The best backgammon apps in 2026
Most backgammon apps are free, and most make their money from ads, coins or both. Here is which to pick if you want no ads, offline play, a game with a friend, or a real teacher.
We make Backgammon Lounge, so weigh our pick accordingly. Everything about other apps comes from their store listings and sites, read on November 3, 2026, with US App Store ratings. We have not scored them in a head-to-head test. Prices and ads change, so check the listing before you buy.
The short answer
- No ads on iPhone: Gammon if you want it free, Backgammon NJ HD if you will pay once.
- No ads on Android: CBG.
- A quick game with a friend: a browser game, so neither of you installs anything. Try Backgammon Lounge.
- Serious improvement: Backgammon Galaxy for online analysis, XG Mobile for tutor mode.
- Lots of opponents at any hour: the big online apps, Lord of the Board and Backgammon Galaxy.
All of them compared
| App | Runs on | Cost and ads | Who you play | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backgammon Lounge | Any browser | Free. The game shows no ads; the guides on this site do | Computer (3 levels), friends by code or link, random players | Our own game |
| Gammon | iPhone | Free. Listing says no ads, no account, no internet | Computer (3 levels), face to face on one device | Too few ratings to show |
| CBG (Clavierhaus BackGammon) | Android, via IzzyOnDroid | Free. Requests no network permission at all | GNU Backgammon engine, fully offline | Not on the App Store |
| Backgammon NJ HD | iPhone, iPad | $7.99 once | Computer with tutor mode, 2-player, Game Center online | 4.5 (3,695) |
| Backgammon - Offline | iPhone, iPad | Free. Listing says no banner ads | Neural-network computer, no internet | 4.1 (423) |
| XG Mobile | iPhone, iPad | Free download | Tutor mode from the eXtreme Gammon makers, face to face | 3.9 (1,263), last updated 2017 |
| Backgammon Galaxy | iPhone, iPad, web | Free to play; the site also has a shop | Online matchmaking, private invites, AI analysis | 4.4 (1,909) |
| Lord of the Board | iPhone, iPad | Free. Listing advertises a welcome bonus | Online players and friends | 4.5 (88,705) |
| Backgammon by Optime | iPhone, iPad | Free | Computer (3 levels), 2-player | 4.5 (80,058) |
No ads
This is the most common complaint about backgammon apps, and listings rarely spell it out. A free app with no mention of purchases usually pays for itself with ads. Three ways to avoid them:
- A listing that says so. Gammon states "No account. No ads. No internet required." It is a new app with few ratings so far, so there is less evidence of how it holds up.
- Pay once. Backgammon NJ HD is $7.99 up front with a long record. Some free apps also sell ad removal, so check the in-app purchases section of the listing.
- No network access. CBG on Android does not request the network permission, so it has no way to load ads from a network.
"No banner ads", as on Backgammon - Offline, is a narrower promise than "no ads", so read it closely. Backgammon Lounge's game shows no ads in the browser at the moment; the guides on this site, like this page, do carry them.
Offline
On a plane or underground, you need the computer opponent to run on your phone. Gammon, Backgammon - Offline, Backgammon NJ HD and XG Mobile on iPhone, and CBG on Android, all do that. Backgammon Galaxy and Lord of the Board are built around online play, so expect little from them without a signal.
With friends
There are two different things people mean by this:
- Sitting together. Most apps have a mode where you pass one device back and forth, including Gammon, XG Mobile and Backgammon NJ HD.
- Apart. You both need the same app, unless one of you can use a browser. In Backgammon Lounge you choose Online, pick a match length, and send the 6-letter code or link. Your friend does not need an account. See how to play online with a friend.
Note that XG Mobile's two-player mode is face to face only: its listing says "live play, not online".
To get better
The apps worth using here tell you when a move was wrong and why. XG Mobile has a tutor mode built on eXtreme Gammon, the engine most top players use, but it was last updated in 2017. Backgammon NJ HD has tutor mode and hints. Backgammon Galaxy advertises AI analysis of your games. CBG brings the whole GNU Backgammon engine to Android. Backgammon Lounge's computer opponent has hints and undo at three levels. For what those engines can and cannot do, see is backgammon solved?
What to check before installing
- The "In-App Purchases" line. Long lists of coin packs mean the game is built around spending. Fine for some players, tiresome for others.
- Do the stakes use coins? Virtual chips change how people play, and they make cube decisions meaningless. Look for real match play if you want to improve.
- The doubling cube and match play. Many casual apps leave them out or simplify them. They are a big part of the game: see the doubling cube.
- Last updated. An old app can still play very well, but may not suit newer phones.
- Recent reviews. Sort by most recent, since an old high rating may not describe the app today.
And if an app's dice feel wrong, you can test them: is online backgammon rigged? shows how. New to the game? Play a game in your browser with the rules open beside it.
Questions
What is the best backgammon app with no ads?
On iPhone, Gammon lists no ads, no account and no internet requirement, though it is new and has few ratings. Backgammon NJ HD costs $7.99 once. On Android, CBG runs the GNU Backgammon engine and requests no network permission, so it cannot load network ads.
What is the best free backgammon app to play with friends?
If your friend can open a link, a browser game saves you both a download. Backgammon Lounge gives you a 6-letter code and a link. Backgammon Galaxy also offers private invites, with an app and a website.
What is the strongest backgammon app?
XG Mobile comes from eXtreme Gammon, the engine most top players use, and its listing calls it the strongest program in the world, though it was last updated in 2017. CBG runs GNU Backgammon, which is free, open source and very strong.
Can I play backgammon offline on my phone?
Yes. Gammon, Backgammon - Offline, Backgammon NJ HD and XG Mobile on iPhone, and CBG on Android, all play the computer without a connection.
Do backgammon apps cheat with the dice?
People often suspect it, because runs of doubles are more common than they feel. You can test any app yourself by counting rolls. See is online backgammon rigged.
Ready to roll? Play the computer or a friend, free in your browser.
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