Service Rat vs secrethitler.io
If you've ever played Secret Hitler online, you've probably opened secrethitler.io. It is the free, browser-based reference implementation that fans of the genre have used for years. Service Rat is a different beast: a native mobile app for iOS and Android, with bots that fill empty seats, pass-and-play on a single device, and LAN play that works without internet. Both are free. Both let 5 to 10 people enjoy the same hidden-role mechanics. The right choice depends on your group: laptops gathered around a table, or phones in everyone's pocket?
Verdict
Pick secrethitler.io if everyone is at a desktop and you want instant browser play with no install; pick Service Rat if you want a phone-native experience with bots, offline pass-and-play and LAN support.
| Feature | Service Rat | secrethitler.io |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Native Android + iOS app | Web browser (any platform) |
| Install required | Yes (free, App Store / Google Play) | No, opens in browser |
| Account / sign-in | No account required | Google sign-in commonly used to host |
| Pass-and-play (one device) | Yes, dedicated mode | No |
| Bots to fill empty seats | Yes, AI bots 1 to 9 | No |
| Local Wi-Fi / LAN mode | Yes, no internet needed once on same network | No, internet required |
| Online play with friends | Yes, via shared room code | Yes, via shared link |
| Mobile UX (touch, portrait) | Designed for phones | Desktop-first; mobile is usable but cramped |
| Reconnect after drop | Yes, rejoin token | Limited, depends on browser session |
| Languages | EN, RU, UK, DE, ES, FR, PT | EN-only |
| Ads | Optional, removable via in-app purchase | None |
| Cost | Free | Free |
When Service Rat is the better pick
You are with friends in the same room and only some of you have a laptop nearby. Service Rat's pass-and-play mode turns a single phone into the whole game: it deals roles privately, runs votes, applies executive powers and tells the next player to take the phone. No setup, no shared screen, no laptop on the dinner table.
Your group is short on players. Two of you want to play; eight is the sweet spot for hidden-role games. Service Rat fills the missing seats with bots that nominate, vote and legislate plausibly. secrethitler.io has no bot support, so you'd need to recruit eight humans before you can even start.
You want to play offline at a cabin, on a flight, or on patchy Wi-Fi. Service Rat's pass-and-play and LAN modes work without internet. secrethitler.io is browser-only and goes dark the moment your connection does.
When secrethitler.io is the better pick
Everyone in your group is at a desktop, you want to play right now, and you don't want anyone to install anything. secrethitler.io is impossible to beat for zero-friction browser play: click a link, sign in, you're in. There is no install step, no app review, no store page.
You want the canonical Secret Hitler experience with the original theming and art. secrethitler.io is a fan-built tribute to the boardgame and uses the original liberal/fascist labels and Reichstag imagery. Service Rat ships a corporate reskin (Workers, Saboteurs, The Rat) and is intentionally store-safe.
Quick FAQ
Is Service Rat the same game as Secret Hitler?
Service Rat is inspired by Secret Hitler and uses the same core mechanics: 5 to 10 players, two policy tracks, nominations, votes, executive powers and a hidden traitor. The theme and art are different (corporate office, not 1930s politics) and the game has its own balance tuning, but if you know how to play Secret Hitler you know how to play Service Rat.
Can I play with friends who only have secrethitler.io?
Not in the same lobby, no. Service Rat runs its own multiplayer servers and is not network-compatible with secrethitler.io. If your group already plays on secrethitler.io and is happy there, stay there. Service Rat is the better option when at least one player wants pass-and-play, bots, or a mobile-native UI.
Does Service Rat work offline?
Yes. Pass-and-play needs only one phone and zero internet. LAN multiplayer needs a shared Wi-Fi network but no internet access. Only the global online mode requires an internet connection.
Is Service Rat really free?
Yes. The whole game is free with optional ads. You can remove ads with a one-off in-app purchase or leave a small tip if you want to support development. There are no paid roles, no paid characters and no premium-only modes.
Install Service Rat for free on iOS or Android and try the pass-and-play mode in under a minute.