Comparison

Backgammon NJ vs Backgammon Plus

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

Head to head
About

Backgammon NJ

Engage in classic backgammon against a sophisticated AI, a friend on the same device, or players worldwide. Improve your skills with tutor mode and hints, and customize your game experience.

Highlights
  • Neural network AI opponent
  • Online multiplayer (real-time & turn-based)
  • Local 2-player mode
  • Tutor Mode and Hints
  • Customizable board and checkers
  • Match play up to 25 points
  • Game Center integration
Features
Read full description

● GAME CENTER -- Play online, chat, invite friends, auto-match with random players { Real-time } Play online in real-time { Turn-based } Play online at your own pace ● VERSATILE -- Play offline vs. computer or against another person in 2-player mode ● CUSTOMIZABLE -- More options than any other backgammon app Play & learn backgammon at skill levels ranging from beginner to world-class! Backgammon NJ is a full-featured game which uses an advanced, neural network-based, artificial intelligence. Play against a computer AI, another person in 2-player mode on one device, or online against friends & other players. Using Tutor Mode & Hints, Backgammon NJ can show you how to improve your game! Discriminating players will appreciate how well the AI plays. It uses a neural network trained on millions of positions, a bearoff database, & a match equity table to achieve strong gameplay that will challenge even expert players. REVIEWS "[I] know strong bg play when I see it. This app is the strongest iPhone bg app I've played with by far. It does not cheat period. ...Analyzing these matches with eXtreme Gammon confirms a world class level of play with normal luck factors. If you are losing, get over it. So would 99.9% of the other backgammon players in the world. It is just that good. Learn from it." -Richard Munitz, Giant of Backgammon, #21 world ranking in 2009 "Backgammon NJ plays at an extremely high level with an excellent interface, and I often use it to practice on my iPhone when I am traveling. I recommend it highly to my students and friends." -Phil Simborg, Professional Backgammon Teacher and Player, www.mindgamescenter.com "I've played over 500 games now; I've checked about 5% of these against World Class Desktop programs (GNU, BGBlitz); and I've actually used some of the competition. NJ has the best interface and has more useful functions than any other backgammon apps out there." "For serious backgammon players, Backgammon NJ is the way to go." -Macworld.com, May 2012 IS THIS GAME RIGHT FOR YOU? This game is best for people: • Who recognize the strength of neural network backgammon bots • Who want to improve their game by playing against a world-class level AI • Who will use the in-depth, technical features included in the app to prove that it is honest (https://www.njsoftware.com/note.html) • Who won't expect to win consistently on the higher skill levels FEATURES • Neural network-based AI • 2 game types: Standard Backgammon or Nackgammon • 4 skill levels: Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert • Customizable board design & checker colors • Mersenne Twister algorithm for random number generation • Doubling cube • Single games or match play up to 25 points • Crawford rule for match play • 1-player mode vs. computer • 2-player mode on one device • Game Center: Play real-time or turn-based online matches with friends & other players • Chat with your online opponent • Online Elo & Experience leaderboards • Block list for auto-match • User-friendly, tap-to-move interface • Highlighted checker movement options • Hint & Undo • Learn with Status Meter & Tutor Mode • Game & dice stats, including Elo rating & ER • Match info: GnuBG ID, win chances, equity, top 10 moves, & cube decisions • Email match files • Practice mode with unlimited undo (1-player vs. computer) • Manual match recording mode with unlimited undo & speed mode option • Options to reverse board direction, resign, use one-tap moves, auto bearoff, auto finish, use Jacoby rule, & much more • Match analysis (in-app purchase): Analyze past match files, view moves & errors for match, step through match, jump to position, play from position, save match files permanently IMPORTANT • If an online match ends for any reason, you'll receive the Elo pts you deserve. FAQ: https://gamecenter.njsoftware.com • Contact us for help: https://contact.njsoftware.com

About

Backgammon Plus

Play the ancient dice and board game of backgammon against friends or AI. Race your checkers to the end, master strategy, and compete in daily challenges for rewards. Offers both online and offline play for a classic gaming experience.

