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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the things people ask most. If you don't find yours here, head to Support.

General​

What is TileBuddy? TileBuddy is a scoring companion for Hong Kong Mahjong. It tracks points, calculates faan, and stores your game history. It is not a mahjong game you play against — you play with real tiles and real friends, and TileBuddy keeps score.

Which variants does it support? Hong Kong style, with Classic, New 6, and New 18 hand sets. Pick the set your table uses.

Does it work offline? Yes. Scoring, tracking, and the wiki all work offline. AI scanning and cloud sync need an internet connection.

Pricing​

Is it free? Yes. The core tracker, the wiki, and manual scoring are free to use. AI scanning has a daily limit of 4 scans per day on the free plan. Premium raises that to 50 scans per month. See Premium and Billing.

The AI Scanner​

How does the AI scanner work? Photograph your tiles. The AI identifies them and suggests the faan. You review the result before it counts, so you're always in control. Learn more in AI Tile Scanner.

Data and Privacy​

Is my data safe? Yes. Your games are stored on your device. If you sign in, they sync to the cloud so you can pick up on another device. Nothing is sold or shared.

Accounts​

Do I need an account? No. The app works locally without one. Signing in adds cloud sync and a profile — that's the only difference.

TileBuddy Club​

What is TileBuddy Club? Club is a host tool for running a game night across multiple tables. It handles check-in, seating, table rotation, live scoring, and a recap at the end.

Do players need the app or an account to join a club event? No. A check-in link is enough. Players open the link, enter a name, and they're in. See Checking In.

Is Club free? A free club can run one event to try it out. Club Pro unlocks unlimited events. See Club Settings.

Can someone help me host? Yes. You can add co-hosts to share the load. See Co-Hosts.

What if a player arrives late or leaves early? No problem. Rolling check-in and the waitlist handle this — latecomers can be seated when a spot opens, and players who leave can be removed.

Still stuck? Visit Support and we'll help you out.