alternates writing prompts and drawing them based on what the last person submitted.

One of the best apps I've tried

“Honestly, a top-notch game. I think it's super fun and it's definitely my type of game.”

Jessica Santero, WhistleOut Writer

Playing on a small phone screen is part of the fun. Drawing anything recognizable on a cramped screen is hard, which only makes the broken-telephone chain funnier by the end.

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Play on desktop over a video call

On desktop, you can send an invite link to all your friends, hop on a Zoom call (if your group isn't in the same room), and still have a blast of a time.

What about the ads?

There are ads. I sat through a thirty-second Mint Mobile spot with Ryan Reynolds before a round started, but the rest of the game ran ad-free after that.

Is Gartic Phone worth downloading?

It's entertaining, it's fun, and it's good for all ages. This one works for a mixed-age group, and it's a solid pick for a casual hangout, whether that's at someone's kitchen table or at a pub. Gartic Phone is free, with ads, and available for iOS, Android, and desktop.

Want more picks for your next game night? Check out the full list of the best trivia and game night apps.

How I evaluated Gartic Phone

I judged each app on whether it actually gets a group playing in the same room, not just whether it looks good in a store listing. Here's what I looked for:

Setup time: Can everyone jump in within a minute, or does someone have to walk the group through the rules first?
Group-friendliness: Is this actually built for a room full of people, or does it work better solo or against strangers online?
Ads and monetization: Does the free version interrupt the game, or does it stay out of the way?
Content quality: Are the categories and packs actually appropriate for a mixed group, including public or user-submitted content?

Gartic Phone: FAQ

Is Gartic Phone free?

Yes, Gartic Phone is free, with ads, and available for iOS, Android, and desktop.

Can you play Gartic Phone on desktop?

Yes, on desktop, you can send an invite link and hop on a video call if your group isn't in the same room.

How do you invite friends to Gartic Phone?

One person starts a game and the rest join by invite code or QR scan.

What are good family game apps for phones?

Gartic Phone works well across ages since the drawing format doesn't require any trivia knowledge, and it's good for all ages.

Jessica Santero

Staff Writer

Jessica is a Staff Writer for WhistleOut and the site’s resident app expert. Her coverage frequently includes hands-on comparisons of popular app categories, such as translation, navigation, and dating apps, to evaluate how they perform in real-world mobile use.

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