# Backgammon vs Backgammon Arena

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backgammon at none against Backgammon Arena's 10. Backgammon also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (597 vs 72). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backgammon Arena sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Backgammon asks for nothing beyond the download.

Backgammon holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backgammon has 597 ratings behind it against 72, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of Backgammon's written reviews are positive against 26% of Backgammon Arena's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backgammon | Backgammon Arena |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (597 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-the-board-game/id517995893/reviews)** | [4.3 (72 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-arena-dice-tavla/id731900735/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **597** | 72 |
| Positive reviews | **31.6% of reviews** | 25.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 215 MB | 128 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [LITE Games GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/943875563) | [LazyLand LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/481654138) |

## 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 Arena

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-arena-dice-tavla/id731900735)

Compete against real players worldwide in this classic dice board game. Master strategy and luck across multiple game modes, from beginner to expert levels. Enjoy fair dice rolls, HD graphics, and social features like chat and gifting.

**Highlights:** Compete with real players, Fair dice roll with secure RNG, Multiple live game modes, Daily coin bonuses, Global tournaments, In-game chat, Play with friends

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 500 Chips | $0.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Chips | $2.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Backgammon Chips | $2.99 | one-time |
| 5000 Chips | $4.99 | one-time |
| 400 Diamonds | $10.99 | one-time |
| 15000 Chips | $10.99 | one-time |
| 150 Diamonds | $13.99 | one-time |
| 40000 Chips | $21.99 | one-time |
| 40000 Chips | $23.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backgammon free?

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

### Is Backgammon Arena free?

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

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

Backgammon is rated higher. Backgammon averages 4.5 out of 5 from 597 ratings, while Backgammon Arena averages 4.3 from 72 ratings.

### Do Backgammon or Backgammon Arena have ads?

Both Backgammon and Backgammon Arena show ads.

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

Backgammon ships an update every 2 months, and Backgammon Arena every 2 months. Most recently, Backgammon was updated on November 1, 2026 and Backgammon Arena on November 1, 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.*
