# Backgammon ∙ vs Backgammon PlayGem

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backgammon ∙ at none against Backgammon PlayGem's 10. Backgammon ∙ also leads on ratings volume (80K vs 16K). Backgammon PlayGem's advantage is review sentiment (52% vs 26%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backgammon PlayGem sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Backgammon ∙ asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Backgammon ∙ against 4.5 for Backgammon PlayGem. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backgammon ∙ has 80K ratings behind it against 16K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 26% of Backgammon ∙'s written reviews are positive against 52% of Backgammon PlayGem's.

Backgammon ∙ ships an update every 4 months, Backgammon PlayGem monthly. Both last shipped on November 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backgammon ∙ | Backgammon PlayGem |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (80K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon/id335445524/reviews)** | [4.5 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-playgem-play-live/id858467955/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **80K** | 16K |
| Positive reviews | 26.4% of reviews | **51.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 127 MB | 398 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Optime Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/289278460) | [Playgem Technologies Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/685298977) |

## What reviewers say

### Backgammon ∙

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon/id335445524)

Enjoy the classic board game of Backgammon on your mobile device. Play against friends or a computer opponent with adjustable difficulty. Features include move highlighting, match play, and automatic saving.

**Highlights:** 1 and 2 player modes, Challenging AI with 3 difficulty levels, Highlighting of possible moves, Match play to configurable points, Undo function, Automatic save

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 👍 Good visuals and interface
- 🕰 Great for passing time

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Unfair dice rolls favoring the computer
- 🤖 Computer AI cheats on higher difficulty levels
- 💢 Frustrating when computer gets perfect rolls
- 🔍 Lack of randomness in dice rolls

**Reported bugs**

- Game resets in the middle of a match
- Ads cover the screen and are difficult to close

**Requested features**

- Add option to see game statistics and win/loss record
- Improve randomness of dice rolls
- Adjust AI difficulty to be more challenging but fair


### Backgammon PlayGem

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-playgem-play-live/id858467955)

Engage in thrilling multiplayer Backgammon matches against friends or players worldwide. Learn the rules, refine your strategy, and compete in tournaments to climb the leaderboards. Unlock unique boards and enjoy unlimited, free gameplay.

**Highlights:** Multiplayer Backgammon, Online challenges and tournaments, Play with friends or global players, Learn rules and perfect strategy, Unlockable unique boards, Leaderboard progression, Certified dice

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 50,000 backgammon chips | $0.99 | one-time |
| 100,000 backgammon chips | $1.99 | one-time |
| 300,000 backgammon chips | $4.99 | one-time |
| 500,000 backgammon chips | $4.99 | one-time |
| Super Bonus | $4.99 | one-time |
| 300,000 backgammon Chips | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1,500,000 backgammon chips | $9.99 | one-time |
| 750,000 backgammon chips | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2,400,000 backgammon chips | $24.99 | one-time |
| 15,000,000 backgammon Chips | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Competitive gameplay
- 🎨 Good graphics
- ⏱️ Quick games
- 🌐 Ability to play against players worldwide

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🎲 Perceived issues with dice rolls and randomness
- 🤖 Suspicion of rigged/manipulated games
- 💰 Aggressive monetization tactics
- 🕰️ Slow response times and timeouts

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to move pieces when needed
- Inconsistent behavior when opponent times out
- Freezing and crashing during gameplay
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Chat feature to communicate with opponents
- Improved matchmaking based on skill level
- More customization options for the game board
- Better customer support and issue resolution


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backgammon ∙ free?

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

### Is Backgammon PlayGem free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Backgammon ∙ or Backgammon PlayGem?

Backgammon ∙ is rated higher. Backgammon ∙ averages 4.5 out of 5 from 80K ratings, while Backgammon PlayGem averages 4.5 from 16K ratings.

### Do Backgammon ∙ or Backgammon PlayGem have ads?

Both Backgammon ∙ and Backgammon PlayGem show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Backgammon ∙ or Backgammon PlayGem?

Backgammon ∙ ships an update every 4 months, and Backgammon PlayGem monthly. Most recently, Backgammon ∙ was updated on November 12, 2026 and Backgammon PlayGem on November 12, 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.*