Highlights
  • Play against AI or friends
  • Offline play available
  • Daily challenges and rewards
  • Learn to play backgammon
  • Customize dice and boards
  • Authentic game experience
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Step up to the board with the Backgammon app available online! Play a game of classic backgammon by yourself or against friends in this new mobile app. Hone your back gammon skills against other players in this new app from Zynga games! Experience the thrill of classic board games at any time, with a backgammon app. Race your checkers to the end to become the lord of the board, and prove you're the best player of backgammon online. Backgammon is one of the oldest games in the world, and its popularity has survived for centuries. Get in on the cultural phenomenon by downloading this authentic Backgammon app. Whether you're a first time player, or seasoned pro, Backgammon Plus will have a rewarding play experience for you! Beat daily challenges to earn fantastic rewards in this backgammon plus mobile game. Perfect your backgammon skills in this worldwide game. Travel around the world with similar iterations of backgammon, such as tavli, tawla, nardi, takhte, and tavla. Experience the thrill of backgammon, with this new app. Even without wifi you'll be able to play backgammon offline in this new app. Prove you have what it takes to best all challengers in this race game. Guide your checkers around the backgammon board in a game of contrary movement, to become the first player to bear off. If you feel like taking this dice game challenge to the next level, break out the doubling cube. Whether you are a true beginner, or a backgammon expert, this app has what you need for a fun, competitive backgammon experience. How To Play New to backgammon? Don't worry, this is the perfect backgammon live app to learn the game. Each player starts with 15 checkers. You will roll the dice, and move your checkers between 24 points on the backgammon+ board, based on the number you rolled. The goal is to be the first player to 'bear off', or, remove all your pieces from the backgammon board. Double your backgammon high stakes by activating the doubling cube. - Enjoy the fun of Backgammon with your friends. Connect to Facebook to share your progress with your friends, and track how they do! - Sharpen your mind with this classic board game. While the dice play a factor in deciding the winner, you'll find that the more talented player will eventually be able to take control. Will you be able to assert your dice game dominance to become the backgammon lord of the board? - Prove your mettle with one of the best online pvp games on the market. - Get in the game every day to collect more rewards. Complete challenges to earn daily bonuses, and spin the wheel for hourly bonuses. - Customize your backgammon experience with different dice and board designs - Experience one of the most authentic backgammon apps available anywhere. With devout attention to the authentic look and feel of the game, it will feel like you're sitting right down at the board! - Download one of the best Backgammon live games on the market to play with your friends. Or, challenge other random players online to see how you stack up. Do you have what it takes to become a champion of Backgammon for ipad? - Play with confidence: Backgammon Plus is RNG certified by the World Backgammon Federation, ensuring truly random and fair gameplay. - Play online or offline as you hone your Backgammon skills wherever and whenever you have the time! - Experience real-world backgammon physics. With meticulously drawn boards, and truly random dice rolls, you will feel like you're sitting down at the board!

Screenshots

Backgammon NJ4 screens
Backgammon Plus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Backgammon Plus at Free against Backgammon NJ's $4.99. Backgammon Plus also leads on ratings volume (4.7K vs 1.5K) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.4). Backgammon NJ's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (51% vs 18%). On rating, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Backgammon Plus is free to download; Backgammon NJ costs $4.99 up front. Backgammon NJ sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Backgammon Plus sells 25 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Backgammon Plus holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.5K and 4.7K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of Backgammon NJ's written reviews are positive against 18% of Backgammon Plus's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backgammon NJ ships an update every 9 days, Backgammon Plus every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Backgammon NJ versus Backgammon Plus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackgammon NJBackgammon Plus
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (1.5K ratings)4.6 (4.7K ratings) — better
Positive reviews51.2% of reviews — better17.9% of reviews
Number of ratings1.5K4.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#52 — better#198
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.413.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB389 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperJimmy HuZynga Inc.

