Popular Online Mahjong Platforms Right Now
Sep 24, 2026 · 6 min read
If you don't always have 3 other people around to play in person, online mahjong platforms are the easiest way to keep practicing and playing against real players from around the world.
| Platform | Ruleset | Distinctive Features |
|---|---|---|
| Tenhou | Riichi | Minimalist, running since the early 2000s, a serious competitive community, free. |
| Mahjong Soul | Riichi | Modern visuals with character skins/costumes, a Bronze-to-Throne ranking system, free with paid options. |
| RiichiCity | Riichi | A newer alternative, focused on a 3D visual experience and an international community. |
| Mahjong Soul (international version) | Riichi | The global version of Mahjong Soul with broader language support. |
| Real Mahjong Trainer and similar apps | Riichi | Focused on efficiency (shanten) training through puzzles rather than live opponents. |
Mahjong Soul's Ranking System
Mahjong Soul uses a tiered ranking system: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Jade, Throne (with sub-levels within each tier). You rank up or down based on points earned from your final placement each session (usually 4 or 8 hands per session/hanchan), similar to ranking systems in other competitive games.
For Practicing Scoring and Rules
If your goal isn't finding an online opponent but making sure you understand and calculate scores correctly (for a physical mahjong session with friends/a club), a score calculator like the one on JongArena helps ensure your fu/han/fan math is right without memorizing every formula -- supporting Riichi, Chinese Official, and Hong Kong all at once.
For Community and Leagues
If you regularly play with the same group/club and want to track match results and see standings over time, a dedicated league platform like JongArena is built for exactly that, separate from online play platforms like Mahjong Soul/Tenhou -- the focus isn't finding new opponents, but managing an existing club's ongoing competition.
Try the JongArena score calculator for your physical mahjong sessions.
Open the Score Calculator →