# Magnus Trainer vs Really Bad Chess

The clearest difference is rating: Magnus Trainer at 4.8 against Really Bad Chess's 3.8. Magnus Trainer also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 46%) and ratings volume (13K vs 1.6K). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Magnus Trainer sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month and Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Magnus Trainer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magnus Trainer has 13K ratings behind it against 1.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Magnus Trainer's written reviews are positive against 46% of Really Bad Chess's.

Magnus Trainer ships an update every 5 weeks, Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Magnus Trainer | Really Bad Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magnus-trainer-train-chess/id1097863089/reviews)** | [3.8 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 1.6K |
| Positive reviews | **80.8% of reviews** | 46.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 187 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552) | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) |

## What reviewers say

### Magnus Trainer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magnus-trainer-train-chess/id1097863089)

Master chess with engaging games and interactive lessons created by Grand Masters and the World Chess Champion. Learn fundamentals, openings, and endgames through bite-sized challenges and puzzles for all skill levels.

**Highlights:** 250+ unique lessons, Bite-sized chess games, Thousands of puzzles, Beginner to advanced levels, Expert-crafted courses, Interactive learning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium Membership | $4.49 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Membership | $6.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Membership | $6.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Membership | $7.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium Membership | $37.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Membership | $55.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Membership | $74.99 | per year |
| Refill All Lives | $1.99 | one-time |
| Premium Membership | $149.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Membership | $299.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Well-structured lessons
- 👍 Clear and informative
- 👍 Helpful for beginners to masters
- 🚀 Improves chess skills quickly
- 👍 Engaging and entertaining

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Strict time limits on exercises
- 🐛 Puzzle engine only accepts one solution
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔀 Inability to skip lessons and progress at own pace
- 🔀 Lack of option to practice without time pressure

**Reported bugs**

- Pieces disappearing during games
- Moves not recognized by the engine
- Crashes on loading lessons

**Requested features**

- Option to view solution when failing puzzles
- Ability to customize chess board and piece design
- More organized and structured content
- Integrated chess game mode to apply learned skills
- Progress sync across multiple devices


### Really Bad Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921)

This app reimagines chess with completely randomized pieces, offering a fresh strategic challenge. It's perfect for both seasoned players seeking a new puzzle and beginners looking to learn the fundamentals in a fun, accessible way.

**Highlights:** Randomized chess piece sets, AI opponent challenges, Ranked, Daily, and Weekly modes, Freeplay practice mode, Local multiplayer (with IAP), Alternate color palettes (with IAP)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Undos | $0.99 | one-time |
| Full Game Unlock | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive and fun gameplay
- 🤔 Unique and innovative concept
- 👍 Challenging and engaging
- ⭐ Great way to learn chess

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🕰️ Slow AI response times
- 💰 Paywalls for essential features
- 📺 Intrusive and excessive ads
- 🔁 Repetitive AI moves leading to stalemates

**Reported bugs**

- Pieces unable to move as per chess rules
- Game freezes and crashes
- Incorrect checkmate detection

**Requested features**

- Add draw conditions and stalemate rules
- Implement online/multiplayer mode
- Provide more difficulty settings
- Allow custom piece arrangements
- Sync progress across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Magnus Trainer free?

Magnus Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Really Bad Chess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Magnus Trainer or Really Bad Chess?

Magnus Trainer is rated higher. Magnus Trainer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Magnus Trainer or Really Bad Chess have ads?

Both Magnus Trainer and Really Bad Chess show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Magnus Trainer or Really Bad Chess?

Magnus Trainer ships an update every 5 weeks, and Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. Most recently, Magnus Trainer was updated on October 30, 2026 and Really Bad Chess on October 23, 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.*