# BG Buddy vs Backgammon Eye

The clearest difference is monetization model: BG Buddy at free against Backgammon Eye's free with in-app purchases. BG Buddy also leads on ratings volume (5 vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.1 vs 13.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BG Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Backgammon Eye sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for BG Buddy against 5.0 for Backgammon Eye. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BG Buddy has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

BG Buddy ships an update monthly, Backgammon Eye every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BG Buddy | Backgammon Eye |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bg-buddy/id972446985/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-eye/id6744810330/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 40 MB | 225 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.1** | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [James Knipe](https://appshunter.io/developer/972446984) | [Brodek](https://appshunter.io/developer/1073960597) |

## 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 Eye

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backgammon-eye/id6744810330)

This app uses AI to analyze your backgammon board from a photo, suggesting optimal moves with visual overlays. It's designed to help players of all levels improve their strategy and learn from each game.

**Highlights:** AI-powered move suggestions, Real-time photo recognition, Visual overlay of optimal moves, Pip count analysis, Export XGID positions, Learn-by-playing feature

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 500 Tokens | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BG Buddy free?

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

### Is Backgammon Eye free?

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

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

BG Buddy and Backgammon Eye are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do BG Buddy or Backgammon Eye have ads?

Neither BG Buddy nor Backgammon Eye shows ads.

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

BG Buddy ships an update monthly, and Backgammon Eye every 3 weeks. Most recently, BG Buddy was updated on September 25, 2026 and Backgammon Eye on September 28, 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.*