# iTavli vs Backgammon Live

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Backgammon Live at 79% against iTavli's 43%. Backgammon Live also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.7). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iTavli sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year and Backgammon Live sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Backgammon Live holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 55 and 139 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of iTavli's written reviews are positive against 79% of Backgammon Live's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iTavli | Backgammon Live |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itavli-best-backgammon-game/id427813048/reviews) | **[4.0 (139 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-live/id466024106/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 55 | **139** |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **79.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 72 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [i-SmartSolutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/391390898) | [BPS Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/373611652) |

## What reviewers say

### iTavli

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itavli-best-backgammon-game/id427813048)

This app offers a vast collection of backgammon variations, allowing you to play against friends online or the computer. Enjoy features like chat, statistics, and customizable game settings for an enhanced backgammon experience.

**Highlights:** 15 backgammon variations, Online multiplayer with friends, Play against AI (3 difficulty levels), Chat functionality, Tournament mode, Detailed statistics, Customizable chip colors and board layout

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Subscription | $4.99 | per year |
| Get 1000 coins for $1.99 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Get 3000 coins for $2.99 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Get 10000 coins for $4.99 | $4.99 | one-time |
| The Plakoto (or Blockgammon) game | $5.99 | one-time |
| The Fevga (or Narde) game | $5.99 | one-time |
| Purchase the Acey Deucey (Amercan) game | $5.99 | one-time |
| Purchase the Gulbara game | $5.99 | one-time |
| Purchase the Acey Deucey (European) game | $5.99 | one-time |
| Purchase the Tawla 31 game | $5.99 | one-time |
| Purchase Russian Narde game | $5.99 | one-time |
| Purchase Plakoto Express game | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Comprehensive game variants (Portes, Plakoto, Fevga, Acey-Deucey)
- 🌐 Online multiplayer functionality with global players
- 🎯 Good for learning multiple backgammon variations
- 🎨 Stylish and attractive user interface design
- 👥 Ability to play tournaments with all three games in sequence

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes during gameplay
- 🐛 Game-breaking bugs affecting piece placement and movement
- 🤖 Weak AI opponent at all difficulty levels
- 🐛 Illegal moves allowed (extra moves on doubles, pieces moving backwards)
- 📊 Unfair difficulty scaling (relies on dice luck rather than strategy)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during gameplay, especially in tournament mode
- Pieces disappear or become invisible when stacked
- Opponent's pieces land on player's pieces and stall game
- Illegal moves allowed (extra moves on doubles, moving backwards)
- Game freezes when online opponent disconnects

**Requested features**

- Improved AI difficulty with better strategic gameplay
- Resign button for early game exit
- Reliable undo/confirm button for moves
- Tournament save/resume functionality
- Sound effects and dice rolling audio


### Backgammon Live

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-live/id466024106)

Play backgammon online against real players with this app. It offers matches, tournaments, and chat features, supporting various internet connections. Learn strategies and master the game.

**Highlights:** Online backgammon matches, Backgammon tournaments, In-game chat, Reconnection on internet loss, Email games for analysis, Backgammon rules and strategies

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Set of 2 $Tickets | $2.99 | one-time |
| Set of 7 $Tickets | $9.99 | one-time |
| Set of 15 $Tickets | $17.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Competitive and fun gameplay
- 🌐 Ability to play with players worldwide
- 🎨 Great graphics and visuals
- ⚖️ Fair and unbiased dice rolls
- 💰 Opportunities to earn prizes and tickets

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection issues and crashes
- 💤 Slow game progression and move animations
- 📢 Excessive in-app advertisements
- 🤖 Suspicions of bots or rigged gameplay
- 💸 Concerns about the fairness of paid features

**Reported bugs**

- Login and account issues
- Freezing or black screens
- Inconsistent dice rolls and game outcomes
- Inability to close or exit advertisements

**Requested features**

- Ability to play against friends or in private rooms
- More customization options for the game interface
- Improved chat functionality and sportsmanship
- Better matchmaking based on player skill levels
- Offline or single-player mode for practice


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iTavli free?

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

### Is Backgammon Live free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iTavli or Backgammon Live?

Backgammon Live is rated higher. iTavli averages 3.7 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while Backgammon Live averages 4.0 from 139 ratings.

### Do iTavli or Backgammon Live have ads?

Both iTavli and Backgammon Live show ads.

### Which is updated more often, iTavli or Backgammon Live?

iTavli ships an update monthly, and Backgammon Live monthly. Most recently, iTavli was updated on October 17, 2026 and Backgammon Live on October 16, 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.*