# Backgammon Live vs BG Buddy

The clearest difference is rating: BG Buddy at 5.0 against Backgammon Live's 4.0. BG Buddy also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Backgammon Live's advantage is ratings volume (139 vs 5). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backgammon Live sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and BG Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

BG Buddy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backgammon Live has 139 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Backgammon Live's written reviews are positive against 100% of BG Buddy's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backgammon Live | BG Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (139 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-live/id466024106/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bg-buddy/id972446985/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **139** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 79.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 40 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **9.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BPS Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/373611652) | [James Knipe](https://appshunter.io/developer/972446984) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### BG Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bg-buddy/id972446985)

This app provides a comprehensive tool for scoring and managing backgammon matches. It features a tournament clock, dice roller, scorecard, and the ability to analyze game statistics and positions. It also includes accessibility features for visually impaired players.

**Highlights:** Tournament style match clock, Match play with Jacoby, Beaver, and settlement options, Win percentage tracking over time, Position photo analysis, Talking dice for visually impaired players, Random dice with cube generator, Automatic tweeting of results

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BG Buddy Full Upgrade | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backgammon Live free?

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

### Is BG Buddy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Backgammon Live or BG Buddy?

BG Buddy is rated higher. Backgammon Live averages 4.0 out of 5 from 139 ratings, while BG Buddy averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Backgammon Live or BG Buddy have ads?

Backgammon Live shows ads; BG Buddy does not.

### Which is updated more often, Backgammon Live or BG Buddy?

Backgammon Live ships an update monthly, and BG Buddy monthly. Most recently, Backgammon Live was updated on October 4, 2026 and BG Buddy on September 25, 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.*