# Mancala game vs Backgammon

The clearest difference is rating: Backgammon at 4.5 against Mancala game's 3.0. Backgammon also leads on ratings volume (85K vs 2) and chart position (#147 vs unranked). Mancala game's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backgammon sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Mancala game asks for nothing beyond the download.

Backgammon holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backgammon has 85K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Mancala game ships an update monthly, Backgammon every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mancala game | Backgammon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mancala-game/id1108025692/reviews) | **[4.5 (85K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-board-games/id6443484197/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **85K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 17.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#147** |
| Size | 10 MB | 234 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Eun Junseok](https://appshunter.io/developer/439258050) | [Easybrain Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1190815537) |

## What reviewers say

### Mancala game

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mancala-game/id1108025692)

A digital adaptation of the classic Mancala board game. Players strategically move stones across the board, aiming to capture opponent's pieces and end with the most stones.

**Highlights:** Strategic stone movement, Capture opponent's pieces, Earn free turns, End game scoring, Classic Mancala rules

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Backgammon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-board-games/id6443484197)

**Currently charting:** #147 Top Free · Board (US App Store)

Experience a classic two-player board game on your device. This logic puzzle involves rolling dice and strategically moving checkers across a board to remove them. It's designed to exercise your mind and provide a fun way to relax.

**Highlights:** Classic backgammon gameplay, Logic puzzle for two players, Dice rolling and checker movement, Brain training and relaxation, Intuitive design

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Clean interface
- 🚀 Quick gameplay
- 🎮 Fun game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Unfair dice rolls
- 🤖 AI plays too conservatively
- 💰 Too many ads
- 🔧 Glitchy gameplay

**Reported bugs**

- Doubling cube blocks board view
- Incorrect bearing off rules

**Requested features**

- Additional difficulty settings
- Multiplayer mode
- Customizable board colors
- Game statistics tracking


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mancala game free?

Mancala game is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Backgammon free?

Backgammon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Mancala game or Backgammon?

Backgammon is rated higher. Mancala game averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Backgammon averages 4.5 from 85K ratings.

### Do Mancala game or Backgammon have ads?

Backgammon shows ads; Mancala game does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mancala game or Backgammon?

Mancala game ships an update monthly, and Backgammon every 2 months. Most recently, Mancala game was updated on November 2, 2026 and Backgammon on November 12, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*