Comparison

Backgammon Guru vs Classic Backgammon Touch

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

Head to head
About

Backgammon Guru

Master the game of backgammon with a powerful AI opponent and tutor. Analyze your games, explore "what-if" scenarios, and improve your strategy with detailed move analysis and equity graphs. Play against the computer or a friend.

Highlights
  • Master-strength AI opponent
  • Player-Tutor mode
  • Position setup and analysis
  • Unlimited undo functionality
  • Match analysis with error highlighting (Pro)
  • Equity graph and statistical chances
  • Supports standard and HyperGammon
Features
Read full description

Backgammon Guru & Backgammon Guru Pro are modern backgammon master-strength Players and Tutors based on the world-class neural net engine from gammonlab.com Backgammon Guru and Guru Pro versions feature attractive backgammon boards and support natural checker movement where both dragging and tapping are supported. You can play against the computer or with a friend. Guru & Guru Pro support standard Backgammon as well as HyperGammon. They will also allow you to set up any desired position for play and analysis. Guru & Guru Pro will answer your "what-if" questions, like what if there was a specific roll in a specific position and what's the best possible move there. In the default Player-Tutor mode, e.g. when you are playing against a master-strength AI, Backgammon Guru & Guru Pro will allow you to substitute a random roll with any specific roll of your choice. You will be able to take back and replay multiple moves as Backgammon Guru & Guru Pro support unlimited undo functionality. Backgammon Guru Pro version will analyze your match and color-code your errors in a move list. With Backgammon Guru Pro you will be able to navigate your move list interactively and see where you could have played better. You can also email the match to yourself for further analysis. While Backgammon Guru Pro by default continuosly shows the equity graph, in Backgammon Guru you would also be able to see, upon request, the statistical chances and best possible moves in any position. Backgammon Guru Pro supports 4 different skill levels, multi-point matches, doubling, Crawford rule. Both Guru & Guru Pro indicate pip count for players, support long moves, sound effects and multiple other options. As opposed to Backgammon Guru, Backgammon Guru Pro version has no ads and offers many more options. You can always play Backgammon Live and other games for prizes at GameColony.com

About

Classic Backgammon Touch

Experience a classic two-player board game where the goal is to move all your pieces to your home board and then remove them. The first player to successfully bear off all their pieces wins the match.

Highlights
  • Two-player gameplay
  • Strategic movement of checkers
  • Objective-based winning condition
  • Classic board game experience
Features
Read full description

Backgammon is an ancient game for two players. The object of the game is move all your checkers into your own home board and then bear them off. The first player to bear off all of their checkers wins the game.

Screenshots

Backgammon Guru1 screens
Classic Backgammon Touch3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Backgammon Guru at 80% against Classic Backgammon Touch's 0%. Backgammon Guru also leads on rating (3.9 vs 1.0) and ads (none vs shown). Classic Backgammon Touch's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs freemium). On price, update cadence, 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Backgammon Guru holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backgammon Guru has 87 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Backgammon Guru's written reviews are positive against 0% of Classic Backgammon Touch's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backgammon Guru ships an update every 14 months, Classic Backgammon Touch every 19 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Backgammon Guru versus Classic Backgammon Touch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackgammon GuruClassic Backgammon Touch
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (87 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews79.7% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings87 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 14 months — betterEvery 19 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreemiumAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS6.0 — better11.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBPS SoftwareKevin White

Customer experience

Backgammon Guru

All ratings87 ratings
Positive75.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative24.1%
Written reviews153 reviews
Positive79.7%
Neutral0.7%
Negative19.6%

Classic Backgammon Touch

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Backgammon Guru

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Board displays all pips as initial position
  • Scrambled board display on iPhone 12 with iOS 14
  • Game crashes frequently during gameplay
  • Server connection issues prevent auto-move functionality
  • Game crashes when changing settings
Show 3 more
  • Slow and delayed piece animations
  • Cramped screen layout with permanent ad banner
  • Game doesn't properly handle multiple checkers on bar

Requested features

7 requests
  • Fix continuous doubles bias in dice rolls
  • Improve analysis explanations for why moves are good/bad
  • Add volume control separate from on/off toggle
  • Better visual feedback for selected pieces
  • Improve server connection reliability
Show 2 more
  • Make board orientation free feature
  • Add more detailed strategy guidance for beginners

Classic Backgammon Touch

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Backgammon Guru

No in-app purchases

None

Classic Backgammon Touch

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Backgammon Guru free?
Backgammon Guru is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Classic Backgammon Touch free?
Classic Backgammon Touch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Backgammon Guru or Classic Backgammon Touch?
Backgammon Guru is rated higher. Backgammon Guru averages 3.9 out of 5 from 87 ratings, while Classic Backgammon Touch averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Backgammon Guru or Classic Backgammon Touch have ads?
Classic Backgammon Touch shows ads; Backgammon Guru does not.
Which is updated more often, Backgammon Guru or Classic Backgammon Touch?
Backgammon Guru ships an update every 14 months, and Classic Backgammon Touch every 19 months. Most recently, Backgammon Guru was updated on October 4, 2026 and Classic Backgammon Touch on October 1, 2026.

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