Comparison

SmartGo One vs IGISORO v2

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

Head to head
About

SmartGo One

Learn, play, and improve at the ancient game of Go. This app offers adjustable board sizes, a strong AI opponent, and tools to study professional games and solve Go problems. It's designed for players of all skill levels, from beginners to masters.

Highlights
  • Adjustable board sizes (9x9 to 19x19)
  • Strong KataGo game engine
  • Study professional game records
  • Solve Go problems and tutorials
  • Pattern matching for move suggestions
  • Territory estimator
  • Game recording and annotation
Features
Read full description

SmartGo One is the only Go app you’ll need, whether you’re just getting started or already a seasoned player. Learn, play, study, and improve with SmartGo One. Experience the ancient game of Go on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac in a whole new way. Also known as igo (囲碁), wéiqí (围棋), or baduk (바둑), Go begins with an empty board that gradually fills as players surround territory and capture stones. Start with a 9x9 board and move up to 13x13 and 19x19 as your skills grow. SmartGo One adapts to your strength, automatically adjusting handicaps so games remain competitive and enjoyable. And when you’re ready for a serious challenge, the powerful KataGo-based engine delivers strong, rewarding play. But SmartGo One is far more than a way to play Go. Read interactive Go books while replaying the moves they describe to deepen your understanding. Explore a collection of more than 138,000 professional game records spanning both modern and historical masters. Improve your reading and decision-making skills with a growing library of Go problems and tutorials. Want to know how a master would handle a position on your board? SmartGo’s pattern matching technology compares your game with historical pro games and shows how strong players approached similar situations. No matter your level, SmartGo One helps you continue improving. Features include: • 9x9, 11x11, 13x13, and 19x19 board sizes • Powerful KataGo-based engine • Fast and responsive gameplay • Manual or automatic handicap adjustment • Record, annotate, and edit your games • Territory estimator • Hints and move analysis • Undo and replay controls • Tutorial with over 100 problems • Extensive user manual We value your privacy and only collect the minimum information necessary to make our apps work well for you. Learn more at https://smartgo.com/privacy.html. This app is licensed under Apple’s standard Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

IGISORO v2

Experience a classic Mancala game with roots in East African culture. This version offers bug fixes, a new reset button, an improved interface, and enhanced Bluetooth pairing for two devices. Enjoy non-deterministic levels and a visual learning SPECTACLE mode.

Highlights
  • Bug fixes for seamless gameplay
  • New game reset button
  • Enhanced user-friendly interface
  • Improved 2-device Bluetooth pairing
  • Non-deterministic game levels
  • SPECTACLE mode for visual learning
Features
Read full description

We are thrilled to unveil the latest iteration of IGISORO, version 1.2.1, marking a significant leap forward in the evolution of this classic Mancala game. Rooted in the rich cultural tapestry of the African Great Lakes region, IGISORO pays homage to the historical significance of Mancala games, which have been enjoyed for centuries as a source of entertainment, strategy, and community bonding. This version not only reinforces the game's commitment to its cultural origins but also introduces many enhancements that elevate the gaming experience. Version 1.2.1 brings forth a series of noteworthy improvements, including essential bug fixes that ensure a seamless and glitch-free gameplay. The introduction of a new game reset button allows players to start afresh with ease, while an enhanced and more user-friendly interface ensures a more intuitive navigation throughout the game. Building on the spirit of connectivity, the update offers a superior 2 devices pairing experience (via BlueTooth), fostering a sense of engagement between players. The game now boasts enjoyable non-deterministic game levels, adding an element of surprise and strategy to each playthrough. The goal is not just to win but also to enjoy the game. Additionally, the new SPECTACLE mode enhances the visual learning, immersing users in a captivating game watching. This release not only brings IGISORO into the future of mobile gaming but also honors its historical roots, making it a must-have for Mancala enthusiasts and casual gamers alike.

Screenshots

SmartGo One4 screens
IGISORO v24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: IGISORO v2 at none against SmartGo One's 46. IGISORO v2 also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.0). SmartGo One's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (1.9K vs 1). On price 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. SmartGo One sells 46 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. IGISORO v2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

IGISORO v2 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmartGo One has 1.9K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SmartGo One versus IGISORO v2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmartGo OneIGISORO v2
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (1.9K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews76.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.9K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS26.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size140 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmart Go, Inc.Antoine Nzeyimana

Customer experience

SmartGo One

All ratings1,914 ratings
Positive95.6%
Neutral2.2%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews166 reviews
Positive76.5%
Neutral8.4%
Negative15.1%

IGISORO v2

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

SmartGo One

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Illegal move detection issues on certain board positions
  • Problems with missing variations or incorrect answers
  • Inconsistent behavior when passing moves

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add read-only mode
  • Improve move suggestion explanations
  • Introduce difficulty settings for AI
  • Integrate online play functionality
  • Provide more randomness in AI moves

IGISORO v2

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

46 purchases

SmartGo One

Subscriptions2
  • SmartGo One Pro – Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Pro Games and Features14 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time44
  • Just Enough Japanese 1Free
  • Key Concepts in Life and Death$2.99
  • Go Problems Master Collection$3.99
Show 41 more
  • Go Problems Add-on 2: Medium$3.99
  • Go Problems Add-on 1: Easy$3.99
  • Go Problems Add-on 3: Hard$3.99
  • Counting Liberties$4.99
  • The Monkey Jump$4.99
  • Double Digit Kyu Games$5.99
  • Go: A Complete Introduction$5.99
  • How Not to Play Go$5.99
  • Encyclopedia of Go Principles$5.99
  • Want to Play Go? Level 1$5.99
  • Black to Play 30-25 Kyu$5.99
  • The Workshop Lectures 1$5.99
  • Rethinking Opening Strategy$6.99
  • Learn to Play Go 1$7.99
  • Learn to Play Go 2$7.99
  • Learn to Play Go 3$7.99
  • Correct Joseki$7.99
  • “The Theory of Go”$7.99
  • Learn to Play Go 4$7.99
  • Buddhist Philosophy Game of Go$8.99
  • Graded Go Problems 1$9.99
  • Graded Go Problems 2$9.99
  • Want to Play Go? Level 2$9.99
  • Basic Techniques of Go$9.99
  • Graded Go Problems 3$9.99
  • Get Strong at Life and Death$9.99
  • Mastering Mini Go by Mark Tomlinson$11.99
  • Fuseki Revolution$11.99
  • Fundamental Principles of Go$11.99
  • The Basics of Life and Death$11.99
  • Joseki Revolution$11.99
  • Life and Death$11.99
  • A Survey of the Basic Tesujis$11.99
  • Tesuji$11.99
  • AlphaGo to Zero, vol. 4$14.99
  • Trouble Master, volume 2$14.99
  • Trouble Master, volume 1$14.99
  • AlphaGo to Zero, Vol. 2$14.99
  • Invincible$24.99
  • Essential Go Proverbs$24.99
  • Pro – Lifetime Unlock$99.00
None

IGISORO v2

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SmartGo One free?
SmartGo One is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is IGISORO v2 free?
IGISORO v2 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SmartGo One or IGISORO v2?
IGISORO v2 is rated higher. SmartGo One averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while IGISORO v2 averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do SmartGo One or IGISORO v2 have ads?
IGISORO v2 shows ads; SmartGo One does not.

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