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BridgeDummy vs Funbridge: Full Deals or Focused Training?

By Nir KhutorskyIsrael Open8 min readUpdated 2026-10-17

BridgeDummy vs Funbridge is a comparison I get asked about often, and it is a fair one: both are mainly solo bridge apps. But they solve different problems. Funbridge lets you play full bridge deals against the Argine AI, then compare your score to the other players who played the same hand. I built BridgeDummy to do something else: isolate specific decisions, your opening lead or your next bid, and score every option with double-dummy analysis across 1,000+ simulated deals.

Disclosure: I built BridgeDummy, so read this knowing that. I have kept every fact checkable. As of August 2026, Funbridge runs on web, iOS, and Android. BridgeDummy runs on the web, Android and iOS.

Tip

Quick verdict: Pick Funbridge if you want to play full 4-hand deals against a robot and compare your score to a field. Pick BridgeDummy if you want to sharpen your bidding and opening leads with objective double-dummy feedback. Its lead puzzles and bidding puzzles score every option against double-dummy analysis over 1,000+ deals. If budget matters, BridgeDummy Pro at $7.99/mo costs less than Funbridge Premium at $15.99/mo.

At a glance

BridgeDummyFunbridge
What it isDecision training tool (puzzles, simulations)Full-deal play app vs Argine AI
Best forImproving bidding and lead decisionsPlaying and comparing scores to a field
Free tier40 diamonds/mo (1 per puzzle) + free Analyzer, calculators2 deals/day, 1 commented deal/week, ads
Paid plansBasic $19.99/yr, Pro $7.99/mo, Premium $13.99/moPremium $15.99/mo, Premium+ $24.99/mo
Bidding practiceBidding puzzles scored vs double-dummy analysisNo standalone bidding trainer
Opening lead practiceLead puzzles scored vs double-dummy analysisNo dedicated lead trainer
Declarer playSuit combination puzzlesFull deals (declarer when you win the auction)
Play vs humansLive tables with friends (Bridge for Fun, unrated), partnership biddingNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android
Feedback styleStar rating per decision, scored against all alternativesPercentile rank vs other players on same deal

Prices are as of August 2026. Prices change; check the vendor's pricing page.

Training approach

Funbridge gives you a full deal. You bid, play, and defend in one session. After the hand, you see how your score compares to the field: "You scored better than 62% of players." That mirrors the duplicate bridge experience, and if you enjoy playing hands start to finish, Funbridge delivers that well.

I designed BridgeDummy around a different idea. Instead of a full deal, each puzzle isolates one decision. A bidding puzzle gives you a hand and an auction, then asks: what do you bid next? A lead puzzle shows your hand and the auction, then asks: which card do you lead? Each answer is scored by running double-dummy analysis over a large set of deals that match the auction constraints. You get 1 to 5 stars and can see exactly how every alternative would have performed.

Funbridge tells you how you did relative to other people. BridgeDummy tells you whether the decision itself was right, measured against optimal play. Neither approach is wrong. They answer different questions: "Am I better than the field?" versus "Was this the objectively best choice?"

Bidding practice

Funbridge does not have a standalone bidding trainer. You bid as part of a full deal, and the AI (Argine) plays Standard American. Some users have reported bidding inconsistencies from Argine, such as a strong 2♣ opening that is not game-forcing. You learn by playing full hands, not by drilling bidding decisions in isolation.

BridgeDummy builds bidding practice around scored bidding puzzles. Each puzzle gives you a hand and an auction, then evaluates your bid against every alternative using matchpoint or IMP scoring over 1,000+ simulated deals that match the auction. You get 1 to 5 stars, an ELO rating per puzzle type, and mistake review that shows exactly which calls cost you. I also built Bidding Challenges where you and a partner bid 8 boards together against bots, then compare what contracts other pairs reached.

Opening lead practice

This is the biggest gap between the two apps. Funbridge has no dedicated opening lead trainer. You lead as part of normal play, but there is no way to practice leads in isolation or compare every card in your hand.

I built the lead puzzles because I was tired of guessing whether my lead was right. Each puzzle shows you a hand and an auction, you pick your opening lead, and every card in your hand is scored double-dummy across all layouts that match the auction. You see whether the ♠K was better than the ♥4 and by how much, graded 1 to 5 stars with an ELO rating per puzzle type and mistake review. No other app I know of offers this kind of focused lead training.

Pricing and free tier

Funbridge's free tier gives you 2 deals per day (14 per week), one commented deal per week, and ads. To play unlimited deals without ads, you need Premium at $15.99/mo or $174.99/yr. Premium+ at $24.99/mo or $274.99/yr adds unlimited commented deals and Bridgerama+.

