# Let's Mahjong vs TileBuddy

The clearest difference is ads: TileBuddy at none against Let's Mahjong's shown. TileBuddy also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Let's Mahjong's advantage is ratings volume (823 vs 14) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Let's Mahjong sells 16 one-off in-app purchases and TileBuddy sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Let's Mahjong against 4.7 for TileBuddy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Let's Mahjong has 823 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of Let's Mahjong's written reviews are positive against 90% of TileBuddy's.

Let's Mahjong ships an update every 2 months, TileBuddy weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Let's Mahjong | TileBuddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (823 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lets-mahjong/id933694165/reviews) | **[4.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tilebuddy-mahjong-scoring/id6759950974/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **823** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 69.9% of reviews | **90.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 159 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Greenery](https://appshunter.io/developer/353430957) | [Wesley Ng](https://appshunter.io/developer/1881890029) |

## What reviewers say

### Let's Mahjong

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lets-mahjong/id933694165)

Experience a classic Hong Kong Mahjong game set in the 1970s. Play online, in freeplay, or challenge mode against 100 unique characters with distinct personalities and strategies. Track your progress with updated rankings and utilize special items to gain an advantage.

**Highlights:** 1970s Hong Kong style Mahjong, Online multiplayer, Freeplay mode, Challenge mode, 100 unique characters, Updated player rankings, Special in-game items

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Double Gain | $0.99 | one-time |
| Map－Corridor | $0.99 | one-time |
| Map－Marketplace | $0.99 | one-time |
| Map－Public Estate | $0.99 | one-time |
| Map－Playground | $0.99 | one-time |
| Map－Cheung Chau | $0.99 | one-time |
| Map－Typhoon Shelter | $0.99 | one-time |
| Map－Factory | $0.99 | one-time |
| Map－Temple Street | $0.99 | one-time |
| Map－The Peak | $0.99 | one-time |
| Map－Clock Tower | $0.99 | one-time |
| Who's waiting for? | $0.99 | one-time |
| Fluoroscope | $0.99 | one-time |
| Shake'nFall | $0.99 | one-time |
| Heart-Free for 8 Hours | $1.99 | one-time |
| Heart-Free for 128 Hours | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 👍 Authentic HK mahjong experience
- 🎨 Great graphics and style
- 🕹️ Engaging online play
- 🧠 Helpful for learning mahjong

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 💸 Ads and in-app purchases
- 🔌 Connectivity issues
- 📏 Limited customization options
- 🤔 Confusing UI/UX in some areas

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to win even with a full hand
- Onscreen tips not disappearing
- Challenges not working as expected
- Crashes when checking wiki or continuing a challenge
- Server connection issues and timeouts

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize private rooms
- More scoring/rule variations
- Offline play mode
- Improved tutorial and learning resources
- Support for accessibility features


### TileBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tilebuddy-mahjong-scoring/id6759950974)

This app simplifies Hong Kong Mahjong for players of all levels. It offers real-time score tracking, an AI-powered tile scanner to identify hands, and a comprehensive wiki for learning scoring hands and game rules.

**Highlights:** Real-time score tracking, AI tile recognition via camera, 40+ hand patterns with examples, HK rule styles (Classic, New 6, New 18), Game history and round breakdown, No ads or account required

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TileBuddy Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| TileBuddy Family | $49.99 | per year |
| Small Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Theme Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Let's Mahjong free?

Let's Mahjong is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is TileBuddy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Let's Mahjong or TileBuddy?

TileBuddy is rated higher. Let's Mahjong averages 4.6 out of 5 from 823 ratings, while TileBuddy averages 4.7 from 14 ratings.

### Do Let's Mahjong or TileBuddy have ads?

Let's Mahjong shows ads; TileBuddy does not.

### Which is updated more often, Let's Mahjong or TileBuddy?

Let's Mahjong ships an update every 2 months, and TileBuddy weekly. Most recently, Let's Mahjong was updated on October 29, 2026 and TileBuddy on October 31, 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.*