# Backgammon PlayGem vs Backgammon Online

The clearest difference is rating: Backgammon PlayGem at 4.5 against Backgammon Online's 4.1. Backgammon PlayGem also leads on ratings volume (16K vs 143). Backgammon Online's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs monthly) and review sentiment (73% vs 52%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backgammon PlayGem sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Backgammon Online sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Backgammon PlayGem holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backgammon PlayGem has 16K ratings behind it against 143, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of Backgammon PlayGem's written reviews are positive against 73% of Backgammon Online's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Backgammon PlayGem ships an update monthly, Backgammon Online every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backgammon PlayGem | Backgammon Online |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-playgem-play-live/id858467955/reviews)** | [4.1 (143 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-online-dice-game/id1643163168/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **16K** | 143 |
| Positive reviews | 51.6% of reviews | **72.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 398 MB | 153 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Playgem Technologies Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/685298977) | [Anton Iliukhin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1855483323) |

## What reviewers say

### Backgammon PlayGem

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-playgem-play-live/id858467955)

Engage in thrilling multiplayer Backgammon matches against friends or players worldwide. Learn the rules, refine your strategy, and compete in tournaments to climb the leaderboards. Unlock unique boards and enjoy unlimited, free gameplay.

**Highlights:** Multiplayer Backgammon, Online challenges and tournaments, Play with friends or global players, Learn rules and perfect strategy, Unlockable unique boards, Leaderboard progression, Certified dice

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 50,000 backgammon chips | $0.99 | one-time |
| 100,000 backgammon chips | $1.99 | one-time |
| 300,000 backgammon chips | $4.99 | one-time |
| 500,000 backgammon chips | $4.99 | one-time |
| Super Bonus | $4.99 | one-time |
| 300,000 backgammon Chips | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1,500,000 backgammon chips | $9.99 | one-time |
| 750,000 backgammon chips | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2,400,000 backgammon chips | $24.99 | one-time |
| 15,000,000 backgammon Chips | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Competitive gameplay
- 🎨 Good graphics
- ⏱️ Quick games
- 🌐 Ability to play against players worldwide

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🎲 Perceived issues with dice rolls and randomness
- 🤖 Suspicion of rigged/manipulated games
- 💰 Aggressive monetization tactics
- 🕰️ Slow response times and timeouts

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to move pieces when needed
- Inconsistent behavior when opponent times out
- Freezing and crashing during gameplay
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Chat feature to communicate with opponents
- Improved matchmaking based on skill level
- More customization options for the game board
- Better customer support and issue resolution


### Backgammon Online

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-online-dice-game/id1643163168)

Engage in classic backgammon with real players worldwide or practice offline against AI. Unlock new boards, collect daily rewards, and compete on leaderboards. Enjoy smooth gameplay and customizable options in this modern mobile adaptation.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer matches, Play with friends locally, Offline AI practice mode, Unlockable new boards, Daily rewards and bonuses, Leaderboards and rankings, Customizable avatars and checkers

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 Backgammon Empire Gems | $2.99 | one-time |
| 10K Backgammon Empire Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| 10 Backgammon Empire Gems Pack | $5.49 | one-time |
| Ad-Free Upgrade Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| 50K Backgammon Empire Coins | $10.99 | one-time |
| Backgammon Empire Set 2 Discount | $11.99 | one-time |
| 50 Backgammon Empire Gems Pack | $23.99 | one-time |
| Backgammon Empire Set 2 | $23.99 | one-time |
| 150K Backgammon Empire Coins | $27.99 | one-time |
| 500K Backgammon Empire Coins | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Engaging gameplay
- 🌟 Pleasing graphics
- 🌐 Convenient online play
- 🤝 Challenging opponents
- 🕹️ Smooth controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Questionable dice rolls
- 🔒 Pay-to-win mechanics
- 🕰️ Slow matchmaking
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔄 Repeated opponent moves

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezes or crashes during play
- Pieces not moving as expected
- Incorrect dice rolls or move validation
- Opponent timeouts and connection issues
- Inconsistent performance across devices

**Requested features**

- Add doubling cube functionality
- Implement a scorecard feature
- Improve customization options for boards, pieces, and avatars
- Enhance the online matchmaking system
- Introduce a friends/social feature to play with contacts


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backgammon PlayGem free?

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

### Is Backgammon Online free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Backgammon PlayGem or Backgammon Online?

Backgammon PlayGem is rated higher. Backgammon PlayGem averages 4.5 out of 5 from 16K ratings, while Backgammon Online averages 4.1 from 143 ratings.

### Do Backgammon PlayGem or Backgammon Online have ads?

Both Backgammon PlayGem and Backgammon Online show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Backgammon PlayGem or Backgammon Online?

Backgammon PlayGem ships an update monthly, and Backgammon Online every 6 days. Most recently, Backgammon PlayGem was updated on November 13, 2026 and Backgammon Online on November 12, 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.*