Comparison

Backgammon vs Backgammon Blitz

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Backgammon

Engage in classic backgammon with AI or live multiplayer opponents. This app offers a comprehensive experience with features like a doubling cube, rule tutorials, and detailed player statistics. Play offline or online to hone your strategic skills and climb the leaderboards.

Highlights
  • Online and offline play
  • Challenge AI or real players
  • Master the doubling cube
  • Learn and improve with hints
  • Track detailed player statistics
  • Play anywhere, portrait/landscape
Features
Read full description

Challenge adaptive AI, share the board with a friend in local pass-and-play, and master the doubling cube — all free, with dice you can actually trust. The most complete backgammon experience for iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision: sharpen your strategy with hints, track deep stats, and climb the leaderboards. * SMART, ADAPTIVE AI Beginner, Intermediate & Expert levels tuned to your playstyle — never a rigged board, just a smarter opponent. * PASS & PLAY Share one device and play a real match against a friend, head-to-head, no connection required. * LEARN & IMPROVE Move hints, legal-move highlights, and a full rules tutorial — go from your first roll to your first double with confidence. * REAL MATCH PLAY 1-point, 3-point & full matches, doubling cube, and the Crawford rule — tournament-standard play, not a simplified clone. * STATS THAT MATTER Elo-style rating, win/loss graphs, pip counts, and complete dice history, so you can see exactly how fair your rolls really are. * PLAY ANYWHERE Portrait or landscape, online or fully offline vs. AI. "The best free backgammon app—AI is tough, local play is smooth." – App Store review Also known as Tavla, Nardi, or Narde — this is backgammon the way it's meant to be played.

About

Backgammon Blitz

Experience a fresh take on a classic board game with this pocket-sized puzzle. Learn the basics quickly and dive into deep strategic gameplay. Score points through captures, blocks, and swift bearing off.

Highlights
  • Simplified backgammon gameplay
  • Quick games in minutes
  • Score points for captures
  • Score points for blocks
  • Score points for bearing off
Read full description

Backgammon, faster than ever! Backgammon Blitz delivers the timeless strategy of Backgammon in quick, easy-to-learn matches that are packed with meaningful decisions. Capture your opponent, block their path, and race your checkers home while every move shapes your final score. How to Play Roll the dice to move your checkers across the board. Capture your opponent, block their progress for bonus points, and bear off your checkers in as few moves as possible. Compete with Friends No two boards play the same. Invite your friends to challenge each other and discover who can make the smartest moves. Why You'll Love Backgammon Blitz - Fast-paced Backgammon strategy - Smart captures and blocking - Quick games with deep strategy - Head-to-head challenges Every roll opens new possibilities. Download Backgammon Blitz today and make your next move count.

Screenshots

Backgammon4 screens
Backgammon Blitz3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backgammon at none against Backgammon Blitz's 10. Backgammon also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 months). Backgammon Blitz's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (90% vs 70%). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Backgammon Blitz sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Backgammon asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Backgammon Blitz holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 168 and 400 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Backgammon's written reviews are positive against 90% of Backgammon Blitz's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backgammon ships an update every 8 days, Backgammon Blitz every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Backgammon versus Backgammon Blitz: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackgammonBackgammon Blitz
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (168 ratings)4.7 (400 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.4% of reviews90.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings168400 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB216 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperLinda MottleyTether Studios, LLC

Customer experience

Backgammon

All ratings168 ratings
Positive86.3%
Neutral3.0%
Negative10.7%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive70.4%
Neutral1.9%
Negative27.8%

Backgammon Blitz

All ratings400 ratings
Positive95.5%
Neutral1.3%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews103 reviews
Positive90.3%
Neutral1.9%
Negative7.8%

User reviews

Backgammon

From 168 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Fun and enjoyable game
  • 👍 Good graphics and design
  • 👍 Helpful tutorial for beginners
  • 👍 Can be played offline
  • 👍 Good for passing time

Room to improve

  • 👎 AI is rigged/cheats
  • 👎 Computer rolls are not random
  • 👎 Poor AI logic/plays poorly
  • 👎 App frequently crashes or freezes
  • 👎 App won't open/blank screen

Backgammon Blitz

From 400 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great game
  • 🚀 Fun and fast-paced
  • 💡 Interesting scoring system
  • 👍 Challenging and enjoyable

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Potential rigging or unfair matchmaking
  • 🤔 Unclear scoring and game mechanics
  • 🤔 Lack of live player-vs-player mode

Bugs and requests

Backgammon

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • App won't open
  • App freezes/hangs
  • Two taps required for one move
  • Incorrect move selection by AI
  • AI rolls are not random
Show 4 more
  • Display graphics obscure continue button
  • In 2-player mode, no menus appear when black starts
  • Software doesn't always display who goes first in 2-player hard mode
  • UI elements cover board pieces

Requested features

5 requests
  • Fix rigged AI rolls
  • Make AI more challenging/less predictable
  • Allow users to choose layout/design
  • Reconsider placement of move/undo buttons
  • Add option for cube

Backgammon Blitz

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Compatibility issues with certain devices
  • Freezing or crashing on login screen

Requested features

3 requests
  • Live player-vs-player mode
  • Better scoring and game mechanics explanation
  • More game modes and variations

In-app purchases

None

Backgammon

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Backgammon Blitz

One-time10
  • 500 Coins$0.99
  • 5 Energy$0.99
  • Starter Pack$1.99
Show 7 more
  • No Ads 7-Days$2.99
  • Double Energy 30-days$4.99
  • 3,000 Coins$4.99
  • No Ads 30-Days$6.99
  • 50 Energy$8.99
  • 15,000 Coins$19.99
  • 45,000 Coins$49.99

Questions

Is Backgammon free?
Backgammon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Backgammon Blitz free?
Backgammon Blitz is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Backgammon or Backgammon Blitz?
Backgammon Blitz is rated higher. Backgammon averages 4.4 out of 5 from 168 ratings, while Backgammon Blitz averages 4.7 from 400 ratings.
Do Backgammon or Backgammon Blitz have ads?
Both Backgammon and Backgammon Blitz show ads.
Which is updated more often, Backgammon or Backgammon Blitz?
Backgammon ships an update every 8 days, and Backgammon Blitz every 3 months. Most recently, Backgammon was updated on September 23, 2026 and Backgammon Blitz on August 30, 2026.

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