# Backgammon vs Backgammon Now

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backgammon at none against Backgammon Now's 3. Backgammon Now's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backgammon Now sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Backgammon asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Backgammon against 4.4 for Backgammon Now. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 596 and 349 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 32% and 31% positive.

Backgammon ships an update every 2 months, Backgammon Now every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backgammon | Backgammon Now |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (596 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-the-board-game/id517995893/reviews)** | [4.4 (349 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-now/id1447093944/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **596** | 349 |
| Positive reviews | **31.6% of reviews** | 31.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 215 MB | 144 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LITE Games GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/943875563) | [Cobra Mobile Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/290142990) |

## What reviewers say

### Backgammon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-the-board-game/id517995893)

Experience the classic board game of Backgammon on your mobile device. Play against AI opponents or challenge friends and family online or offline. Master strategy and luck to climb leaderboards and unlock achievements.

**Highlights:** Play for free without limitations, Play against varied computer opponents, Compete online against global players, Challenge friends and family locally, Climb online highscore leaderboards, Unlock achievements

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💎 Best backgammon app
- 👍 Enjoyable gameplay
- 🎨 Great graphics and design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Unfair dice rolls
- 🤖 AI cheats or is too lucky
- 🔍 Lack of transparency in game mechanics
- 🛑 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 📺 Excessive ads and interruptions

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezing or locking up
- Incorrect game outcome reporting
- Issues with screen orientation and touch responsiveness

**Requested features**

- Customizable board and piece designs
- Offline play mode
- Detailed game statistics and analytics
- Ability to disable 'show possible moves' feature
- Resign option during games


### Backgammon Now

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-now/id1447093944)

Experience a fun and relaxing way to play Backgammon. Challenge a computer opponent, track your progress with game stats, and enjoy customizable themes. Learn the game easily with built-in instructions and realistic dice physics.

**Highlights:** Computer opponent, Game stats tracking, Customizable board themes, Adjustable difficulty, Touch-to-move or drag-to-move, Random physics-based dice, Easy 'How to Play' guide

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BACKGAMMON NOW PREMIUM 1 MONTH | $1.49 | per month |
| UNLOCK BOARDS of the WORLD | $0.99 | one-time |
| REMOVE ALL ADVERTS | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface and easy navigation
- 🎨 Visually appealing graphics and presentation
- 🔊 Good sound effects and audio design
- 📊 Tracks win/loss statistics and match history
- 🎮 Suitable for beginners learning backgammon

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Dice rolls appear biased toward AI opponent
- 🤖 AI makes illogical moves and poor strategy
- 📺 Excessive ads disrupt gameplay experience
- ⚙️ Inconsistent game rules and mechanics
- 🐢 Game moves slowly with required confirmations

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezes and becomes unresponsive
- App locks and prevents access to home screen
- Stuck on ad screen with no way to close
- Cannot connect to real players
- Unauthorized clipboard pasting on app switch

**Requested features**

- Auto-finish option when both sides are clear
- Ability to initiate doubling cube independently
- Hot seat/pass-and-play multiplayer mode
- Game save functionality for longer durations
- Adjustable difficulty settings


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backgammon free?

Backgammon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Backgammon Now free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Backgammon or Backgammon Now?

Backgammon is rated higher. Backgammon averages 4.5 out of 5 from 596 ratings, while Backgammon Now averages 4.4 from 349 ratings.

### Do Backgammon or Backgammon Now have ads?

Both Backgammon and Backgammon Now show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Backgammon or Backgammon Now?

Backgammon ships an update every 2 months, and Backgammon Now every 3 months. Most recently, Backgammon was updated on October 22, 2026 and Backgammon Now on October 20, 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.*