Best Offline Trivia Apps for iPhone (2026)
On a plane. In the car. Waiting somewhere with terrible signal. You want a trivia game that just works — no loading screens, no "connection required" pop-ups. We tested 5 trivia apps for their offline capabilities. Here's what actually works without internet.
Disclosure: We made Sorting History. We've tried to be fair to every app on this list, including pointing out where others do things differently. We believe informed users make the best customers.
Quick Comparison
| App | Offline Support | Content Depth | Topics | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sorting History | Full offline | 1,200+ events | History (12 categories) | Free / $1.99-$2.99/mo |
| Trivia Crack | Limited offline | Thousands of questions | 6 categories (general) | Free / $4.99+/mo |
| QuizUp | Shut down (2023) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Trivia Star | Offline play available | Multiple question sets | General knowledge | Free with ads |
| 94% | Offline play available | Hundreds of levels | Word/association puzzles | Free with ads |
1. Sorting History
Best for: History lovers who want a trivia game that works everywhere — no internet, no accounts, no waiting.
What makes it different
Sorting History stores everything on your device. All 12 categories, all 1,200+ historical events, every game mode. You can switch your phone to airplane mode and play for hours without hitting a single loading screen. This is not a "limited offline mode" — it is the full game, offline by default.
Strengths
- 100% offline: Every category, every event, every game mode works without internet. Nothing is streamed from a server.
- Deep content: 12 history categories at launch, each with 100+ researched events. US History, World Wars, Ancient Civilizations, European History, Scientific Discoveries, and more.
- Daily Challenge: A new 4-event sorting puzzle every day in a surprise category. Takes under 5 minutes. Works offline.
- Two game modes: Sorting History (arrange events in chronological order) and History Pinpoint (guess the exact year — Historian tier exclusive).
- No timer: Take your time. Think through the timeline. No pressure.
- Friendly difficulty: No penalties for wrong answers. Great for learning at your own pace.
- Local multiplayer: Pass and Play (2-6 teams, one device) and Network Play (two devices, same WiFi). No internet needed for either.
- 4 languages: English, German, Portuguese, Dutch.
- No account required: Download and play. No sign-up, no login, no user account.
Limitations
- History only. If you want general knowledge, science, or pop culture trivia, this is not the app for you.
- No online matchmaking. Multiplayer is local only.
- 4 languages (not 20+ like some general trivia apps).
- New app with a smaller community than established games.
Price: Free (8 categories, 800+ events). Explorer: $1.99/mo or $9.99/yr. Historian: $2.99/mo or $14.99/yr. Lifetime options available.
2. Trivia Crack
Best for: People who want a massive trivia community and are usually connected to the internet.
Strengths
- Huge player base: Hundreds of millions of downloads. Finding opponents is easy.
- Six categories: Science, Entertainment, Art, Geography, Sports, and History. Broad coverage.
- Has an offline mode: A single-player offline mode exists for when you lose connection.
- 20+ languages.
Limitations
- The offline mode is limited. Core features — challenging friends, playing against random opponents, spinning the wheel — all require internet.
- The app is built around online play. Offline mode feels like a backup, not the main experience.
- Timed answers. You are on the clock for every question.
- Ads in the free tier. Subscriptions start at $4.99/mo to remove them.
Price: Free with ads. Subscriptions from $4.99/mo.
3. QuizUp (Shut Down)
Best for: No one, anymore. QuizUp shut down permanently in 2023.
What happened
QuizUp was one of the most popular trivia apps ever made. At its peak it had millions of active players, hundreds of topic categories, and a vibrant community. Then the servers closed. Because QuizUp was entirely online — no offline mode, no local data storage — everything vanished. Player progress, scores, custom quizzes, community content. All gone.
Why it matters for this list
- Online-only trivia apps are a risk. If the company shuts down, your game disappears.
- No offline fallback meant total loss. Players could not even access their favorite quizzes after the shutdown.
- Apps that store content locally survive server shutdowns. Your data stays on your device regardless of what happens to the company's servers.
QuizUp is included here as a reminder: when choosing a trivia app, consider what happens if the servers go away. Apps with full offline support keep working no matter what.
Price: No longer available.
4. Trivia Star
Best for: Casual players who want quick general knowledge quizzes they can play anywhere.
Strengths
- Works offline: Questions are stored locally and can be played without an internet connection.
- General knowledge coverage: Covers a wide range of topics from science to history to pop culture.
- Simple format: Multiple choice questions with increasing difficulty. Easy to pick up.
- Free to play.
Limitations
- General knowledge only. No deep category specialization.
- Ad-supported. Frequent ads between rounds.
- Multiple choice format only. No variety in question types.
- Content can feel repetitive over time.
Price: Free with ads. In-app purchases to remove ads.
5. 94%
Best for: Casual puzzle fans who want an offline word and association game.
Strengths
- Works offline: Levels are stored locally and playable without internet.
- Unique format: Instead of answering questions, you guess what 94% of people said about a topic (similar to Family Feud). A refreshing change from standard trivia.
- Hundreds of levels. Keeps you busy for a while.
- Free to start.
Limitations
- Not traditional trivia. This is an association and guessing game, not a knowledge quiz.
- Once you finish all levels, there is limited replay value.
- Ad-supported. Ads appear between levels.
- Not a history game. Content is general pop culture and common knowledge.
Price: Free with ads. In-app purchases for hints and ad removal.
How to Choose
Want a trivia app that works everywhere, no exceptions?
Sorting History. Everything is stored on your device. Airplane mode, road trips, camping trips, subway commutes. The full game works without a single bar of signal.
Want general knowledge trivia you can play offline?
Trivia Star. Covers many topics with offline support. Good for casual sessions when you want variety beyond history.
Want a casual offline puzzle game?
94%. Not traditional trivia, but it is engaging, offline, and different from everything else on this list.
Want to play trivia against friends online?
Trivia Crack. The best online trivia experience. Just know that the offline mode is limited compared to the online features.
Want a trivia app your data survives?
Avoid online-only apps. QuizUp had millions of users and disappeared overnight. Choose apps that store content locally — Sorting History, Trivia Star, and 94% all keep your game data on your device.
Want something you can play at your own pace?
Sorting History. No timer, Friendly difficulty with no penalties, and a Daily Challenge that takes under 5 minutes. Designed for thinking, not speed.
Try Sorting History Free
8 categories, 800+ events, Daily Challenge, works fully offline. No account needed. Launching April 2026.
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