# Chess Tempo: Chess tactics — Chess tactics and play online

> Chess tactics training, online play, opening, and endgame practice. (iPhone/iPad app by Chess Tempo.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tempo-chess-tactics/id1441878094 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Chess Tempo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441878093)
- Category: Education, Games, Board, Puzzle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.00/5 from 112 App Store ratings · 74 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 30 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2019-05-04
- Data updated: 2026-08-28
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tempo-chess-tactics/id1441878094/reviews.md

## What is Chess Tempo?

The Chess Tempo app provides a mobile and tablet friendly interface for Chesstempo features.

Supported features:

- CHESS TACTICS TRAINING
  - Improve your tactics by solving tactical problems, with over 100,000 puzzles available.
  - Both winning and defensive problem types.
  - For premium members, solve against sophisticated custom sets that target your weaknesses, for example:
    - Sets that target a particular tactical motif such as pin, fork, discovered attack etc.
    - Sets that target your previous mistakes, repeating problems until correct.
    - Spaced repetition sets.
    - Note, custom sets can be used on the app, but need to be created on the Chesstempo website.

- PLAY ONLINE
  - Play chess against other Chesstempo users.
  - Supports both live and correspondence games
  - Get a full post game analysis after every rated game played. Analysis is spread out over our cluster of hundreds of instances of stockfish, allowing high quality results to be returned in a few seconds.
  - For premium members, have tactics problems extracted from your games,  available for solving in the tactics training UI, and selected via the advanced custom sets feature.

- OPENING TRAINING
  - Create multiple black and white repertoires.
  - Import repertoires from PGN or by entering the moves on the board.
  - Train your repertoires using spaced repetition.
  - Limit training to a branch of a repertoire, a single repertoire, or all repertoires of a colour.
  - Option to restrict training to a limited depth.
  - Ability to train against the moves that are proving the most resistant to spaced repetition learning.
  - Comment on each position or move, and read the comments others have chosen to make public.
  - Add engine evaluations or annotations such as +=, ?! etc to each move in the repertoire.
  - Export repertoire and your comments and annotations to PGN.
  - Graphs showing learning status and progress over time.
  - Use the opening explorer to choose moves for your repertoire (limited to a depth of 10 moves for free members).
  - For premium members, the ability to use the cloud engine to ask for analysis on any position.

- ENDGAME TRAINING
 - Practice endgames from 3, 4, 5 , 6 and 7 piece endgame positions extracted from real games.
 - Over 14000 different positions.
 - 2 positions per day for free members.
 - For premium members:
   - More positions available per day.
   - Custom sets that can target a particular endgame type, endgames you keep getting wrong, or utilise spaced
      repetition for training. Note: Some custom sets types need to be created on the Chesstempo website before      
      being used on the app.

- GUESS THE MOVE
  - Learn by playing through master games and get scored on how well you match the master's moves.
- ANALYSIS BOARD
  - Analyse positions using our cloud engines (requires premium membership). Cloud engines allow you to run high quality analysis without using up your own device's battery. Diamond members can request up to 8 analysis threads, analysing many times more positions per second than an engine running on your device could provide.
  - Setup positions from FEN or by arranging the pieces on the board with the board editor.
  - Analyse tactics problems after completion to better understand the solution.

- PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTIONS

 - Monthly auto-renew subscriptions are provided via in app purchases for Silver, Gold and Diamond memberships, providing access to more powerful training features. Details of features provided are shown within the app.
- Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. The subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your App Store account settings after purchase.

Terms of Service: chesstempo.com/tos.html

## Key features

- Tactics training with 100,000+ puzzles
- Online chess play (live & correspondence)
- Opening repertoire training
- Endgame practice
- Guess the move master games
- Post-game analysis

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Diamond membership - 1 month | $8.99 | per month |
| Gold membership - 1 month | $3.99 | per month |
| Silver membership - 1 month | $2.99 | per month |


## What do users think of Chess Tempo?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 👍 Excellent tactics training
- 👍 Great for serious chess improvement
- 👍 Wide variety of tactics
- 👍 Useful comments on puzzles
- 👍 Good value for money (for subscribers)
- 👍 Free version offers good functionality
- 👍 Opening training is effective
- 👍 Spaced repetition for openings is praised
- 👍 Endgame practice is helpful
- 👍 Developer is responsive
- 👍 Clean and well-defined menus (recent)
- 👍 Strict and non-distracting design
- 👍 Thoughtful and creative content
- 👍 Works well for beginners
- 👍 Great for memorizing opening lines
- 👍 Puzzles are high quality
- 👍 Unlimited free tactics available
- 👍 App works seamlessly for some users
- 👍 Great service for years
- 👍 Good start for a training app
- 👍 Addicted to rating improvement
- 👍 Highly recommended for tactics
- 👍 Flawless problem solving (for some)
- 👍 Innovative developer

