# Backgammon vs Hardwood Backgammon

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backgammon at none against Hardwood Backgammon's 16. Backgammon also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (588 vs 166). Hardwood Backgammon's advantage is review sentiment (63% vs 32%). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hardwood Backgammon sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Backgammon asks for nothing beyond the download.

Backgammon holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 588 and 166 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 32% of Backgammon's written reviews are positive against 63% of Hardwood Backgammon's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backgammon | Hardwood Backgammon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (588 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-the-board-game/id517995893/reviews)** | [4.3 (166 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardwood-backgammon/id897715914/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **588** | 166 |
| Positive reviews | 31.6% of reviews | **62.5% 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 | 105 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [LITE Games GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/943875563) | [Silver Creek Entertainment](https://appshunter.io/developer/493710735) |

## 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


### Hardwood Backgammon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardwood-backgammon/id897715914)

Experience the classic board game with this digital adaptation. Play against a strong AI, challenge friends locally, or compete with players worldwide. Features include full match play, a doubling cube, and engaging achievements.

**Highlights:** Single player vs AI, Online multiplayer, 2 player local mode, Full match play, Doubling cube, Achievements

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Plus Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| Plus Membership | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| 3 Month Plus Membership | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| Plus Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| 12 Month Plus Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| Pack of 80 Tokens | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 165 Tokens | $1.99 | one-time |
| Plus Membership | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 425 Tokens | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1 Month Plus Membership | $4.99 | one-time |
| Plus Membership | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 865 Tokens | $9.99 | one-time |
| Plus Membership | $14.99 | one-time |
| Plus Membership | $19.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 1800 Tokens | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 High-quality graphics and visual design
- 🎵 Relaxing sound effects and audio
- 👍 Clean, intuitive interface
- 🎮 Multiple game modes (single and multiplayer)
- ⚡ Minimal ads and non-intrusive monetization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Perceived unfair/rigged dice rolls favoring AI
- 😤 Computer gets excessive doubles and perfect rolls
- 🔒 Paywall features and token-based progression
- 📱 Game board too small on large screens
- 🐢 Game performance issues and slowness

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to load on some devices
- Apple TV version blocks legal moves
- Controls unresponsive on Apple TV
- Unclear how to enable local multiplayer between devices
- Game becomes unresponsive during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Acey-Deucey game variant
- Larger, scalable game board for tablets
- Better difficulty settings based on strategy, not just dice manipulation
- More multiplayer players available
- Customizable game rules and settings


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backgammon free?

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

### Is Hardwood Backgammon free?

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

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

Backgammon is rated higher. Backgammon averages 4.5 out of 5 from 588 ratings, while Hardwood Backgammon averages 4.3 from 166 ratings.

### Do Backgammon or Hardwood Backgammon have ads?

Both Backgammon and Hardwood Backgammon show ads.

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

Backgammon ships an update every 2 months, and Hardwood Backgammon every 2 months. Most recently, Backgammon was updated on September 26, 2026 and Hardwood Backgammon on September 19, 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.*