# Learn with Forward Chess — user reviews > 123 indexed App Store user reviews of Learn with Forward Chess by Forward Chess, LLC, rated 4.80/5 from 334 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-with-forward-chess/id543005909/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-with-forward-chess/id543005909.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 300 · 4★ 21 · 3★ 8 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 4 ## What do users think of Learn with Forward Chess? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Great app for chess-book lovers - 🚀 Easy to follow or analyze moves with the implemented chessboard - 👍 Simple and effective interface - 👍 Great to use on mobile device - 👍 Larger board and text than Chessable - 👍 Better value books - 👍 Excellent customer support - 👍 Convenient way to read chess books - 👍 Allows engine analysis of positions and ability to check variations - 👍 Ability to switch move controls to preferred side - 👍 Increases speed of going through books - 👍 Provides a clean interactive way to read books with moves linked to a board **Cons** - 💰 Books are a little expensive for digital purchases - 🐛 App crashes or freezes occasionally - 🐛 Loses user's place when reopening the app - 🐛 Buggy when navigating between libraries and books - 🐛 Analysis engine sometimes doesn't recognize castling possibilities - 🐛 Inefficient software with unintuitive UI - 🐛 Notifications are annoying and repeatedly enabled - 🐛 Weak chess engine performance compared to other apps **Commonly reported bugs** - Login issues when changing devices - Books not properly filing into libraries - App crashing when trying to add books to libraries - Losing current position when switching between full screen and normal view - Inconsistent behavior when navigating through a book **Most requested features** - Allow users to upload their own book PDFs - Implement spaced repetition learning program within books - Improve search and filtering options in the book store - Add more language support beyond English books - Provide better syncing of purchases across devices - Improve text formatting and readability - Implement highlighting, bookmarking, and note-taking features ## Newest reviews (18 of 123) ### 4/5 — Great app but what engine? *2025-06-23* Really enjoying the app but I was wondering what engine is analyzing the game? ### 3/5 — Great content, mediocre software *2025-04-09* The content on this is every bit as good as chessable. I am currently working on my first purchase, "is this move safe". An excellent book. The problem is the software is difficult to use and very inefficient. For example, I always want to be in quiz mode, where the solutions are not shown. Sometimes for no reason, I am put into read mode, where the answers are shown. The only way to fix that is to scroll all the way up to the top of the course, which is already a fair distance, even though I'm still in chapter 1, press the quiz mode button, and then scroll all the way down to find where I was. I tried every other button, all of which are very unintuitive in my opinion as a former software developer, and there is no other way to do this. Also, when I reopen the software, it usually loses where I left off, and I have to go hunt for it. I would call chessable professional software, and this relatively amateurish. ### 5/5 — I only wish they had more books available *2024-04-26* The app does exactly what it is meant to do: it lets you read chess books without moving the pieces yourself. This way the books consume less time and one may read them as a novel if one desires to do so. There are a few competitors on the market but this app simply has the best design. The only technical problem I’ve encountered is that there are less books in the app than on the website. I don’t know if it is a bug or not but you can simply add them on the website and then they will appear in the app. ### 4/5 — Best chess reader *2024-03-21* Allows engine analysis of positions and the ability to check what happens if you play something else. Also you can switch the move controls to the side of the screen you prefer. Could do with some tidying up of the analysis, bookmarks and so on. But as it stands it’s the best I’ve found, which is good because you can get books from other publishers on it. Store isn’t exactly cheap though. ### 5/5 — One of a kind resource *2024-03-06* There are tons of things online. HOWEVER, only Forward Chess has the books we all depend on set up in a clean interactive way with all moves linked to a board so you can review as you read easily. It will