Customer experience

Backgammon NJ

All ratings1,498 ratings
Positive84.1%
Neutral6.0%
Negative9.9%
Written reviews402 reviews
Positive51.2%
Neutral11.2%
Negative37.6%

Backgammon Plus

All ratings4,664 ratings
Positive93.1%
Neutral1.4%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews375 reviews
Positive17.9%
Neutral7.7%
Negative74.4%

User reviews

Backgammon NJ

From 1.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent gameplay
  • 🤖 Challenging AI opponent
  • 📊 Detailed game analysis and statistics
  • 👍 Smooth and intuitive interface
  • 🏆 Helps improve player skills

Room to improve

  • 🎲 Perceived unfairness in dice rolls
  • 🤖 AI opponent seen as cheating or having an unfair advantage
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
  • 💰 Expensive for a mobile game

Backgammon Plus

From 4.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast gameplay
  • 👍 Enjoyable experience
  • 🎨 Good graphics

Room to improve

  • 🎲 Rigged dice rolls
  • 🤖 Suspicious bot-like opponents
  • 💰 Aggressive monetization
  • 🔍 Lack of transparency
  • 🤬 Frustrating gameplay

Bugs and requests

Backgammon NJ

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Forced moves not always the best option
  • Inconsistent behavior in auto-bear-off mode
  • Online games prone to disconnections and timeouts

Requested features

4 requests
  • Manual dice roll option to verify randomness
  • Ability to set custom difficulty levels
  • Online multiplayer with chat functionality
  • Improved tutorial and learning resources

Backgammon Plus

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Frequent disconnections during gameplay
  • Freezing and crashing issues

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to choose opponents
  • Option to play offline
  • Fair and random dice rolls

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Backgammon NJ

One-time3
  • Analysis Package$2.99
  • Online VIP$2.99
  • Power User$4.99
25 purchases

Backgammon Plus

One-time25
  • Amazing Coin Pack$0.49
  • Wheel Tier 1$0.99
  • Big Sale$0.99
Show 22 more
  • Piggy Bank Tier 1$0.99
  • Starter Stack$1.29
  • Small Stack of Gems$1.29
  • Starter Pack$1.49
  • X5 Coin Offer$1.99
  • Great Sale$1.99
  • Small Stack of Chips$2.49
  • Medium Stack of Gems$2.49
  • Piggy Bank VOL.2$2.49
  • Wheel Tier 2$3.99
  • Medium Stack X3$4.49
  • Wheel Tier 3$4.99
  • Medium Great Value of Gems$4.99
  • Trophy Road Coin Pack VOL.3$4.99
  • Medium Stack of Chips$6.99
  • Medium Great Value$7.49
  • Big Treasure of Gems$9.99
  • Medium Great X3$9.99
  • Big Stack X3$12.99
  • Wheel Tier 5$14.99
  • Piggy Bank Tier 5$14.99
  • Mega Wheel Tier 5 Multiplier 4$19.99

Questions

Is Backgammon NJ free?
Backgammon NJ costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Backgammon Plus free?
Backgammon Plus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Backgammon NJ or Backgammon Plus?
Backgammon Plus is rated higher. Backgammon NJ averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Backgammon Plus averages 4.6 from 4.7K ratings.
Do Backgammon NJ or Backgammon Plus have ads?
Backgammon Plus shows ads; Backgammon NJ does not.
Which is updated more often, Backgammon NJ or Backgammon Plus?
Backgammon NJ ships an update every 9 days, and Backgammon Plus every 3 weeks. Most recently, Backgammon NJ was updated on September 23, 2026 and Backgammon Plus on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Backgammon NJ or Backgammon Plus?
Backgammon NJ currently peaks at #52 in the App Store charts, and Backgammon Plus at #198. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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