Play Mahjong Online
Want to practice between games or play when you can't get four people together? These platforms let you play American mahjong online against real people or bots.
This page covers real mahjong — the classic 4-player tile game played with NMJL rules, not the single-player tile-matching puzzle. Every platform below lets you play actual American mahjong against people or bots.
Quick Comparison
Free Play
Spring Mah Jongg
no subscription needed
Tournaments
Mahjong Time
20+ years, competitive
Learn + Play
I Love Mahj
tutorials + games
Play With Friends
Mahjong 4 Friends
free, 4.9 stars
Official NMJL
NMJL Official Game
from the league
Offline Practice
Eight Bam
$17.99 one-time
Where Can You Play American Mahjong Online?
Seven platforms support real American mahjong with NMJL rules. Two are free, most offer free trials, and all update to the current card each spring.
Spring Mah Jongg
Dedicated to American Mah Jongg
Free to play (optional subscription)
Browser
The newest platform from the Mahjong Time team, built specifically for American Mah Jongg players. Spring Mah Jongg offers free play with chips — no subscription required to get started. Play against real people or practice anytime.
Free Play
3,000 chips to start, daily refills
American Focus
Built for NMJL rules
From Mahjong Time
20+ years expertise
No Commitment
Play free, subscribe for perks
What You Get:
- Free to play — start with 3,000 chips
- Daily chip refills if balance drops below 1,000
- Dedicated American Mah Jongg platform
- Play against real people online
Best for: American mahjong players who want free play, casual players, anyone wanting to try before subscribing
Not ideal for: Players wanting other mahjong styles (American only)
Mahjong Time
The tournament player's choice
$4.95/month or $49.95/year
Browser • iOS • Android
The veteran of online mahjong — established in 2004 with 20+ years of continuous operation. Mahjong Time is the only platform offering regular online tournaments, making it the go-to for competitive players.
Tournaments
Daily & weekly competitive events
5+ Game Styles
American, Riichi, Hong Kong, Chinese, more
20+ Years
Most established platform
Mobile + Web
Play anywhere, any device
What You Get:
- Only platform with regular online tournaments
- Multiple mahjong styles (American NMJL, Riichi, Hong Kong, Chinese, Taiwanese)
- Private game rooms for playing with friends
- Active global player community
Best for: Tournament players, experienced players who want variety, anyone who plays multiple mahjong styles
Not ideal for: Complete beginners (limited tutorials)
I Love Mahj
Best for beginners and social players
$6/month or $60/year (2-week free trial)
Browser
A welcoming platform built specifically for American mahjong players. I Love Mahj combines gameplay with comprehensive learning tools — tutorials, drills, and even a coaching directory to find instructors.
Learn & Play
Tutorials, drills, and games
Free Trial
2-4 weeks to try it out
Coaching Directory
Find teachers on the platform
No Download
Play in your browser
What You Get:
- Play against real people or practice against bots
- Comprehensive tutorials and skill-building drills
- Built-in coaching directory to find instructors
- Current NMJL card updated each spring
Best for: Beginners learning the game, social players, anyone who wants lessons + games in one place
Not ideal for: Players who want tournament competition or multiple mahjong styles
Eight Bam
Solo practice, anywhere
$17.99 one-time or $3.99/month
iOS • Android
A focused mobile app for practicing American mahjong on your own. Eight Bam is perfect for drilling the NMJL card, practicing Charleston, and sharpening your skills between live games — even without internet.
Offline Play
Practice anywhere, no wifi needed
One-Time Purchase
$14.99 and it's yours
Charleston Drills
Master the pass
Hand Validation
Learn what's valid
What You Get:
- Current NMJL card hands with yearly updates
- Charleston practice mode
- Hand validation with explanations
- Play against AI bots offline
Best for: Solo practice between games, learning the NMJL card, practicing on-the-go
Not ideal for: Playing against real people (bots only)
Mahjong 4 Friends
Free American mahjong with your group
Free (optional premium $0.99–$9.99)
Browser • iOS • Android
Screenshot coming soon
A well-rated free platform supporting American, Chinese, Hong Kong, and British mahjong. Mahjong 4 Friends makes it easy to invite friends to a private game or practice solo against bots with adjustable difficulty.