greatly increase the speed you can get through books. ### 5/5 — Best way to read chess books *2024-02-13* The ability to click through moves and new quiz mode feature make this method of reading chess books superior to physical books, and I love physical books. The price tends to better here as well. ### 5/5 — Best chess app *2023-05-17* Probably the best chess app I have used in years. It allows you to go over books digitally if you do not have the GM vision many of us are lacking. Going through variations is a lot easier. So far I have not had any issues with any books. Strongly recommend as the book options are always growing. ### 4/5 — Love this app *2023-04-07, version 1.31.1* This app is a game changer. ### 5/5 — App Keeps crashing *2023-02-28* I love this app and Have been using it since it came out. The app keeps crashing….I have never had this problem... please fix this problem or unfortunately I will no longer be purchasing ebooks through it. **Developer response:** Hi, Hope the issue is now resolved for you. Else could you please email us at info@forwardchess.com? We also have a new version releasing in a day or two. Thanks, Team ForwardChess ### 3/5 — Buggy *2023-02-12* It’s a nice app but there are … issues. Some of my purchases resist being filed into libraries (they just stay listed under ‘Books’ on the main page) and if I do try and drag them into a library, the app just crashes. It’s not clear why some books are like this but most are not (it may be the age of the individual purchases?). But it’s frustrating and it feels messy to have (eg) some games collections filed under ‘Games’ but others just sitting in the main menu. The app also freezes and closes suddenly on occasions. And the analysis engine sometimes doesn’t seem to recognise the possibility of castling more than one or two ply out. All in all, great when it works, but I always approach it with a degree of trepidation. ### 5/5 — Love this app *2023-02-06* Great app with great selection of books but the app is kind of in need of an update. **Developer response:** Hello Aaron, Please do let us know what kind of update would be needed. info@forwardchess.com Looking forward to hear from you. Thanks, Team ForwardChess ### 2/5 — Has potential but fix the bugs! *2022-10-29* When opening the app I expect to continue from where i stopped from last session but instead I am taken back to the start of the chapter! This is so annoying. Please fix asap! ### 5/5 — Es súper practico estudiar en esta App *2022-09-28, version 1.30.0* Puedes estudiar en cualquier lugar con todos los recursos. Es magnífica. ### 5/5 — Use Anywhere *2022-08-13* The best selection of chess books that you can use anywhere. ### 5/5 — Excellent resource *2021-12-18* This app makes studying chess convenient and simple while on the go. You can also explore your own lines whenever you want! My only complaint is that my favorite chess books are not yet part of this app… **Developer response:** Hello, thanks for your feedback. Please let us know your favorite chess books and we will surely give it a try! ### 5/5 — Gelungen mit mehr Möglichkeiten gewünscht *2021-10-31* Man merkt, dass an der App stetig weiter gearbeitet wird. Davon zeugt die neue „Puzzlefunktion“. Als ich einmal ein Problem mit einem gekauften Buch hatte, wurde das schnell korrigiert, sprich der Support von Quality Chess und Forward Chess arbeitete da sehr gut abgestimmt zusammen! ### 2/5 — I don’t want notifications *2021-10-30* The app asks me to activate notifications again and again. This is a minor issue, but really annoying. Otherwise the app is great and will raise the rating to five stars once it is fixed. **Developer response:** Hello, could you please try this solution: When the notification popup is shown: 1. Press “I want this“ then 2. Press “Don’t allow“ Please let us know if this fixes the issue (Email: info@forwardchess.com) Thanks! ### 5/5 — Awesome ! Deserves 10 stars !! *2021-10-20* Many good updates since some of the older comments. This is my favorite for reading chess books. Interactive board with books,now we can add highlights to pages,also notes, and bookmarks. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Warning you can lose access to purchases *2023-11-08* This app just worked for years but now asks for log in and does not recognise my email. Am unable to access my library of purchases! ### 1/5 — Kept Crashing *2023-03-13* Rubbish. Kept crashing everytime i opened it. Deleted ### 1/5 — Crash de l appli suite dernière version *2021-10-19* App inutilisable **Developer response:** Bonjour, désolé pour le problème. Pourriez-vous nous envoyer un e-mail à info@forwardchess.com et nous faire part du problème auquel vous avez été confronté ou de ce qui peut être amélioré ? Merci, Team ForwardChess ### 1/5 — Very Poor Engine *2021-02-02* I do not know why, but the engine is weak on all my apple devices. E.g. In quiet positions it can be +1 on White’s move, then 0 on Black’s move, then +1 on White’s next move, and so on. This is a feature of chess programs from 30 years ago! Perhaps it is an internal configuration the programmer made? The Stockfish app is v strong on my apple devices, but the program is dreadful on Forward Chess. It ruins the experience as I can only rely on the engine for basic tactics. I need to waste time setting up the position elsewhere. Please enhance the program, or else you will be overtaken by Chessable! **Developer response:** Hello, are you still seeing this issue with our latest app version? Please let us know at info@forwardchess.com and we can surely improve it. Thanks, Team ForwardChess ### 1/5 — Cannot download purchased books on new iPad *2021-01-31* Jan 2021; I can open purchased books on my old iPad Mini, but not on my new iPad Air 3. I have deleted and reinstalled the app, but now cannot log in. It asks for, and rejects, the email address associated with my Apple account. How does one get in touch with the developers? **Developer response:** Hello, Are you still facing this issue with our latest App updates? If yes, could you please email us at info@forwardchess.com? Thanks, Team ForwardChess ### 1/5 — The chess pieces from the GM repertoire book is stuck when I try to make it move. *2020-10-08, version 1.18.11* The chess pieces from the GM repertoire is stuck when I try to make it move. ### 1/5 — Forwardchess.com *2020-07-03, version 1.18.5* Excellent,extraordinary ### 1/5 — Update 1.4.1 lost all purchases *2014-12-13, version 1.4.1* Latest update lost all purchases and the store ### 1/5 — Not acceptable *2014-11-05, version 1.4.1* Don't buy anything from this app. I bought a book but what it downloaded was a completely another book on another topic. The app had problems with iphone 6. To be fair all my other chess apps had the same issue but they charged less for a book. Consider another alternative. ### 1/5 — Not working for iPhone 6 *2014-11-03, version 1.4.1* I hate to write thus but this is getting bad. I upgrade to iphone 6 but this little app refused to load on the big screen. Ok i read on the small screen. But .... all my books were wrong. Pages missing, suddenly spelling errors everywhere. In my chess endgame book it even showed some weird Russian with a picture of the moon. I think the developer messed up the app with their another product. Please fix it i wiil upgrade my stars. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Fantastique *2026-06-12* Fantastique,utile. ### 5/5 — Great app ! *2026-02-09* This app is the perfect companion for chess-book lovers. We can easily follow or analyse moves with the implemented chessboard, which makes it easy when one doesn't have a real chess board at hand. The books are a little expensive for digital purchases though, but still worth it. Nice work 💯 ### 5/5 — Best chess learning *2026-01-30* This is the best app to learn chess. Simple and effective interface. Great to use on mobile device. Download and use without connection. Larger board than chessable. Larger text than chessable. Better value books. Engine. Some nice free books. Excellent customer support. ### 5/5 — Genial *2025-12-22* Alles dabei,was Schach-Fan braucht! ### 5/5 — GOAT *2025-10-19, version 1.37.3* 체서블보다 좋음 ### 5/5 — Awesome App *2025-08-25* I have been using forward chess for a couple of years now and really liking it. Their library keeps growing. Some months ago I had emailed them and requested if a Dover book “Better Chess for Average Players” could be added. I received a reply stating that they would look into my request. After that I didn’t think it would materialise. Today I see they have added the title to their library and another really good Dover book as well. I bought both !! ### 5/5 — Excellent App *2025-04-10* Easy to use, and can do a space repetition traning , with move trainer, sometimes the app gets stuck in move trainer mode forcing to close the app and start again, annoying. ### 5/5 — Favorite Chess App *2025-03-02, version 1.36.1* The most bang for your buck period. ### 5/5 — Review *2024-10-08, version 1.35.6* Easy access to the Chess Books I wanted. Very Accessible! ### 5/5 — Wonderful *2024-05-16* A wonderful app --- *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 2026-09-02.*