Comparison

Backgammon Coach vs Backgammon

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

Head to head
About

Backgammon Coach

Play backgammon against a sophisticated AI powered by a neural network. Analyze your moves with detailed winning probabilities and progress your game with coaching features. Customize game levels and rules for a personalized experience.

Highlights
  • Play against AI
  • Winning probability analysis
  • Coaching features
  • Customizable game levels
  • Multiple rule options
  • Situation analysis and saving
  • Manual dice roll option
Features
Read full description

Backgammon Coach is an application for playing backgammon against the computer at the highest level as well as obtaining all the probabilities of winning for each possible move. It is therefore an excellent partner to play, coupled with a Coach to progress in backgammon. Based on the Gnu Backgammon neural network, resulting from research in artificial intelligence and recognized for its decision-making capacities, Backgammon Coach has risen to the rank of the best players in the world. Backgammon Coach is also able to prove that she is not cheating, by offering an option to use your own manual dice rolls. If you have the opposite feeling, keep the fair play attitude of great players when it comes to bad or good sets of dice. Remember that the computer is an excellent calculator and knows how to place itself in good situations so that a high number of dice are favorable to it. Then try to do like him by taking an interest in the detailed probabilities available to you. If the game level of the computer is too high from your point of view, feel free to choose a lower level in the options. This will increase your chances of winning, however it is advisable to prefer a higher level and to use the Coach's indications to progress: "À vaincre sans péril on triomphe sans gloire"! Here is a list of the main features provided: - Very comprehensive user guide - Sessions of matches in x points, unlimited points games or analysis of situations - Coach availability in all circumstances - Detailed winning probabilities on request - Sounds and animations - Quick game option - Three standard game levels offered (Beginner, Intermediate and Expert) - Possibility to customize the parameters of a game level - Marking of possible arrows to play - Calculation of the pip count - Constant display of the dice from the previous round - Possibility to analyze a particular situation - Registration of situations - Sharing of situations via the system's sharing tools (AirDrop, Messages, Mail ...) - Options for Crawford, Jacoby and Egyptian rules - Sophisticated random dice generator - Possibility to use your own manual dice - Optional use of the doubling dice - Optional double at the start of the game - Optional management of multiple doubles ("beavers") - Game statistics for each level - Accumulation of scores acquired in points game - Possibility of resign a game with counting of drops (dishonest interruptions) - Advanced neural network parameters (plies, move filter, etc.) - Gnu Backgammon console available for advanced users Excellent games!

About

Backgammon

Features
Read full description

Backgammon is one of the oldest and most rewarding strategy games ever created. This app teaches you how to actually play it well. LEARN BY DOING 8 lessons take you from board setup through opening moves, hitting and re-entering, building primes, bearing off, the doubling cube, and advanced positional strategy. Every lesson puts you at the board with interactive positions so you build real understanding, not just memorize rules. PUT YOUR SKILLS TO THE TEST 8 practice scenarios drop you into real game situations. Figure out the most efficient bearing off sequence. Decide whether to hit or make a key point. Evaluate opening rolls. Manage an endgame race. Each scenario gives you immediate feedback so you know exactly where your thinking went right or wrong. PLAY AGAINST THREE AI LEVELS Beginner opponents let you learn at your own pace. Intermediate opponents play solid positional backgammon. Advanced opponents build primes, anchor behind your position, evaluate the race with pip counts, and make sharp doubling decisions. As you improve, your opponents keep up. YOUR GAME, YOUR DATA Game history, win rates, and lesson progress stay on your device. Game Center achievements and leaderboards are there if you want them. Everything works offline. NO ADS. NO TRACKING. EVER. Most free backgammon apps make money by showing you ads every other turn and selling your data to third parties. This app costs $0.99 because we'd rather sell you a great backgammon game than sell your attention to advertisers. One purchase, everything included, nothing else to buy. WHAT'S INCLUDED - 8 structured lessons across Fundamentals, Building Your Game, and Strategy - 8 practice scenarios with real board positions and feedback - 3 AI difficulty levels with distinct play styles - Full rules engine including the doubling cube - Pip count display for evaluating race positions - Game history and detailed statistics - Game Center achievements and leaderboards - Completely offline, completely private

Screenshots

Backgammon Coach4 screens
Backgammon4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Backgammon at $0.99 against Backgammon Coach's $8.99. Backgammon also leads on chart position (#111 vs unranked). Backgammon Coach's advantage is iOS requirement (12.1 vs 15.1). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases 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 Coach costs $8.99 and Backgammon $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backgammon Coach ships an update every 4 months, Backgammon every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Backgammon Coach versus Backgammon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackgammon CoachBackgammon
Price$8.99$0.99 — better
Rating1.7 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews39.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank—#111 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.1 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLaurent PichonThomas Gamull

In-app purchases

None

Backgammon Coach

No in-app purchases

None

Backgammon

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Backgammon Coach free?
Backgammon Coach costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Backgammon free?
Backgammon costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Backgammon Coach or Backgammon have ads?
Neither Backgammon Coach nor Backgammon shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Backgammon Coach or Backgammon?
Backgammon Coach ships an update every 4 months, and Backgammon every 3 months. Most recently, Backgammon Coach was updated on September 24, 2026 and Backgammon on September 21, 2026.

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