# Shelem vs Backgammon Pro Online

The clearest difference is ads: Backgammon Pro Online at none against Shelem's shown. Shelem's advantage is review sentiment (59% vs 28%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shelem sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Backgammon Pro Online sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Shelem against 4.7 for Backgammon Pro Online. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shelem has 27K ratings behind it against 340, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Shelem's written reviews are positive against 28% of Backgammon Pro Online's.

Shelem ships an update every 2 weeks, Backgammon Pro Online every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shelem | Backgammon Pro Online |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelem/id930740608/reviews)** | [4.7 (340 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-pro-online/id6462817065/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **27K** | 340 |
| Positive reviews | **59.2% of reviews** | 28.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 68 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Babak Bostan](https://appshunter.io/developer/930740607) | [Coolplay GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1703463360) |

## 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 Pro Online

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-pro-online/id6462817065)

Experience thrilling real-time backgammon matches against players worldwide. Connect with fellow enthusiasts, track your progress with detailed statistics, and compete for top spots on regional leaderboards. Enjoy customizable boards and daily rewards in this vibrant online community.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer matches, In-game chat, Detailed statistics, Regional leaderboards, Daily rewards, Customizable boards

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Coin Package | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pro - 1 month | $3.99 | one-time |
| Medium Coin Package | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pro - 3 months | $6.99 | one-time |
| Large Coin Package | $17.99 | one-time |
| Pro - 12 months | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Clean, simple graphics and interface
- ⚡ Fast-paced gameplay
- 🎯 No doubling cube mechanic
- 🌐 Online multiplayer with friends
- 📱 Offline play available

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Dice rolls appear non-random and rigged
- 💻 Computer opponent cheats with unfair rolls
- 📺 Excessive ads between games
- 🐛 Jerky/laggy movements during gameplay
- 💸 Betting system favors house when wagering higher amounts

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes during gameplay with lag spikes
- App fails to open after reinstall
- Ad pages don't close properly (no X button)
- iPhone crashes after viewing ads
- Jerky dice and piece movements

**Requested features**

- Fix jerky movement animations
- Improve ad frequency and length
- Add explanation of dice randomization algorithm
- Prevent players from quitting to avoid gammon penalties
- Display pip counts on board


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shelem free?

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

### Is Backgammon Pro Online free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shelem or Backgammon Pro Online?

Shelem is rated higher. Shelem averages 4.8 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while Backgammon Pro Online averages 4.7 from 340 ratings.

### Do Shelem or Backgammon Pro Online have ads?

Shelem shows ads; Backgammon Pro Online does not.

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

Shelem ships an update every 2 weeks, and Backgammon Pro Online every 2 months. Most recently, Shelem was updated on September 24, 2026 and Backgammon Pro Online on September 25, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*