# PlayGem Backgammon Live Online vs Backgammon by Staple Games

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backgammon by Staple Games at none against PlayGem Backgammon Live Online's 12. PlayGem Backgammon Live Online's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (16K vs 2.5K). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PlayGem Backgammon Live Online sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Backgammon by Staple Games asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for PlayGem Backgammon Live Online against 4.7 for Backgammon by Staple Games. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PlayGem Backgammon Live Online has 16K ratings behind it against 2.5K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 52% of PlayGem Backgammon Live Online's written reviews are positive against 47% of Backgammon by Staple Games's.

PlayGem Backgammon Live Online ships an update monthly, Backgammon by Staple Games every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PlayGem Backgammon Live Online | Backgammon by Staple Games |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playgem-backgammon-live-online/id858467955/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-by-staple-games/id6451217307/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16K** | 2.5K |
| Positive reviews | **51.7% of reviews** | 47.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 400 MB | 170 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +17 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Playgem Technologies Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/685298977) | [Staple Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454538415) |

## What reviewers say

### PlayGem Backgammon Live Online

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playgem-backgammon-live-online/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 (11)**

| 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 |
| 15,000,000 backgammon Chips | $99.99 | 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 by Staple Games

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-by-staple-games/id6451217307)

Experience the classic game of Backgammon with a focus on simplicity and pure enjoyment. This app offers clean graphics and intuitive controls for an undistracted gameplay experience. It's designed for players who appreciate the core mechanics of the game.

**Highlights:** Pure Backgammon gameplay, Simple and classic design, Easy-to-use controls, Clean graphics, No distractions

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast gameplay
- 👍 Simple and good design
- 🎨 Great art style

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Dice rolls seem unfair
- 👎 User-unfriendly interface
- 🎨 Hard to see game pieces
- 💰 Too many ads

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect move counting
- Game gets stuck on ads

**Requested features**

- Add doubling cube feature
- Improve AI difficulty settings
- Add undo/cancel button
- Provide rules and procedures


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PlayGem Backgammon Live Online free?

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

### Is Backgammon by Staple Games free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PlayGem Backgammon Live Online or Backgammon by Staple Games?

Backgammon by Staple Games is rated higher. PlayGem Backgammon Live Online averages 4.5 out of 5 from 16K ratings, while Backgammon by Staple Games averages 4.7 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do PlayGem Backgammon Live Online or Backgammon by Staple Games have ads?

Both PlayGem Backgammon Live Online and Backgammon by Staple Games show ads.

### Which is updated more often, PlayGem Backgammon Live Online or Backgammon by Staple Games?

PlayGem Backgammon Live Online ships an update monthly, and Backgammon by Staple Games every 2 months. Most recently, PlayGem Backgammon Live Online was updated on October 28, 2026 and Backgammon by Staple Games on October 27, 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.*