# Shelem vs Backgammon Online

The clearest difference is rating: Shelem at 4.8 against Backgammon Online's 4.1. Shelem also leads on ratings volume (27K vs 142) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.6). Backgammon Online's advantage is review sentiment (73% vs 59%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shelem sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Backgammon Online sells 27 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shelem holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shelem has 27K ratings behind it against 142, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 59% of Shelem'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.

Shelem ships an update every 2 weeks, Backgammon Online weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shelem | Backgammon Online |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelem/id930740608/reviews)** | [4.1 (142 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-online-dice-game/id1643163168/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **27K** | 142 |
| Positive reviews | 59.2% of reviews | **73.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 68 MB | 152 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Babak Bostan](https://appshunter.io/developer/930740607) | [Anton Iliukhin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1855483323) |

## What reviewers say

### Shelem

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelem/id930740608)

Test your strategic thinking and memory in this challenging card game. Compete with friends online or join a league to face skilled players. Prove your worthiness for the Shelem title and enjoy hours of fun.

**Highlights:** Strategic card gameplay, Memory and reasoning skill improvement, Online multiplayer with friends, League competition, Challenging gameplay

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fantastic game
- 🤔 Challenging brain game
- 🎨 Great graphics and design
- 🎶 Soothing background music

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🤖 Dumb AI/computer players
- ⏱️ Short timer/time issues
- 🔌 Server/connectivity problems
- 🤯 Frustrating gameplay issues

**Reported bugs**

- Game progress not saved
- Unexpected card discarding
- Incorrect point calculations
- Unresponsive controls
- Frequent crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- Online multiplayer mode
- Customizable timer/time settings
- Improved AI/computer player logic
- Save/resume game progress
- Detailed game rules/tutorial


### Backgammon Online

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

Experience classic backgammon with a modern twist. Play against real players online, practice against AI, or challenge friends locally. Explore unique boards, climb leaderboards, and customize your gameplay.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer matches, Offline AI practice mode, Local play with friends, 12 unique board designs, Rankings and competitions, Customizable avatars and checkers, Random dice rolls

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

**In-app purchases (27)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Donat | $0.29 | one-time |
| 3K Backgammon Empire Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Donat | $1.99 | one-time |
| 5 Backgammon Empire Gems | $2.99 | one-time |
| 10K Backgammon Empire Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Seasonal Avatar Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Backgammon Empire Set 1 Discount | $4.99 | one-time |
| 10 Backgammon Empire Gems Pack | $5.49 | one-time |
| 25K Backgammon Empire Coins | $5.99 | one-time |
| Reaction Unlock Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| 15 Backgammon Empire Gems Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Donat | $7.99 | one-time |
| Unique avatars pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Backgammon Empire Set 1 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Ad-Free Upgrade Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| 50K Backgammon Empire Coins | $10.99 | one-time |
| 30 Backgammon Empire Gems Pack | $14.99 | 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 |
| 100 Backgammon Empire Gems | $45.99 | one-time |
| Backgammon Empire Set 3 | $47.99 | one-time |
| 150 Backgammon Empire Gems | $64.99 | one-time |
| 500K Backgammon Empire Coins | $69.99 | one-time |
| 300 Backgammon Empire Gems | $119.99 | one-time |
| 2.5M Backgammon Empire Coins | $129.99 | one-time |
| Backgammon Empire Set 4 | $139.99 | 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 Shelem free?

Shelem 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, Shelem or Backgammon Online?

Shelem is rated higher. Shelem averages 4.8 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while Backgammon Online averages 4.1 from 142 ratings.

### Do Shelem or Backgammon Online have ads?

Both Shelem and Backgammon Online show ads.

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

Shelem ships an update every 2 weeks, and Backgammon Online weekly. Most recently, Shelem was updated on November 1, 2026 and Backgammon Online on October 30, 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.*