BridgeDummy vs Cuebids: Partnership Bidding Practice Compared

If you are comparing BridgeDummy vs Cuebids, you are probably trying to decide the best way to sharpen your bidding. Cuebids is the most popular app for practicing bidding with your regular partner: you bid real deals asynchronously, get instant double-dummy feedback, and track your partnership leaks over time. It does that job well, and it offers more system options than any competitor I know of.

I built BridgeDummy as a broader training platform. It covers partnership bidding, but also solo bidding puzzles, opening lead drills, declarer play, suit combinations, and simulations, all scored by double-dummy analysis. I built BridgeDummy, so read this knowing that. I have kept every fact checkable. All prices and features are as of August 2026. Prices change; check the vendor's pricing page.

Cuebids is built around one core loop: you and your partner bid a deal, the app runs a double-dummy simulation, and you both get a 0-3 star score. The focus is entirely on the auction. There is no card play, no lead selection, no declarer training. That narrow focus is a real strength for partnerships who want to align their system without distractions.

I designed BridgeDummy around a different idea: score every alternative, including the ones you did not choose. When you solve a bidding puzzle, every possible bid is evaluated across 1,000+ simulated deals that match the auction. Beyond seeing that 3NT scored better than 4♥, you see the average tricks and matchpoint percentage for every option side by side, so close decisions, the ones that move your results, become visible.

Bidding Challenges let you bid 8-board tables with your partner against EPBot opponents, then see what contracts other pairs reached. The scored bidding puzzles put a number on the solo bidding decision, in both MP and IMP. For opening leads, the lead puzzles score every card against double-dummy analysis. No other app offers dedicated opening lead training.

This is where Cuebids has the most depth. It offers over 15 bidding systems (2/1, SAYC, Acol, Precision, Polish Club, Blue Team Club, Swedish standard, French standard, and more) plus full custom convention cards. Deal-type filters let you focus on slam bidding, competitive auctions, weak two openers, or other specific situations. The Leak Finder tool analyzes your results by category and highlights where your partnership loses the most points. Cuebids also runs daily and weekly events where every player bids the same deals, so you can compare against the field.

BridgeDummy's partnership bidding works differently. In Bidding Challenges, you and your partner bid 8-board tables with EPBot bots sitting East-West. After both partners finish a board, you see the full contract evaluation, including what contracts other pairs reached. I support five systems (2/1, SAYC, Acol, Precision, Polish Club) but do not yet offer custom convention cards or the same variety of deal-type filters. Cuebids has been building for partnership bidding longer, and it shows in the depth of that feature.

Cuebids does not cover opening leads or declarer play. If your only goal is bidding practice with your partner, that is fine.

I see opening leads as one of the most undertrained skills in bridge. Most players never get objective feedback on a lead decision. The lead puzzles fill that gap: each puzzle gives you a hand and an auction, you pick the opening lead, and every card in your hand is scored double-dummy across layouts that match the auction. They run in the browser and are graded 1 to 5 stars with ELO tracking in both matchpoint and IMP formats.

The Declarer Trainer lets you play declarer against adaptive defense with client-side DDS, free and unlimited. Suit Combinations focus on single-suit technique against best defense, and the custom solver handles any combination you enter.

Cuebids' free tier is generous for partnership bidding: unlimited partner boards, 48 tickets per month, one deal type, daily and weekly events. Tickets are spent on extras such as robot partners. The Diamond plan ($5.99/mo or $59.99/yr) adds more deal types and tickets. The Heart plan ($18.90/mo or $189/yr) covers both partners with one subscription and gives unlimited tickets.

BridgeDummy's free tier gives you 50 diamonds per month plus a 75-diamond welcome bonus. Plan diamonds reset each month; bonus and purchased diamonds do not expire. The Declarer Trainer, the Analyzer, and the calculators are free with no limits. Diamonds are spent on scored puzzles (1 each), daily challenges (10), simulations (15), and other modes. Paid plans: Basic $4.99/mo, Pro $9.99/mo (1,000 diamonds), Premium $13.99/mo (10,000 diamonds). Annual billing saves 33%. A full year of Pro costs about the same as one private bridge lesson.

For a partnership, a Cuebids Heart subscription at $189/yr covers both players. On BridgeDummy, two free accounts can use Bidding Challenges (the creator pays 8 diamonds per 8-board table, the partner plays free; free-practice tables cost nothing). If both want full access to puzzles and leagues, two Pro annual plans total $159.98/yr.

Cuebids runs on web, iOS, and Android. BridgeDummy runs on the web (installable as a PWA) and on Android; the iOS app is not out yet. Cuebids has been on all three platforms for longer.

• More bidding systems and custom cards. Over 15 systems plus full custom convention cards. BridgeDummy supports five.
• Deal-type filters. Focus on slam bidding, competitive auctions, or other specific situations. BridgeDummy's Bidding Challenges use random deals without category filters.
• Leak Finder. A built-in tool that analyzes your partnership results by category and highlights weak areas. BridgeDummy tracks personal ELO and category stats but does not yet offer a partnership-level diagnostic.
• Longer mobile track record. Available on web, iOS, and Android for years.
• Deeper partnership community. Daily and weekly events, professional comparisons, and 14,000+ users focused specifically on partnership bidding.

• Every alternative scored. Each puzzle evaluates every possible bid or lead across 1,000+ simulated deals in both MP and IMP. Cuebids grades the auction on a 0 to 3 star scale from double-dummy results.
• Opening lead training. The lead puzzles are the only dedicated interactive lead training I have found online. Cuebids does not cover leads.
• Declarer play and suit combinations. The Declarer Trainer and Suit Combinations cover card-play skills that Cuebids does not address.
• Free tools. The Declarer Trainer, the Analyzer, and the calculators cost nothing and have no daily limits.
• Solo competitive structure. Daily Challenges, Weekly Leagues with promotion and relegation, Puzzle Rush, ELO, mistake review, and global leaderboards.

Yes, and I think many players should. The two apps cover different ground with almost no overlap. Use Cuebids for focused async bidding sessions with your partner, especially if you play a less common system or want the Leak Finder analysis. Use BridgeDummy for daily solo practice: a few lead puzzles in the morning, some bidding puzzles on the train, or suit combinations before bed.

Both offer meaningful free tiers, so you can try each without paying. Start with the free version of both and see which practice format sticks.

Cuebids is the specialist for partnership bidding, and if that is your only training goal, it is an excellent choice. BridgeDummy is the better overall improvement tool because it scores every alternative across 1,000+ deals and covers leads and declarer play alongside bidding. For most serious players who want to get better at the whole game, BridgeDummy is where I would start.