# BG Buddy vs Backgammon

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backgammon at none against BG Buddy's 1. BG Buddy's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 70%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BG Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Backgammon asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for BG Buddy against 5.0 for Backgammon. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 6 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of BG Buddy's written reviews are positive against 70% of Backgammon's.

BG Buddy ships an update monthly, Backgammon every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BG Buddy | Backgammon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bg-buddy/id972446985/reviews) | [5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-live-board-game/id1666512741/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **6** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 70.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 40 MB | 204 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.1** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [James Knipe](https://appshunter.io/developer/972446984) | [Pinecone Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1605904166) |

## What reviewers say

### BG Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bg-buddy/id972446985)

This app provides a comprehensive tool for scoring and managing backgammon matches. It features a tournament clock, dice roller, scorecard, and the ability to analyze game statistics and positions. It also includes accessibility features for visually impaired players.

**Highlights:** Tournament style match clock, Match play with Jacoby, Beaver, and settlement options, Win percentage tracking over time, Position photo analysis, Talking dice for visually impaired players, Random dice with cube generator, Automatic tweeting of results

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BG Buddy Full Upgrade | $1.99 | one-time |


### Backgammon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-live-board-game/id1666512741)

Experience a classic board game with modern competitive features and beautiful graphics. Roll dice, move checkers, and use strategic skills to win prizes and climb the ranks. Enjoy a smooth, skill-based gameplay experience designed for competitive play.

**Highlights:** Classic backgammon gameplay, Competitive features, Beautiful graphic design, Skill-based play, Real rewards and prizes, Move-assist functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BG Buddy free?

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

### Is Backgammon free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BG Buddy or Backgammon?

BG Buddy and Backgammon are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 6 ratings respectively.

### Do BG Buddy or Backgammon have ads?

Neither BG Buddy nor Backgammon shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BG Buddy or Backgammon?

BG Buddy ships an update monthly, and Backgammon every 4 months. Most recently, BG Buddy was updated on September 25, 2026 and Backgammon on October 5, 2026.

---

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