Comparison

Backgammon Tutor vs Northsense

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Backgammon Tutor

This app serves as a comprehensive tutor for learning and playing backgammon. It offers various game modes, including against AI or other players, with features like progressive undo, move suggestions, and detailed statistics. Customize your experience with extensive settings and enjoy enhanced graphics on multiple devices.

Highlights
  • AI Tutor for learning
  • Play against computer or players
  • Progressive undo and move suggestions
  • Game Center achievements and leaderboards
  • Local network and pass-the-device modes
  • Detailed statistics tracking
  • Customizable settings
Features
Read full description

* MOST User Friendly BACKGAMMON App * - Tutor for Computer games, helps you learn how to play. - Invite players or play with random opponents. - Rematch option at the end of a match. - Game Center achievements and leader boards. Highlights include: - Look for Game Center auto-match opponents while playing a local game - Option to switch board home position and swap color. - Text chat feature for all network games (Game Center, Local Network). Can be turned OFF. - Play a Local Network game (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi), against the computer, or a pass-the-device game. - Skill rating, won games, won match points and experience scores for completed Game Center matches. - Progressive undo, replay last move, PIP values, doubling cube, human powered random rolls. - Checkers are easy to select and move, with variable animation speed. - Optionally show all possible moves for any piece, or use "one-tap" moves. - Play 1, 3, 5 or unlimited-point matches. - Resignation with 1, 2, 3 and unlimited times multiplier. - Universal App: enhanced graphics for iPad and retina displays. - Neural Network based advanced computer algorithm. - Extensive settings screen allows users to customize their experience (see screen shots). - Multiple dice rolling algorithms. - Statistics screen: tracks games won, matches points won, as well as dice roll statistics. - If the losing player disconnects from the game the winning player gets awarded the win. - 60-second time limit per move for Game Center Auto-Match games.

About

Northsense

Features
Read full description

Northsense is a 90-second daily exercise for your sense of direction. Every day, the app names a bearing — north, southwest, 47 degrees — and asks you to point your iPhone at it. Tap to lock when you think you're aimed right; we measure the angular error and score the round. Five rounds make a Daily Quest. Keep your average error at 30° or less and your streak counts up. It's not a navigation tool. It's a training game — for hikers, orienteers, sailors, walkers, geocachers, kids learning geography, or anyone who likes a small daily mental warm-up. FOUR MODES • Daily Quest — five rounds, a fresh combination of bearings every day. Build a streak. • Free Practice — pick your own target. Tap as many times as you like. • No-eyes Quest (Pro) — voice prompts and haptics only. Close your eyes and trust your instinct. • Memory Walk (Pro) — face a direction, walk a few steps in any way you like, then point back from memory. Daily Quest and Free Practice are free. Northsense Pro, a one-time in-app purchase, unlocks No-eyes Quest and Memory Walk. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account. No cloud. No ads, no tracking. Every score stays on your device. Apple's own CoreLocation and CoreMotion frameworks read heading and step data only while you're inside a round. WORKS WITH WHAT YOU HAVE • iPhone with a magnetometer (any model from the last decade). A daily minute. A sharper compass instinct.

Screenshots

Backgammon Tutor4 screens
Northsense3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Northsense at none against Backgammon Tutor's 2. Northsense also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Backgammon Tutor's advantage is iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Backgammon Tutor sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. Northsense asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backgammon Tutor ships an update every 2 months, Northsense fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Backgammon Tutor versus Northsense: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackgammon TutorNorthsense
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (307 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews27.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings307 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB12 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperQuatrian Inc.Ilia Filiaev

Bugs and requests

Backgammon Tutor

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • App crashes and restarts
  • Computer rolls too many doubles
  • Computer rolls specific numbers to win
  • Computer cheats
  • Dice rolls are not random
Show 7 more
  • Game is rigged
  • Computer always wins initial roll
  • Computer gets doubles more often
  • Computer rolls 6 more frequently
  • Skill ratings not kept
  • Does not work on older phones
  • Not compatible with older iOS versions

Requested features

7 requests
  • Increase customization options
  • More step-by-step instructions
  • Auto-roll option
  • Auto-select knocked out piece
  • Option to re-roll dice
Show 2 more
  • Recognize when game has limited moves and notify player with auto-complete option
  • Market better to increase online players

Northsense

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Backgammon Tutor

Subscriptions1
  • No Ads Subscription$1.991 Year
One-time1
  • No Ads$4.99
None

Northsense

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Backgammon Tutor free?
Backgammon Tutor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Northsense free?
Northsense is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Backgammon Tutor or Northsense have ads?
Backgammon Tutor shows ads; Northsense does not.
Which is updated more often, Backgammon Tutor or Northsense?
Backgammon Tutor ships an update every 2 months, and Northsense fortnightly. Most recently, Backgammon Tutor was updated on October 17, 2026 and Northsense on October 6, 2026.

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