Free to Play
Ads supported, premium optional
4 Styles
American, Chinese, HK, British
Private Rooms
Invite friends to play
Great Reviews
4.9 stars, 14K+ ratings
What You Get:
- Free to play with optional premium upgrades
- American mahjong with NMJL card support (updated yearly)
- Private rooms — invite friends to your game
- Adjustable bot difficulty levels
Best for: Playing with friends for free, casual players who want multiple mahjong styles
Not ideal for: Tournament players or those wanting extensive tutorials
Real Mah Jongg
Dedicated American mahjong with the current card
$5.99/month or $59.99/year
Browser • iOS • Android
Screenshot coming soon
An American mahjong-only platform where you can play against real people, bots, or a mix of both at the same table. Real Mah Jongg uses the current year's NMJL card and offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
14-Day Trial
Free, no credit card needed
American Only
Built for NMJL rules
Mix Players + Bots
Fill empty seats with bots
Cross-Platform
Browser, iOS, Android
What You Get:
- Exclusively American mahjong with current NMJL card
- Play against real people, bots, or both at the same table
- 14-day free trial, no credit card required
- Available on browser, iOS, and Android
Best for: American mahjong players who want a dedicated NMJL platform with a free trial
Not ideal for: Players wanting other mahjong styles or free long-term play
NMJL Official Game
The league's own online game
$4.99/month or $49.99/year
Browser (no phones)
Screenshot coming soon
The official online game from the National Mah Jongg League itself. Play against bots, join public tables, or start private games with friends. Requires an active NMJL membership to subscribe. Works on laptops, PCs, and tablets — but not phones.
Official NMJL
From the league itself
Tutorials
Learn basics in-game
Private Games
Play with your friends
Membership Req'd
NMJL membership needed
What You Get:
- Official game from the National Mah Jongg League
- Play against bots, public tables, or private games with friends
- Built-in tutorials and practice areas
- Customizable tiles, avatars, and pace settings
Best for: NMJL members who want the official experience, players who value league-sanctioned rules
Not ideal for: Phone users, non-NMJL members, players who want free play
Free vs. Paid Online Mahjong Platforms
Two platforms are completely free. The rest offer free trials or one-time purchases. Here's how they compare on price and features.
| Platform | Price | vs People | Free Play | Mobile App | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Mah Jongg | Free | Yes | Unlimited | Browser | Free play, casual |
| Mahjong 4 Friends | Free | Yes | Unlimited | iOS + Android | Playing with friends |
| Mahjong Time | $4.95/mo or $49.95/yr | Yes | Limited | iOS + Android | Tournaments, 5+ styles |
| I Love Mahj | $6/mo or $60/yr | Yes | 2-week trial | Browser only | Beginners, tutorials |
| Real Mah Jongg | $5.99/mo or $59.99/yr | Yes | 14-day trial | iOS + Android | American-only, NMJL focus |
| NMJL Official Game | $4.99/mo or $49.99/yr | Yes | No | Browser (no phones) | NMJL members |
| Eight Bam | $17.99 or $3.99/mo | No (bots) | No | iOS + Android | Solo practice, offline |
Best Mahjong Apps for iPhone and iPad
Four platforms have native iOS apps you can download from the App Store. The others work in your mobile browser.
Mahjong 4 Friends
Free, 4.9 stars from 14K+ ratings. American, Chinese, Hong Kong, and British mahjong. Great for playing with friends.
Mahjong Time
The only app with online tournaments. 5+ mahjong styles. $4.95/month or $49.95/year.
Real Mah Jongg
American mahjong only. Mix real players and bots at the same table. 14-day free trial.
Eight Bam
Solo practice app. Works offline. $17.99 one-time or $3.99/month. Charleston drills and hand validation.
Spring Mah Jongg and I Love Mahj don't have native apps but work well in Safari on iPhone and iPad. The NMJL Official Game works on tablets but not phones.
Can You Play Mahjong Online With Friends?
Yes — most platforms let you create private game rooms and invite friends by sharing a link or room code. If you don't have four players, some let you fill empty seats with bots.
| Platform | Private Rooms | Fill With Bots |
|---|---|---|
| Mahjong 4 Friends | Yes | Yes |
| Mahjong Time | Yes | No |
| I Love Mahj | Yes | Yes |
| Real Mah Jongg | Yes | Yes |
| NMJL Official Game | Yes | Yes |
| Spring Mah Jongg | Yes | No |
How Online Mahjong Works
Browser-Based
I Love Mahj and Mahjong Time run in your web browser. No download needed - just create an account and play.
Real Players or Bots
Join public games with strangers, create private rooms for friends, or practice against computer opponents.
Current NMJL Card
All platforms update to the new NMJL card each spring. Your valid hands match what you'd play in person.