# iMahjong vs Mahjong

The clearest difference is rating: Mahjong at 4.6 against iMahjong's 3.1. Mahjong also leads on review sentiment (63% vs 30%) and ratings volume (33K vs 13). iMahjong's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mahjong sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. iMahjong asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mahjong holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mahjong has 33K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of iMahjong's written reviews are positive against 63% of Mahjong's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on July 4, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iMahjong | Mahjong |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imahjong/id300535701/reviews) | **[4.6 (33K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mahjong/id455650659/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **33K** |
| Positive reviews | 29.5% of reviews | **63.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 54 MB | 170 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [AdColony, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/283559894) | [Maple Media Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1289801633) |

## What reviewers say

### iMahjong

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imahjong/id300535701)

Experience the ancient game of Mahjong on your mobile device. This addictive puzzle game challenges you to remove identical tiles by finding pairs that are free and unobstructed. Compete globally with your avatar in this classic strategy game.

**Highlights:** Play Mahjong on iPhone/iPod Touch, Addictive puzzle gameplay, Remove identical free tiles, Compete with Jirbo Avatar, Classic strategy game

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Addictive and engaging gameplay
- 💰 Free to download and play
- 🎨 Good graphics and visual appeal
- ⚖️ Good difficulty balance and challenge
- 🔧 Stable performance (no crashes in earlier versions)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📢 Excessive and intrusive advertisements
- 🔊 Unmutable ad audio even when phone is silent
- 📉 Tiles too small and difficult to select
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes mid-game
- 🎮 Game freezes and becomes unplayable

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes mid-game requiring restart
- Can only play one game before app must be closed and restarted
- Game freezes and becomes unresponsive
- Tiles difficult or impossible to select despite being available
- Screen freezes during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Zoom in/out capability for better tile visibility
- Ability to rotate board view
- Larger tile sizes
- Undo function for moves
- Shuffle button for stuck games


### Mahjong

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mahjong/id455650659)

This single-player matching puzzle game challenges your mind with classic tile removal. Enjoy over 90 levels with classic or emoji-themed tiles. Features include time attack, unlimited undo, and hints.

**Highlights:** Over 90 Mahjong games, Time Attack Mode, Unlimited Undo & Redo, Hints and Autosave, Custom game options, Emoji-themed tiles

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual | $6.99 | per year |
| Premium Annual | $12.99 | per year |
| Mahjong Membership | $14.99 | per year |
| Puzzle Pack #1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack #2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack #3 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack #4 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack #5 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack #6 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack #7 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Mahjong Premium | $14.99 | one-time |
| Disable Ads | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Enjoyable gameplay
- 🧠 Mentally stimulating
- 🕰️ Challenging time-based objectives
- 📚 Variety of layouts and levels

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Excessive advertisements
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Small tile sizes on mobile
- 🔒 Paid content locked behind paywall

**Reported bugs**

- Unresponsive tiles
- Game freezes and crashes
- Incorrect move detection
- Persistent ads blocking UI

**Requested features**

- More free levels and layouts
- Option to lock game board in place
- Ability to favorite/save preferred layouts
- Improved performance and stability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iMahjong free?

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

### Is Mahjong free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iMahjong or Mahjong?

Mahjong is rated higher. iMahjong averages 3.1 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Mahjong averages 4.6 from 33K ratings.

### Do iMahjong or Mahjong have ads?

Both iMahjong and Mahjong show ads.

### Which is updated more often, iMahjong or Mahjong?

iMahjong ships an update every 2 months, and Mahjong every 2 months. Most recently, iMahjong was updated on July 4, 2026 and Mahjong on September 27, 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.*