BridgeDummy's free tier gives you 40 diamonds per month, enough for 40 practice puzzles (1 diamond each) or 4 daily challenges. On top of that, the Analyzer, all seven calculators, and all guides and learn articles are free. Basic at $19.99/yr gives 100 diamonds per month. Pro at $7.99/mo or $63.99/yr unlocks 300 diamonds per month. Premium at $13.99/mo or $111.99/yr gives 10,000 diamonds per month and adds Hand Insights.

On price alone, BridgeDummy Pro ($7.99/mo) costs less than Funbridge Premium ($15.99/mo). The two products do different things, though, so the cheaper plan is not automatically the better buy.

Platforms and availability

Funbridge runs on iOS, Android, and web. It has been around for over a decade and has a large, established player base. The field comparison feature works because many people play each deal. That network effect is real and hard to replicate.

BridgeDummy runs as a web app (installable PWA) and in the Android and iOS apps, with one account and the same progress everywhere. BridgeDummy is newer and smaller. If you want a large community all competing on the same deals, Funbridge has the bigger pool today. BridgeDummy's training scores do not depend on other players: the grading is double-dummy, not field-based.

Where Funbridge is better

  • Full-deal play. Funbridge lets you bid, play, and defend a complete hand from start to finish. BridgeDummy's puzzles isolate decisions; its only full-deal play is casual, unrated live play in Bridge for Fun.
  • Field comparison. You see your percentile against the other players on the same deal. BridgeDummy scores against double-dummy analysis, not a human field.
  • Larger community. Funbridge has been running for years with a much bigger user base. More players means more meaningful field comparisons.
  • Mature mobile apps. Funbridge has shipped native apps for years.
  • Post-hand commentary. Premium+ includes commented deals with explanations of the bidding and play, which can help intermediate players learn.

Where BridgeDummy is better

  • Focused decision training. Every puzzle isolates one decision and scores all alternatives. You do not need to play a full hand to find out if your lead was right.
  • Dedicated opening lead practice. The lead puzzles score every card in your hand against double-dummy analysis. No other app has an equivalent.
  • Dedicated bidding practice. The bidding puzzles score every call in both matchpoints and IMPs. Funbridge has no standalone bidding trainer.
  • Lower price. BridgeDummy Pro ($7.99/mo) is cheaper than Funbridge Premium ($15.99/mo).
  • Additional free tools. The Analyzer, bridge calculators, and all educational content cost nothing.

Can you use both?

Yes, and I think many players should. Play on Funbridge when you want a full session of bridge and a field to compare against. Train on BridgeDummy when you want to sharpen a specific skill: warm up your leads with lead puzzles before a session, drill bidding puzzles, or work through daily challenges to track your progress.

A free account comes with 40 diamonds a month and each puzzle costs 1 diamond, so you can try the scored feedback and decide for yourself whether it is useful.

Bottom line

Funbridge and BridgeDummy are built for different jobs. Funbridge is a play app: you sit down, play deals against Argine, and see how your score stacks up. BridgeDummy is a training app: you isolate decisions, get objective feedback, and track improvement through puzzles, leagues, and challenges. I built it because I wanted a tool that tells me whether my lead was right, which a field comparison cannot. If that question matters to you, the lead puzzles are a good place to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Funbridge free?

Funbridge has a free tier that gives you 2 deals per day, one commented deal per week, and includes ads. Unlimited play requires a Premium subscription starting at $15.99/mo as of August 2026.

Does BridgeDummy have a bidding trainer?

Yes. BridgeDummy's bidding puzzles give you a hand and an auction, then score your bid against every alternative using double-dummy analysis over 1,000+ simulated deals in both matchpoint and IMP formats. Each puzzle is graded 1 to 5 stars with an ELO rating per puzzle type. A free account gets 40 diamonds a month and each puzzle costs 1 diamond.

Can I play full bridge deals on BridgeDummy?

Yes, in Bridge for Fun: real-time 4-player bridge on the clock, including tables you set up with friends. Those games are unrated. The rest of BridgeDummy is a training tool that focuses on isolated decisions like bidding and opening leads. Suit combination puzzles train declarer technique, and the Analyzer lets you explore deals card by card.

Is BridgeDummy cheaper than Funbridge?

BridgeDummy Pro costs $7.99/mo; Funbridge Premium cost $15.99/mo as of August 2026. BridgeDummy also includes free tools: the Analyzer and seven calculators cost nothing.

Does Funbridge have an opening lead trainer?

No. Funbridge has no dedicated opening lead practice mode. You lead as part of normal deal play, but there is no way to isolate lead decisions or compare every card in your hand. BridgeDummy's lead puzzles fill this gap, scoring every card with double-dummy analysis. Each puzzle costs 1 diamond and a free account gets 40 a month.

Do I need an account to use BridgeDummy?

Yes, for the scored puzzles, daily challenges, leagues, and progress tracking. A free account comes with 40 diamonds a month, and each puzzle costs 1 diamond. The Analyzer and calculators are free to use.

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Last updated 2026-10-17