Comparison

Backgammon NJ vs Backgammon Pro

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 Pro

Experience the classic board game on your mobile device. Play against friends or a challenging AI with adjustable difficulty. Enjoy features like move highlighting, match play, and automatic saving.

Highlights
  • 1 and 2 player gameplay
  • Challenging AI with 3 difficulty levels
  • Highlighting of possible moves
  • Match play to configurable points
  • Undo function
  • Automatic save
Features
Read full description

Play the classic game of Backgammon on your iPhone or iPod Touch! Backgammon Pro is the best Backgammon app available for iOS. Backgammon Pro supports both 1 player and 2 player gameplay, so you can play against friends or test your skills against a challenging computer opponent. Backgammon Pro includes a host of exciting features, including: • Outstanding AI with three difficulty levels • Highlighting of possible moves • One touch or double touch move entry • Match play to a configurable number of points • Undo function • Configurable player names and score tracking • Automatic save when you exit or suspend the app • Great graphics and awesome sound effects If you've been looking for a great Backgammon app for your iPhone or iPod Touch, look no further. Download Backgammon Pro today!

Screenshots

Backgammon NJ4 screens
Backgammon Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backgammon Pro at none against Backgammon NJ's 3. Backgammon Pro also leads on chart position (#8 vs #46) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.4). Backgammon NJ's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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 NJ costs $4.99 and Backgammon Pro $4.99 up front. Backgammon NJ sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Backgammon Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Backgammon Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.5K and 3.4K respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 51% and 52% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backgammon NJ ships an update every 9 days, Backgammon Pro every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 12, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Backgammon NJ versus Backgammon Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackgammon NJBackgammon Pro
Price$4.99$4.99
Rating4.4 (1.5K ratings)4.6 (3.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews51.1% of reviews51.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.5K3.4K — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#46#8 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.410.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB128 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJimmy HuOptime Software LLC

Customer experience

Backgammon NJ

All ratings1,498 ratings
Positive84.1%
Neutral6.0%
Negative9.9%
Written reviews405 reviews
Positive51.1%
Neutral11.1%
Negative37.8%

Backgammon Pro

All ratings3,444 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral5.2%
Negative6.4%
Written reviews347 reviews
Positive51.6%
Neutral16.4%
Negative32.0%

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 Pro

From 3.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎮 Excellent game mechanics
  • 📊 Challenging AI opponent
  • 💻 Smooth and responsive gameplay
  • 🎨 Visually appealing graphics

Room to improve

  • 🎲 Perceived bias in dice rolls
  • 🤖 Predictable AI behavior at higher levels
  • 🕰️ Slow pace of gameplay
  • 🔇 Inability to adjust volume

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 Pro

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Occasional app crashes
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
  • Inconsistent behavior of undo function

Requested features

4 requests
  • Online multiplayer mode
  • Customizable game settings
  • Comprehensive statistics tracking
  • Ability to resign/forfeit games

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Backgammon NJ

One-time3
  • Analysis Package$2.99
  • Online VIP$2.99
  • Power User$4.99
None

Backgammon Pro

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Backgammon NJ free?
Backgammon NJ costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Backgammon Pro free?
Backgammon Pro costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Backgammon NJ or Backgammon Pro?
Backgammon Pro is rated higher. Backgammon NJ averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Backgammon Pro averages 4.6 from 3.4K ratings.
Do Backgammon NJ or Backgammon Pro have ads?
Neither Backgammon NJ nor Backgammon Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Backgammon NJ or Backgammon Pro?
Backgammon NJ ships an update every 9 days, and Backgammon Pro every 2 months. Most recently, Backgammon NJ was updated on October 12, 2026 and Backgammon Pro on October 12, 2026.
Which is more popular, Backgammon NJ or Backgammon Pro?
Backgammon NJ currently peaks at #46 in the App Store charts, and Backgammon Pro at #8. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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