# Backgammon Masters vs PPNards

The clearest difference is ads: PPNards at none against Backgammon Masters's shown. PPNards also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (54% vs 34%). Backgammon Masters's advantage is ratings volume (1.1K vs 7). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backgammon Masters sells 12 one-off in-app purchases and PPNards sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PPNards holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backgammon Masters has 1.1K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of Backgammon Masters's written reviews are positive against 54% of PPNards's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backgammon Masters | PPNards |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-masters/id466854342/reviews) | **[4.1 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ppnards/id1595129186/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 33.6% of reviews | **53.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 329 MB | 250 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.5 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [2KB LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/447008232) | [INTERACTIVE E SOLUTIONS SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/1752872094) |

## What reviewers say

### Backgammon Masters

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-masters/id466854342)

Experience the classic board game with modern graphics and multiple variations. Play against AI, friends, or online opponents in tournaments, with customizable profiles and live chat. Enjoy fair dice rolls and track your progress with extensive statistics.

**Highlights:** Multiple backgammon styles (Narde, Tavla, Nackgammon), Online multiplayer and AI opponent modes, Daily tournaments, Hotseat mode for local play, Customizable profiles and global chat, Fair and verifiable dice rolls, Extensive game statistics

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| "No ads package GIFT" | Free | one-time |
| "No ads package" | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gold coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| 20 Spins for Wheel of Fortune | $1.99 | one-time |
| Bag of gold | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sack of gold - FIRE SALE! | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sack of gold - SALE! | $7.99 | one-time |
| Sack of gold | $9.99 | one-time |
| Chest of gold - SALE! | $9.99 | one-time |
| Chest of gold | $19.99 | one-time |
| Pile of gold - FIRE SALE! | $24.99 | one-time |
| Pile of gold | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fair dice rolls
- 🎨 Excellent graphics and visuals
- 💬 Good communication options with opponents
- 🕹️ Smooth gameplay and intuitive controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Unfair dice rolls favoring opponents
- 🤖 Rigged algorithm to force losses
- 💰 Monetization tactics to force in-app purchases
- 🛑 Inability to block or avoid certain players

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes or freezes after updates
- Incorrect move registrations or inability to make legal moves
- Coins disappearing from user accounts

**Requested features**

- Resign button to avoid waiting for game to end
- Option to play against AI without connecting to internet
- Ability to choose opponents based on skill level or location


### PPNards

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ppnards/id1595129186)

Play the classic board game of backgammon online with friends or against other players worldwide. Enjoy various game modes, chat with opponents, and join or create social clubs. Features disconnect protection for uninterrupted gameplay.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer backgammon, Play with friends, Social clubs, Chat options, Disconnect protection, Multiple game variations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 diamonds | $2.99 | one-time |
| 300 алмазов | $8.99 | one-time |
| 800 diamonds | $23.99 | one-time |
| 1000 алмазов | $29.99 | one-time |
| 2000 diamonds | $59.99 | one-time |
| 3000 diamonds | $89.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backgammon Masters free?

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

### Is PPNards free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Backgammon Masters or PPNards?

PPNards is rated higher. Backgammon Masters averages 3.8 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while PPNards averages 4.1 from 7 ratings.

### Do Backgammon Masters or PPNards have ads?

Backgammon Masters shows ads; PPNards does not.

### Which is updated more often, Backgammon Masters or PPNards?

Backgammon Masters ships an update fortnightly, and PPNards fortnightly. Most recently, Backgammon Masters was updated on September 24, 2026 and PPNards 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.*