Best Gomoku Apps: Free Games for iPhone & Android
You want to play gomoku on your phone. Fair enough — that's how most people play these days. Problem is, the app stores are packed with five-in-a-row apps, and 90% of them are garbage: broken AI, ad spam, no online play, or weird UI decisions that make the game unplayable. We tested the top apps on both iOS and Android so you don't have to. Here's what actually works, what's worth downloading, and what to skip.
Top 5 Gomoku Apps for iPhone
The iOS gomoku scene is... fine. Not great. Most apps are single-dev projects that haven't been updated since 2021. These five are the ones that still work:
| App | Rating | Price | AI | Online? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gomoku - Five In A Row VM Mobile Team | ⭐ 4.5 | Free | 3 difficulty levels | No |
| Gomoku Guru Guru Apps | ⭐ 4.3 | Free | Adjustable AI with 5 levels | Yes (PlayOK) |
| Five in a Row Pro LITE Games | ⭐ 4.1 | Free / $3 ad-free | 4 levels | Yes |
| Renju Online Renju Fans | ⭐ 4.0 | Free | Renju-specific AI | Yes (Renju only) |
| GamePigeon GamePigeon | ⭐ 4.2 | Free | Basic | iMessage only |
GamePigeon — The One Everyone's Used
If someone sent you a "Gomoku" game request in an iMessage group chat, this is the app. GamePigeon isn't really a gomoku app — it's a whole iMessage game platform, and gomoku is one of the 20+ games bundled in. The board is oddly small (11×11 instead of 15×15), there's zero ranked play, and the AI is a joke. But here's the thing: it has millions of players. It's the app that introduced more English speakers to gomoku than anything else. If you want to play with friends who already have iMessage, it's the path of least resistance. Just don't expect it to make you better at the game.
Gomoku Guru — Best for Solo Play
Decent AI with five difficulty levels, clean interface, and a direct link to PlayOK for online games. The "guru" name is a bit generous — the highest AI level isn't hard enough for experienced players — but for most people it's solid. Free with minimal ads. Probably the best "just works" option on iOS.
Renju Online — Only for Serious Renju Players
This is the only iPhone app that implements real Renju rules (forbidden moves for Black, the whole deal). If you play free-style gomoku only, skip it. If you're into competitive Renju, this is your community on mobile. The player pool is small but dedicated.
Top 5 Gomoku Apps for Android
Android's gomoku selection is actually a bit better than iOS, especially if you care about AI strength. Here's the lineup:
| App | Rating | Price | AI | Online? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gomoku - Five Ayste1ck | ⭐ 4.6 | Free | 6 AI levels | Bluetooth/wifi local |
| Gomoku League Gomoku Club | ⭐ 4.3 | Free | 4 levels | Yes (ELO ranked) |
| Five in a Row Online NTFusion | ⭐ 4.2 | Free | 3 levels | Yes |
| Gomoku Master Puzzle Brain | ⭐ 4.0 | Free / $2 ad-free | 5 levels | No |
| Omok (Korean Gomoku) K-Game Studio | ⭐ 4.1 | Free | 4 levels | Yes (Korean servers) |
Gomoku - Five (Ayste1ck) — Best AI on Android
Six AI difficulty levels, clean UI, almost no ads, and the hardest mode actually makes you work for a win. No internet matchmaking though — it's a solo practice tool. If you're serious about improving, this is the Android app to get. The AI on level 5-6 plays at a solid intermediate level; you'll need to apply what you learned from our intermediate strategy guide to beat it consistently.
Online Gomoku Platforms (No App Needed)
Want to play real people without downloading anything? These browser-based platforms have been the backbone of online gomoku for years:
PlayOK
The oldest and biggest online gomoku community. Browser-based, real-time matchmaking, ELO ratings. UI is stuck in 2005 but the player pool is strong. Free.
Vint.ee
Estonian platform with a surprisingly large gomoku scene (Estonia is a gomoku powerhouse — see our history page). Strong players, tournament support. Free.
