Comparison

Backgammon vs Fair Play Backgammon

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

Fair Play Backgammon

Experience backgammon with a focus on fairness and a clean interface. This game ensures truly random dice rolls for a pure strategic challenge. Enjoy the classic game without distractions.

Highlights
  • Fair dice rolls
  • Clean interface
  • Online multiplayer
  • Pure backgammon experience
  • Strategic gameplay
Features
Read full description

Tired of suspicious rolls? So were we. We built a backgammon experience centered on integrity and style. By stripping away the clutter and ensuring every dice throw is truly random, we’ve returned the game to its purest form. It’s just you, the board, and the math. Privacy policy: https://inkscapestudios.com/backgammon/privacy

Screenshots

Backgammon4 screens
Fair Play Backgammon4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backgammon at none against Fair Play Backgammon's 6. Backgammon also leads on ratings volume (188 vs 5). Fair Play Backgammon's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 70%). On price, rating, update cadence and monetization model 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. Fair Play Backgammon sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Backgammon asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Fair Play Backgammon holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backgammon has 188 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Backgammon's written reviews are positive against 100% of Fair Play Backgammon's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backgammon ships an update fortnightly, Fair Play Backgammon weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Backgammon versus Fair Play Backgammon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackgammonFair Play Backgammon
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (188 ratings)4.6 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings188 — better5
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLinda MottleyADRIAN ALBU

Customer experience

Backgammon

All ratings188 ratings
Positive86.2%
Neutral3.2%
Negative10.6%
Written reviews56 reviews
Positive69.6%
Neutral1.8%
Negative28.6%

Fair Play Backgammon

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Fair Play Backgammon

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Backgammon

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Fair Play Backgammon

One-time6
  • 15 Gems Pack$0.99
  • 1000 Coins$0.99
  • 45 Gems$1.99
Show 3 more
  • 2300 Coins$1.99
  • 5000 Coins$2.99
  • 95 Gems$3.99

Questions

Is Backgammon free?
Backgammon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Fair Play Backgammon free?
Fair Play Backgammon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Backgammon or Fair Play Backgammon?
Fair Play Backgammon is rated higher. Backgammon averages 4.4 out of 5 from 188 ratings, while Fair Play Backgammon averages 4.6 from 5 ratings.
Do Backgammon or Fair Play Backgammon have ads?
Backgammon shows ads; Fair Play Backgammon does not.
Which is updated more often, Backgammon or Fair Play Backgammon?
Backgammon ships an update fortnightly, and Fair Play Backgammon weekly. Most recently, Backgammon was updated on October 28, 2026 and Fair Play Backgammon on October 24, 2026.

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