**Cons**

- 👎 Expensive subscription ($20/month)
- 👎 No free limited play option
- 👎 Bait and switch pricing
- 👎 UI is confusing and abysmal
- 👎 Difficult to navigate
- 👎 Not user-friendly
- 👎 Clunky, congested, unpolished interface
- 👎 Feels like a website, not native app
- 👎 Small board/pieces on iPhone, too big on iPad
- 👎 Does not accept alternate right moves
- 👎 No abort option for games
- 👎 No takeback option for misclicks
- 👎 Engine usage not included with book purchases
- 👎 Puzzles can be too difficult/computer-like
- 👎 Difficulty levels are inconsistent
- 👎 Data loss reported
- 👎 Registration issues
- 👎 No clear explanation of icons/functions
- 👎 Interface not intuitive for beginners
- 👎 Problems with endgame training
- 👎 No way to close account
- 👎 Tactics difficulty is confusing
- 👎 Engine takes too long to make moves
- 👎 App quits when opening tactics page
- 👎 Puzzles sometimes have multiple correct answers
- 👎 Misclicks are hard to correct
- 👎 UI could be more bullet-friendly
- 👎 Tapping opponent's pieces is problematic
- 👎 Buttons are too close together (skip/retry)
- 👎 Tactics page crashes
- 👎 Engine move takes too long
- 👎 Misclicks are not correctable
- 👎 No way to skip to next move in repertoire training
- 👎 UI is a mess
- 👎 No clear instructions
- 👎 Difficulty levels are the same after a while
- 👎 Loading times are very long
- 👎 Tactics are too computer-like
- 👎 Puzzles are overrated/underrated
- 👎 UI is horrible and alien-like
- 👎 Puzzles are too difficult for average person
- 👎 Rating of puzzles is questionable
- 👎 Punished for solving correctly but too slowly
- 👎 UI is awkward and slow
- 👎 Not as user-friendly as others
- 👎 Game aborted/resigned frequently
- 👎 Missing endgame feature in app
- 👎 Doesn't show number of problems done
- 👎 Board and pieces too small/large
- 👎 Does not accept alternate right moves

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Cannot connect to server
- Connection issues when opening the app
- Bug makes engine take ~5 seconds to make its move
- App quits whenever tactics page is opened
- Data loss
- Engine takes too long to make moves
- Tactics page crashes
- Bug in solving history (last 50 tactics not showing)
- Endgame training seems buggy, cannot make moves
- Registration process has issues (username/email taken)
- Loading times are very long
- Misclicks are not correctable
- Difficulty levels are inconsistent after a while
- App is not a native app, feels like a website
- Board and pieces are too small/large on different devices
- Does not accept alternate right moves
- Game aborted/resigned frequently
- Missing endgame feature in app
- Doesn't show number of problems done
- UI is awkward and slow
- Misclicks are hard to correct
- Tapping opponent's pieces is problematic
- Buttons are too close together (skip/retry)
- Tactics page crashes
- Engine move takes too long
- Misclicks are not correctable
- No clear instructions
- Difficulty levels are the same after a while
- Loading times are very long
- Tactics are too computer-like
- Puzzles are overrated/underrated
- UI is horrible and alien-like
- Puzzles are too difficult for average person
- Rating of puzzles is questionable
- Punished for solving correctly but too slowly
- UI is awkward and slow
- Not as user-friendly as others
- Game aborted/resigned frequently
- Missing endgame feature in app
- Doesn't show number of problems done
- Board and pieces too small/large
- Does not accept alternate right moves

**Most requested features**

- Move buttons to improve usability
- Add a takeback option to correct misclicks
- Improve UI for better bullet play
- Make UI more intuitive and user-friendly
- Provide explanations for icons and functions
- Add a dark mode
- Improve board and piece sizing for different devices
- Allow alternate right moves
- Add an abort option for games
- Fix bug in tactic history
- Allow viewing and creating comments for problems
- Improve endgame training functionality
- Show number of problems done
- Make registration process smoother
- Allow users to select a comfortable difficulty range
- Improve the spaced repetition intervals
- Add a feature to customize intervals
- Make the app feel more like a native app
- Improve the UX significantly

## Recent user reviews (10 of 74)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tempo-chess-tactics/id1441878094/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Exciting and thoughtful chess tactical training

*2026-07-31, version 4.4.1*

I tried the free trial for a few days, but after an hour or two, I realised that I really did want to subscribe. Very reasonably priced, but what got me was the very thoughtful design in the training. I started doing the tactical training, and there is a fantastic feature which explains the basis of each of the tactics in detail. Understanding the basis behind each of the tactics has resulted in a rapid improvement in my ability to spot the ideas and implement them. Because of this, I feel like I am developing a purposeful and authentic insight into tactics. I still use a lot of other apps for training, but this app is rapidly becoming my favourite. I can see how the designers have really thought about the best way to learn tactics, and they are right. Chess Tempo is a pure pleasure to use and you won’t be disappointed if you subscribe. Highly recommended!

