# ™ Chess vs Trace

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Trace at 100% against ™ Chess's 37%. Trace also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months). ™ Chess's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ™ Chess sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Trace sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

™ Chess ships an update every 4 months, Trace every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ™ Chess | Trace |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id1115318362/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 37.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 112 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [VM Mobile Team](https://appshunter.io/developer/646128457) | [Hajin Cho](https://appshunter.io/developer/6796362854) |

## What reviewers say

### ™ Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id1115318362)

Engage in the timeless strategy of chess on your mobile device. Play against sophisticated AI opponents across multiple difficulty levels, or challenge friends and family. Features include an undo option, board editor, and customizable themes for a personalized experience.

**Highlights:** Play against AI, Multiplayer matches, Undo feature, Board editor, Customizable themes, Game save/load, Timed games

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Challenging gameplay
- 🚀 Quick response times
- 💡 Variety of difficulty levels
- 🤩 Enjoyable for chess lovers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent difficulty levels
- 🤬 Overpowered AI on easy mode
- 💰 Too many ads
- 🤯 Frustrating for beginners

**Reported bugs**

- Illegal moves allowed by AI
- Incorrect draw detection
- Castling not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- Add more difficulty settings
- Allow under-promotion
- Improve AI difficulty scaling
- Reduce ads or offer paid version


### Trace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-one-line-puzzle/id6796362852)

Connect every square on the board with a single, unbroken line. This minimalist puzzle game offers a simple yet challenging experience that tests your strategic thinking. Compete globally for the best times and enjoy quick, satisfying gameplay.

**Highlights:** Connect all squares with one line, Minimalist puzzle design, Increasing difficulty and strategy, Global leaderboards, Play anytime, anywhere, Hint system available

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| hint_erase_Bundle | $0.99 | one-time |
| REMOVE_ADS | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ™ Chess free?

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

### Is Trace free?

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

### Do ™ Chess or Trace have ads?

Trace shows ads; ™ Chess does not.

### Which is updated more often, ™ Chess or Trace?

™ Chess ships an update every 4 months, and Trace every 4 days. Most recently, ™ Chess was updated on November 11, 2026 and Trace on October 31, 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.*