# Chess Tempo: Chess tactics — user reviews > 74 indexed App Store user reviews of Chess Tempo by Chess Tempo, rated 4.00/5 from 112 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tempo-chess-tactics/id1441878094/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tempo-chess-tactics/id1441878094.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 71 · 4★ 11 · 3★ 8 · 2★ 6 · 1★ 16 ## 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 ## Newest reviews (12 of 74) ### 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? ### 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 ### 3/5 — Puzzle with multiple answers *2024-11-15, version 4.3.1* The puzzles are good but it bothers me so much that they sometimes have several correct answers and only one of them is treated correct. ### 2/5 — No engine use for books *2024-02-22, version 4.2.3* Unclear how the repertoire training works. Note that when you buy a book the engine usage does not work. You have to buy a premium membership on top to read the book with an engine. ### 3/5 — App is okay but needs to add a takeback option to correct misclicks *2023-07-19, version 4.2.2* The app is okay and the puzzles are good practice but the app doesn’t have a takeback option to correct misclicks. Not having this means that once a misclick happens, there’s no way to continue the game. It’s no longer chess at that point since your opponent is getting to play two moves in a row and you’re in essence having your turn skipped. When this happens I just let the game time out since the game doesn’t have an abort option either. Lichess has the takeback feature implemented to correct for misclicks. ChessTempo would be a better app if it had it too. Otherwise it’s an app that isn’t about chess, only some chess-like game. ### 3/5 — Missed upgrade *2023-05-10, version 4.2.1* I payed a subscription for a silver member yesterday evening, but my account hasn’t been upgraded yet. Could you solve the problem plese? I will reward you with five stars. ### 5/5 — Best chess puzzles *2022-12-01, version 4.1* No other chess app has puzzles as good as chesstempo. They're always the same type of techniques on lichess and chess.com. Here, there's a lot more variety in the types of tactics and strategies ### 5/5 — Impressed *2022-09-22, version 4.1* Used the app quite a few years ago and deleted it because the website was more polished, which isn’t saying much because both were in dire need of an overhaul. Overhaul achieved! The app looks cleaner and has well defined menus. I truly enjoy tapping around the screen to discover the new features that have been added while I took a hiatus from the game. The puzzles are top notch as always, as you’d expect from chess tempo, so no changes there. I look forward to working with chess tempo again to increase my understanding of this great and timeless game. ### 5/5 — Recommended also for beginners *2022-06-02, version 4.0.2* Hey Richard. Please move the ‚next‘ button for the next tactic to the bottom of the screen. That makes the usability better. Then i dont need to move the thumb over the whole screen🙂 ### 2/5 — Disappointed. *2022-05-17, version 4.0.2* For someone like myself who has a decent game of chess. I’m not close to great and wouldn’t even say that I’m good, however I can hold a game in any NYC park and it will be war. I heard about this app through reading online (can’t recall where) and it was leasing this app for helping the writer to strengthen and expand his game, and fairly quickly, as he put the time and effort into studying as well. Now here I am at the app, and at first it appears to be cut and dry, no frills (which I like) however, I have no idea how to use this app, the icons don’t come with a how-to prompt on first use, no help or support or manual. It would be really nice to know how to use the app, what each icon means and it’s function. Not only would it create a more user friendly app, most likely will lean it towards a more attractive interface, and almost importantly it can still be the go-to app for people like myself who don’t understand how to navigate between icons. I would love to learn more, and use the app. I paid for a subscription. Why pay for a subscription, if I can’t find answers and haven’t a clue of what icons/buttons I am pressing or what they do. Please, if there is a possibility for modification, let that be a priority. The idea is to bring the world to chess and help each player improve… even those who have even moved a pawn yet! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 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. ### 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. ### 1/5 — Dünyanın en kötü uygulaması *2025-11-29, version 4.4.1* Saçmasapan puanlar, saçmasapan sorularla ### 1/5 — Usually good but now there's a bug *2025-04-07, version 4.4.1* There's a bug now that makes the engine take ~5 seconds to make its move for each tactics puzzle. Never used to do this before. I restarted my phone and uninstalled/reinstalled the app. Didn't fix the issue iPhone 15 pro. ### 1/5 — Касание до фигуры *2025-04-05* То когда я касаюсь до фигуры то сразу же делается не верный ход ### 1/5 — Broken *2024-10-17, version 4.3.1* Changed the board font and now the tactics page quits whenever I open it ### 1/5 — ゴミ *2024-05-07, version 4.2.3* データが消える ### 1/5 — No registration possible *2022-05-14, version 4.0.2* any username already taken, email used … whats wrong with your registration process? ### 1/5 — I’m human *2022-05-07, version 4.0.2* Chess tactics is no good at all some of them are straight computer tactics average person is not going to spot them moves. I believe if you could select a range in which is comfortable for you great but you guys fluctuate making it inferiorating because I know some of the ones you mix in is highly rated players not 1300 or 1200 computer plays and thinks different if I could guess what a high level computer would do then I would be able to beat that engine ### 1/5 — Horrible ux *2022-04-08, version 4.0.2* The app perhaps is good but it’s so difficult to navigate. It’s so frustrating to use it I just want to stay away from it. Unless you change the ux I will keep one star review sorry. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 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! ### 5/5 — Great for training! *2026-07-05, version 4.4.1* Premium is worthwhile for making personalised training sets. Great all and service. ### 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. ### 5/5 — Отличное приложение! *2025-07-24* Потрясающее приложение!!! Мне очень нравится строгий и не отвлекающий дизайн с необходимым функционалом. С помощью него можно делать всё: учить дебют, тактику даже играть...) И также, всё бесплатно Многие топы такие как Дубов и Народицкий упоминали его, о чём тут ещё можно говорить? Главное только заходить в него и готовиться, но это уже зависит от каждого в отдельности 5 звёзд! ### 5/5 — Логает *2025-05-20* Приложением пользуюсь много лет, но сейчас не могу открыть с перебоями, почему то!!! У меня 16 про Макс но такие перебои начались в мае месяце числа так с 15го! ### 5/5 — Chess tempo *2025-03-09, version 4.3.1* Wonderful site - excellent value - thoughtful and creative. Quite the best chess app there is - it is possible gradually to use the myriads of tools to devise the best training. A remarkable tour de force. ### 5/5 — Absolutely amazing *2024-09-18, version 4.3.1* Wanted to share the love for this app. For serious chess training, it’s by far the best I have on my phone. The fact that it’s free on the App Store is crazy. ### 5/5 — Bonne appli pour jouer et travailler ses variantes et problèmes *2023-07-15, version 4.2.2* Bonne application ! Plein de fonctionnalités et pas de publicité ! Pour ceux qui en veulent plus, il est possible de prendre plusieurs formules d’abonnement peu coûteuses. Le site web fonctionne aussi très bien. ### 5/5 — Excellent app and great value *2023-05-20, version 4.2.2* Chesstempo has great tactics training, allowing you to choose sets with specific characteristics. Now it has added opening training. For me it’s better than Chessable for your own repertoire sets due to one main reason. In Chesaable’s repetition pattern you have to go through every opening move before you get to the nth move where you made a mistake. In Chesstempo you just repeat the move you got wrong. GAME CHANGER! And huge leaps in productivity for those, like me, seeking to improve but who have limited time to train. ### 5/5 — Best Chess Training App! *2022-12-14, version 4.1* I’ve used them all, this is the best. Tens of thousands of well-curated puzzles. Much better spaced repetition implementation for training openings than the other guys. Great practical endgame training as well. My game has improved a lot in the last year and CT is a big part of it. --- *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.*