# Mini Chess vs Glow Chess

The clearest difference is update cadence: Mini Chess at every 3 weeks against Glow Chess's every 6 months. Mini Chess also leads on ratings volume (345 vs 39). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mini Chess sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Glow Chess sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Glow Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mini Chess has 345 ratings behind it against 39, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Mini Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, Glow Chess every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mini Chess | Glow Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (345 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mini-chess-quick-chess/id1048990809/reviews) | **[4.8 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glow-chess/id1615039615/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **345** | 39 |
| Positive reviews | 82.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 29 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [OutOfTheBit Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/286210012) | [Phuong Ta](https://appshunter.io/developer/1466076556) |

## What reviewers say

### Mini Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mini-chess-quick-chess/id1048990809)

Enjoy a simplified, faster version of chess on your mobile device. Play against AI or a friend on a smaller board with fewer pieces. Ideal for beginners and quick matches.

**Highlights:** Simplified 6x6 chessboard, Fewer pieces (no knights/bishops), Play against 3 AI levels, Local multiplayer mode, Quick matches, Beginner-friendly

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast-paced, quick gameplay
- 👍 Easy to learn and beginner-friendly
- 🎮 Addictive and fun
- 💡 Innovative simplified chess concept
- ⚙️ Multiple difficulty levels

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Check notification animation interrupts gameplay flow
- 😴 Gets repetitive and stale quickly
- 🤖 AI makes too many mistakes, even on hard mode
- 📺 Excessive and intrusive ads
- ⚖️ Unfair perpetual check mechanics

**Reported bugs**

- Checkmate declared incorrectly with viable moves available
- Queen positioned on wrong color
- AI allows illegal moves to prevent player from winning
- Stalemate not handled correctly
- Perpetual check rules unfairly favor opponent

**Requested features**

- Add Knights and Bishops to piece options
- Alternative piece combinations (2 Rooks + 2 Bishops)
- Randomized starting positions
- Landscape mode for iPad
- Random color assignment (white/black alternation)


### Glow Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glow-chess/id1615039615)

Engage in the classic strategy game with adjustable difficulty levels and helpful features. Practice tactics and strategy to become a Chess Master. Offers puzzles and a two-player mode for interactive play.

**Highlights:** 5 difficulty levels, Chess Puzzles, Game Assistant, Undo move, Hints, 2 player mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mini Chess free?

Mini Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Glow Chess free?

Glow Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Mini Chess or Glow Chess?

Glow Chess is rated higher. Mini Chess averages 4.6 out of 5 from 345 ratings, while Glow Chess averages 4.8 from 39 ratings.

### Do Mini Chess or Glow Chess have ads?

Both Mini Chess and Glow Chess show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mini Chess or Glow Chess?

Mini Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, and Glow Chess every 6 months. Most recently, Mini Chess was updated on October 1, 2026 and Glow Chess on September 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*