GomokuPlay.com
That's us — play right here. AI opponent with adjustable difficulty, two-player mode, no signup, works on any device. We're newer but constantly adding features.
Why You Might Not Need an App At All
Here's the thing nobody tells you: most gomoku apps aren't worth the storage space. A web-based game like ours runs in any browser, works on any phone or tablet, doesn't need an app store account, and gets updated automatically. No 200MB download. No permissions for your contacts. No "premium version" upsell.
The only reasons to get an app instead of playing in a browser: (1) you play on GamePigeon with friends over iMessage, or (2) you play on a Korean server and need the app for matchmaking. For everyone else, a bookmark to our play page on your home screen does the exact same thing, with zero overhead.
Play in Browser — No App Needed →How to Pick the Right App for You
"I just want to beat my friends"
GamePigeon (iMessage) if your friends have iPhones. Otherwise, send them a link to our play page and use two-player mode. Practice against AI first with our beginner guide and you'll crush them.
"I want to get actually good"
Gomoku - Five (Android) or Gomoku Guru (iOS) for AI practice. Then move to PlayOK or Vint.ee for real human opponents. Read the intermediate strategy guide between sessions.
"I play Renju competitively"
Renju Online (iOS) for Renju rules on mobile. On Android, the Renju community mostly plays on Vint.ee or desktop. There isn't a great Android Renju app — sorry.
"I'm shopping for my kid"
Any free app with low ads works — Gomoku Guru (iOS) or Gomoku - Five (Android). The 9×9 board option is great because games are shorter and a kid's attention span is, well, a kid's attention span. Skip apps with chat/messaging features if you're worried about safety.
How to Play Gomoku on GamePigeon (iMessage)
GamePigeon is probably how you found gomoku in the first place. Here's the quick setup:
- Download GamePigeon from the App Store (it's free).
- Open an iMessage conversation with whoever you want to play.
- Tap the App Store icon above the keyboard (next to the text input), then tap the GamePigeon icon.
- Scroll to "Gomoku" and tap it. A game invite will appear in the chat.
- Your friend taps "Accept" and the game starts right in iMessage.
A few things worth knowing: GamePigeon uses an 11×11 board instead of the standard 15×15, which makes games faster but changes the strategy — there's less room to build complex patterns. Also, there's no AI opponent — it's strictly human vs human. If your friend goes offline mid-game, you'll just have to wait.
For the full iPhone gomoku walkthrough (including apps that aren't GamePigeon), see our iPhone gomoku guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a good free gomoku app?
Yes — most of the apps listed above are free. On iOS, Gomoku Guru is the best free option with decent AI. On Android, "Gomoku - Five" by Ayste1ck is free and has the strongest AI. Or skip the app entirely and play in your browser at gomokuplay.com/play.
Can I play gomoku online with friends on my phone?
Three options: (1) GamePigeon on iMessage (iPhone only, your friend also needs iMessage). (2) PlayOK in your mobile browser — works on any device, real-time matchmaking. (3) Our play page — set it to two-player mode and hand the phone back and forth for local play.
Which gomoku app has the strongest AI?
On Android, "Gomoku - Five" by Ayste1ck has the strongest phone-based AI (6 difficulty levels, the top 2 are genuinely hard). On iOS, Gomoku Guru is decent but maxes out at an intermediate level. For the strongest AI available, play against our web-based AI on Hard difficulty — it runs minimax with alpha-beta pruning and doesn't have phone hardware constraints.
Do I need to download an app to play gomoku?
No. You can play gomoku in any mobile browser — including right here. No download, no account, no ads in the middle of your game. Add it to your home screen if you want it to feel like an app.
Is GamePigeon gomoku the same as real gomoku?
Almost, but not quite. GamePigeon uses an 11×11 board instead of the standard 15×15, which makes games faster but reduces strategic depth. The rules (five in a row wins, Black goes first) are the same. It's gomoku, just on a smaller board. Think of it as gomoku's speed-run mode.
Or Skip the App Entirely
Play gomoku right in your browser — no download, no signup, works on any device.