# Chess.com vs Backgammon Pro Online

Chess.com and Backgammon Pro Online both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 64% of Chess.com's written reviews are positive against 28% of Backgammon Pro Online's. Chess.com also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (827K vs 340). Backgammon Pro Online's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess.com sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Backgammon Pro Online sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Chess.com against 4.7 for Backgammon Pro Online. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess.com has 827K ratings behind it against 340, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of Chess.com's written reviews are positive against 28% of Backgammon Pro Online's.

Chess.com ships an update weekly, Backgammon Pro Online every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess.com | Backgammon Pro Online |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (827K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549/reviews)** | [4.7 (340 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-pro-online/id6462817065/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **827K** | 340 |
| Positive reviews | **63.9% of reviews** | 28.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | — |
| Size | 445 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552) | [Coolplay GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1703463360) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess.com

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · Board, #6 Top Free · Strategy, #7 Top Grossing · Board, #17 Top Grossing · Strategy, #59 Top Free · Games, #70 Top Grossing · Games, #195 Top Grossing (US App Store)

Engage in online and offline chess matches with millions of players worldwide. Improve your skills through interactive lessons, over 500,000 puzzles, and powerful AI opponents. Compete in tournaments and explore various chess variants.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer chess, Offline play against AI, Extensive puzzle library, Interactive chess lessons, Tournament participation, Chess variants, Game analysis

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gold Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| Gold Membership | $6.99 | per month |
| Platinum Membership | $6.99 | per month |
| Platinum Membership | $10.99 | per month |
| Diamond Membership | $14.99 | per month |
| Diamond Membership | $16.99 | per month |
| Gold Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| Platinum Membership | $49.99 | per year |
| Gold Membership | $49.99 | per year |
| Platinum Membership | $79.99 | per year |
| Diamond Membership | $99.99 | per year |
| Diamond Membership | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent app for learning and improving chess skills
- 🎓 Comprehensive lessons, puzzles, and analysis tools
- 🌍 Large player base for quick matchmaking
- 📊 Detailed game statistics and progress tracking
- 💻 Seamless integration between mobile app and website

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection issues and game freezes
- ⏱️ Unreliable and inconsistent game timers
- 🔒 Lack of transparency around anti-cheating measures
- 💰 Aggressive paywall for advanced features
- 🤖 Subpar AI opponents with questionable move choices

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect move suggestions in game analysis
- Inability to leave or manage chess clubs within the app
- Puzzle mode crashing when attempting to reveal the solution
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data
- Pieces not registering correctly on the board during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize board and piece themes
- Option to pause and resume games at a later time
- Improved game analysis with more detailed explanations
- Enhanced social features for interacting with other players
- Offline mode for practicing puzzles and tactics


### Backgammon Pro Online

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-pro-online/id6462817065)

Experience thrilling real-time backgammon matches against players worldwide. Connect with fellow enthusiasts, track your progress with detailed statistics, and compete for top spots on regional leaderboards. Enjoy customizable boards and daily rewards in this vibrant online community.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer matches, In-game chat, Detailed statistics, Regional leaderboards, Daily rewards, Customizable boards

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Coin Package | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pro - 1 month | $3.99 | one-time |
| Medium Coin Package | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pro - 3 months | $6.99 | one-time |
| Large Coin Package | $17.99 | one-time |
| Pro - 12 months | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Clean, simple graphics and interface
- ⚡ Fast-paced gameplay
- 🎯 No doubling cube mechanic
- 🌐 Online multiplayer with friends
- 📱 Offline play available

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Dice rolls appear non-random and rigged
- 💻 Computer opponent cheats with unfair rolls
- 📺 Excessive ads between games
- 🐛 Jerky/laggy movements during gameplay
- 💸 Betting system favors house when wagering higher amounts

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes during gameplay with lag spikes
- App fails to open after reinstall
- Ad pages don't close properly (no X button)
- iPhone crashes after viewing ads
- Jerky dice and piece movements

**Requested features**

- Fix jerky movement animations
- Improve ad frequency and length
- Add explanation of dice randomization algorithm
- Prevent players from quitting to avoid gammon penalties
- Display pip counts on board


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess.com free?

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

### Is Backgammon Pro Online free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chess.com or Backgammon Pro Online?

Chess.com is rated higher. Chess.com averages 4.8 out of 5 from 827K ratings, while Backgammon Pro Online averages 4.7 from 340 ratings.

### Do Chess.com or Backgammon Pro Online have ads?

Chess.com shows ads; Backgammon Pro Online does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess.com or Backgammon Pro Online?

Chess.com ships an update weekly, and Backgammon Pro Online every 2 months. Most recently, Chess.com was updated on September 24, 2026 and Backgammon Pro Online on September 21, 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.*