MobilityWare Blackjack is a free single-player blackjack app from the makers of Solitaire, rated 4.6 stars by 42,000+ App Store users. It stands out for real-time strategy advice and Hi-Lo and KO card-counting practice on iOS. It uses virtual chips only: there's no real money involved and chips can't be cashed out.
- Free blackjack with real-time strategy advice
- No real money: chips can't be cashed out
- 4.6 stars from 42,000+ App Store ratings
- Card-counting practice (Hi-Lo and KO) on iPhone and iPad
MobilityWare is best known for its Solitaire app, but the same studio also makes a long-running blackjack game on the App Store. Simply called Blackjack, it’s a single-player game against the dealer with one clear aim: teaching you to play better. It’s free, it uses virtual chips only, and there’s no real money to win or cash out.
What sets it apart from other free blackjack apps is the coaching. You can switch on strategy advice that tells you the right move in real time, and the iPhone version even lets you practise two popular card-counting systems.
What MobilityWare Blackjack actually is
At heart it’s classic casino blackjack. Just like at a real table, you can split, double down, take insurance and, if you switch it on, surrender. You choose how many decks are in play, from one to eight, which changes the odds and the difficulty of counting cards.
Progress comes through the tables. You start at Beginner’s Luck and work your way up through themed tables to The Penthouse, where the minimum bets are much higher. A leaderboard lets you compare your results with players around the world, even though every hand is played on your own.
MobilityWare states that the game is meant for adults, offers no real-money gambling and no chance to win real money or prizes, and that success in social casino games doesn’t imply success at real-money gambling. The App Store rates it 17+.
How to play MobilityWare Blackjack on your phone
The main version is built for iPhone and iPad (iOS 13 or later) and has by far the most players and ratings. On Android, MobilityWare offers a separate app called Blackjack Card Game, which has far fewer downloads and ratings. Apple Arcade subscribers can also play Blackjack by MobilityWare+, a version without ads or in-app purchases.
- Install Blackjack by MobilityWare from the App Store
- Turn on strategy advice in the settings if you’re learning
- Pick a table that suits your chip stack
- Come back every few hours to collect bonus chips
Strategy advice and card counting
The strategy advice is the reason to choose this app. With it switched on, the game suggests the best move for every hand, based on basic strategy. Over time you start to recognise the right decisions yourself: when to double on 11, when to split eights, when to stand on a stiff hand against a weak dealer card.
On iPhone and iPad, the app also supports the Hi-Lo and KO card-counting systems, aimed at beginners who want to understand how counting works. It’s a practice tool, not a winning formula: card counting is legal, but casinos can ask counters to leave, and it doesn’t help in online games where the cards are reshuffled after every hand. Still, as a way to learn the principles, it’s one of the few free apps that offers it.
Table options and settings
- Split, double down, insurance and optional surrender
- One to eight decks
- Strategy advice that can be switched on or off
- Hi-Lo and KO card-counting practice (iOS)
- Themed tables from Beginner’s Luck to The Penthouse
- Leaderboards and win streaks
- Bonus chips every few hours
The chip economy, ads and in-app purchases
The free version is supported by ads and offers chip packages for real money, starting at a couple of dollars. Chips have no cash value and can’t be withdrawn. Bonus chips every few hours mean you rarely need to pay, as long as you don’t spend all your chips at the high-stakes tables. If ads bother you, the Apple Arcade version is a cleaner alternative, and you can switch off in-app purchases in your phone’s settings.
Mobile experience
The game is played in portrait mode with colourful themed tables, from a Las Vegas look to a fair-play blue table. The iOS download is a modest 160 MB or so. Store ratings show a clear split between platforms: the iOS app holds 4.6 stars from more than 42,000 ratings, while the Android app has 3.8 stars from a few hundred reviews.
Fans praise it as one of the best apps for learning and practising blackjack. The most common complaint, as with almost every blackjack game, is that the dealer seems to get lucky too often.
Who MobilityWare Blackjack is for
This is the app for players who want to get better, not just pass the time. Beginners can learn basic strategy with the advice switched on, and more experienced players can turn it off and test themselves, or practise counting on a single-deck table. If you’re planning a trip to a real casino, a few evenings with this app will make the decisions at the table feel familiar. If you just want quick hands with as little on screen as possible, other apps will feel lighter.
MobilityWare Blackjack compared with other blackjack apps
Tripledot Blackjack is the more popular single-player game, with a cleaner look and offline play, but it doesn’t coach you. Blackjackist is the choice for multiplayer tables, tournaments and side bets. MobilityWare wins on learning: no other free app on this list helps you improve your play as directly.
Prefer real-money blackjack?
MobilityWare Blackjack is built for fun, so there are no winnings to withdraw. If you want to play blackjack for real money, the casinos below offer several blackjack variants and live dealer tables. They run in your phone’s browser rather than as a downloadable app, so there’s nothing to install. Check that real-money play is available where you live before you sign up, and set a budget before you start.
Top 3 real-money casino apps for blackjack
Bovada Casino App
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More blackjack and casino apps
Our blackjack apps guide explains the difference between free and real-money blackjack and what to look for in an app. For a quick game without the coaching, read our Tripledot Blackjack review. Prefer other table games? See our roulette apps overview, or read about sweepstakes casino apps, where you can play for free and redeem prizes.
Pros and cons
- Real-time strategy advice you can switch on or off
- Hi-Lo and KO card-counting practice on iOS
- Full rules: split, double, insurance and surrender
- One to eight decks
- Ad-free Apple Arcade version available
- No real-money winnings or cashouts, ever
- Android version is a separate, far less popular app
- Ads and chip offers in the free version
- No multiplayer tables or tournaments
Features
MobilityWare Blackjack app FAQ
Can I win real money with MobilityWare Blackjack?
No. It's a social game for fun only. Chips have no cash value and can't be withdrawn or exchanged for prizes.
Does MobilityWare Blackjack teach basic strategy?
Yes. You can switch on strategy advice, which suggests the best move for every hand in real time.
Can I practise card counting in the app?
On iPhone and iPad, the app supports the Hi-Lo and KO card-counting systems, aimed at beginners.
Is MobilityWare Blackjack available on Android?
Yes, as a separate app called Blackjack Card Game on Google Play. It has far fewer downloads and ratings than the iOS version.
Is there a version without ads?
Apple Arcade subscribers can play Blackjack by MobilityWare+, which has no ads or in-app purchases.