Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and Free Fire are the two mobile battle royale games most Indian players argue about. They are built for different kinds of player, though, and in India there is a practical twist: the original Free Fire has been blocked since February 2022, so the version people actually play here is Free Fire MAX.
Here is how the two compare on what is available in India, match format, graphics and the devices they need.
BGMI vs Free Fire at a glance
| BGMI | Free Fire MAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Krafton | 111 Dots Studio, published by Garena |
| Players per battle royale match | Up to 100 | Up to 50 |
| Typical match length | Long, on large maps | About 10 minutes |
| Graphics | Realistic | Stylised and colourful |
| Status in India | Available (blocked July 2022 to May 2023) | Available; the original Free Fire is blocked |
Can you play them in India?
BGMI is Krafton’s India-only version of PUBG Mobile, launched in July 2021 after PUBG Mobile itself was blocked in September 2020. BGMI was blocked in turn in July 2022 and returned in May 2023, and it has been available on the Play Store and App Store since.
Free Fire was one of the apps the government blocked in February 2022. Free Fire MAX, the higher-graphics version Garena released in September 2021, was not on that list, and it is the version Indian players use today. Garena announced a separate Free Fire India app for 5 September 2023 but postponed it days before launch, and it has not been released since.
Gameplay: big and slow or small and fast
This is the real difference between the two. A BGMI match drops up to 100 players on large maps, so games run long, rotations matter and squads have time to plan. You can also switch between third-person and first-person modes. Free Fire caps a match at 50 players on smaller maps, and a game is usually over in about ten minutes. You land, loot and fight almost at once.
Free Fire also gives each character a special ability, which adds a layer of team-building that BGMI does not have. BGMI is closer to a tactical shooter: recoil control, positioning and using cover decide most fights.
Graphics and the phone you need
BGMI goes for realistic graphics and asks more of your phone, especially if you want high frame rates. Free Fire MAX has a brighter, cartoon-style look and is much lighter on hardware, so it runs smoothly on a wider range of budget phones. If your phone struggles with BGMI, Krafton has announced BGMI Lite, a smaller version that had not been released by early October 2026.
So which is better?
Neither, objectively: they suit different players. Pick BGMI if you want longer, tactical matches, realistic graphics and a busy Indian esports circuit, and your phone can handle it. Pick Free Fire MAX if you want quick ten-minute games, character abilities and a game that runs well on a budget phone. You can also play Free Fire MAX on a computer: our guide to Free Fire MAX on PC covers the official route.
Photo credit: Alamy