# The Backgammon vs Backgammon Friends Online

The clearest difference is rating: Backgammon Friends Online at 4.7 against The Backgammon's 2.3. Backgammon Friends Online also leads on ratings volume (6.1K vs 64) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). The Backgammon's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 24). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backgammon Friends Online sells 24 one-off in-app purchases. The Backgammon asks for nothing beyond the download.

Backgammon Friends Online holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backgammon Friends Online has 6.1K ratings behind it against 64, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 8% of The Backgammon's written reviews are positive against 26% of Backgammon Friends Online's.

The Backgammon ships an update every 2 months, Backgammon Friends Online fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 2, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Backgammon | Backgammon Friends Online |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-backgammon/id1436665047/reviews) | **[4.7 (6.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-friends-online/id6446756885/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 64 | **6.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 8.1% of reviews | **25.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#176** |
| Size | 324 MB | 300 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [UNBALANCE Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/358617691) | [Gameberry Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1249189555) |

## What reviewers say

### The Backgammon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-backgammon/id1436665047)

Engage in classic backgammon matches online against players worldwide or offline against an AI with adjustable difficulty. Enhance your skills with detailed game analysis and practice tools. Enjoy a free, feature-rich experience with customizable rules and visually appealing boards.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer games, Offline AI opponent, 5 difficulty levels, Rating and ranking system, Match replay and review, Customizable rules, Hint facility

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good for learning the game
- 👍 Pleasant interface and display
- 👍 Efficient matching
- 👍 Good for casual players
- 👍 Can be played for free

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Overwhelmingly negative sentiment due to rigged dice
- 😠 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 😠 Dice rolls are not random
- 😠 AI favors the computer
- 😠 Unfair advantage for higher-rated players

**Reported bugs**

- Ads block the game board
- Ads won't go away, requiring app restart
- Game freezes frequently
- App crashes and closes unexpectedly
- Game rolls back after restart

**Requested features**

- Option to buy a version with no ads
- Improve sound settings (separate BGM and SFX)
- Add a chat option for online play
- Improve controls and piece manipulation
- Option to choose dice button position


### Backgammon Friends Online

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-friends-online/id6446756885)

**Currently charting:** #176 Top Grossing · Board (US App Store)

Engage in challenging backgammon matches online or offline. Improve your skills through AI practice, competitive arenas, and a global leaderboard. Enjoy daily rewards and a portrait mode for easy gameplay.

**Highlights:** Portrait mode gameplay, Climb competitive arenas, AI practice and learning, Global leaderboard, Daily rewards, Play with friends

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (24)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gem Basic Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gold Basic Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pick-a-card | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gold Hot Sale Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gem Hot Sale Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bundle Hot Sale Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tumbler Dice | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gem Deluxe Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Gold Deluxe Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Gem Booster Sale Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Pack (first) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Endless Sale Step 1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Royal Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Maverick Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Endless Sale Step 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Endless Sale Step 3 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Gem Mega Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Gold Mega Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Season Pass | $9.99 | one-time |
| Endless Sale Step 4 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Gem Super Pack | $19.99 | one-time |
| Pro Xp booster | $19.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pro Pack | $49.99 | one-time |
| Gem Epic Pack | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast gameplay
- 🎨 Visually appealing
- 🌐 Diverse player base
- 🕹️ Enjoyable backgammon experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Unfair dice rolls
- 💰 Pay-to-win mechanics
- 🤖 Suspicious bot behavior
- 🐛 Technical issues and glitches
- 🔄 Ability to re-roll dice ruins fairness

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing coins and tokens
- Freezing and crashes
- Incorrect game mechanics (e.g., gammon rules)

**Requested features**

- Improved dice randomization
- Fairer matchmaking
- Removal of pay-to-win features
- Better customer support
- More diverse avatar options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Backgammon free?

The Backgammon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Backgammon Friends Online free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Backgammon or Backgammon Friends Online?

Backgammon Friends Online is rated higher. The Backgammon averages 2.3 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while Backgammon Friends Online averages 4.7 from 6.1K ratings.

### Do The Backgammon or Backgammon Friends Online have ads?

Both The Backgammon and Backgammon Friends Online show ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Backgammon or Backgammon Friends Online?

The Backgammon ships an update every 2 months, and Backgammon Friends Online fortnightly. Most recently, The Backgammon was updated on September 2, 2026 and Backgammon Friends Online on September 25, 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.*