### 1/5 — $20 bucks a month??

*2026-07-14, version 4.4.1*

I was a huge chess tempo website fan for years. Loved that the tactics had tags on which tactics were involved and discussion. Loved even that horribly slow endgame practice. It was such a Web 1.0 aesthetic hiding a pearl of a site. But it wasn’t mobile friendly (again Web 1.0) so I moved away from it over the years. I just heard that they had an app and was so excited… until I get through the opening questions and tells me it is a 5 day trial and then $20 bucks a month. Actually a bit more because it’s $5 per week and there are 13 periods of 4 weeks each year. No way to skip that and get a limited option free play or anything. What a shame bait and switch. Also Apple should note that these numbers do not match the disclosed in app purchases in the app description.

### 5/5 — Great for training!

*2026-07-05, version 4.4.1*

Premium is worthwhile for making personalised training sets. Great all and service.

### 1/5 — Cannot connect to server

*2026-05-06, version 4.4.1*

The last few days I’m getting this error all the time.

### 3/5 — Connection issues

*2026-05-01, version 4.4.1*

Was working great until this week. Now I always get connection issues when opening the app.

### 2/5 — Not bad, Could Be Better

*2026-02-20, version 4.4.1*

FIRST OF ALL why WHY WHY can I click my opponent's pieces I DON'T NEED TO DRAW ARROWS it sucks when you're clicking your opponent's pieces before you click your own and then you can't move BECAUSE YOU CLICKED ON YOUR OPPONENT'S PIECES
second of all fine app but ui could be better it would be better if it was more bullet friendly
otherwise this app is great but tbh I'd prefer Lichess/Chess.com because this needs improvement

### 3/5 — Selecting tactics problems difficulty is confusing

*2026-01-23, version 4.4.1*

Why selecting Hard offers me 1200-1300 problems?

### 5/5 — Best app for puzzle training.

*2026-01-01, version 4.4.1*

My rating went from 1000 to 1400 within 5 months of doing chess tempo puzzles regularly.

### 1/5 — Dünyanın en kötü uygulaması

*2025-11-29, version 4.4.1*

Saçmasapan puanlar, saçmasapan sorularla

### 4/5 — Almost perfect

*2025-09-26, version 4.4.1*

Tactics are important, this a great to learn them. One minor quibble is that it is easy to tap skip when you wanted retry. Move the buttons so they all have their own spot, the 5 stars

## Frequently asked questions about Chess Tempo

### What does the Chess Tempo app do?

The Chess Tempo app offers a comprehensive platform for chess improvement. It includes extensive tactical training with over 100,000 puzzles, the ability to play chess online against other users, dedicated modules for opening and endgame practice, and a 'Guess the Move' feature to learn from master games.

### What are the key features of the Chess Tempo app?

Key features include a vast collection of chess tactics puzzles, online play with live and correspondence games, opening repertoire training with import options, endgame practice from real games, and a 'Guess the Move' mode. Premium members gain access to custom tactical sets, advanced analysis, and more practice positions.

### Is Chess Tempo free to use?

The app offers a freemium model. Many features, such as solving a limited number of endgame positions per day and accessing the opening explorer up to a depth of 10 moves, are available for free. Premium membership unlocks additional features like custom tactical sets, advanced analysis, and unlimited access to endgame positions.

### What kind of chess training is available?

The app provides diverse training options. You can improve your tactics by solving numerous puzzles, practice openings by creating and training repertoires, hone your endgame skills with specific positions, and learn from master games by guessing the moves. Premium features allow for highly personalized training sets targeting weaknesses.

### Can I play chess against other people on this app?

Yes, the app allows you to play chess online against other Chesstempo users. It supports both live and correspondence games. After each rated game, you receive a full post-game analysis powered by sophisticated engines, providing high-quality results quickly.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.4.1 — 2025-03-10

- Added support for multiple choice prompts in problems from books which support this feature.
- Fixed some issues in the engine evaluation based colouring option for the opening trainer opening tree.

### 4.3.1 — 2024-08-08

- Several improvements and small bug fixes.

### 4.2.3 — 2024-01-10

- Minor UI updates.
- Fix for in-app membership payments.

### 4.2.2 — 2023-05-15

Fix for in-app membership purchase bug.

### 4.2.1 — 2023-04-27

- Added latest opening trainer features already made available on web version, including:
  - Syncing your repertoire moves with opening explorer stats and pre-cached engine evaluations.
  - Opening sunburst repertoire visualisation (inspired by work from Buğra Fırat).
  - Request engine analysis for an entire repertoire (Diamond members only).
  - New learning priority mode that prioritises most commonly played lines first (using opening explorer data).
  - Bulk disabling of repertoire moves based on opening explorer frequency data.
  - Move list table providing flat list of all moves, and sorting by metrics such as engine evals, explorer stats, or spaced repetition performance.
  - Options for colouring of opening tree moves based on engine evals, explorer stats or learning metrics.

- Fixed bug where opening trainer repertoire import from PGN could not select PGN files.

- Other minor bug fixes.

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## Related topics

[chess tactics](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/chess-tactics) · [forward chess](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/forward-chess)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*