# Chess REAL vs Active Chess

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chess REAL at none against Active Chess's 3. Active Chess's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Active Chess sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Chess REAL asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Chess REAL against 5.0 for Active Chess. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Chess REAL ships an update every 59 months, Active Chess every 39 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess REAL | Active Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-real-classic-board-game/id1130332883/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/active-chess/id6449165496/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 59 months | **Every 39 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 93 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jason Li](https://appshunter.io/developer/1056901712) | [Alexey Polunin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1541894864) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess REAL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-real-classic-board-game/id1130332883)

Experience classic chess with stunning visuals and smooth gameplay. Challenge AI opponents to hone your skills or compete with friends and family in engaging multiplayer matches. This app offers a straightforward and enjoyable way to play, perfect for both new and seasoned players.

**Highlights:** Beautiful graphics, Classic chess gameplay, Single player mode with AI, Multiplayer with friends and family, Simple and easy-to-use controls, Suitable for beginners and experienced players

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Active Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/active-chess/id6449165496)

Experience a unique chess variant with randomized starting positions and modified rules for dynamic gameplay. Develop your strategic thinking and planning skills in this engaging board game.

**Highlights:** Randomized starting positions, Modified chess rules, Strategic gameplay, Cognitive skill development, Choice of board sizes, Play against a chess bot

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Positions 1 Week | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Positions 1 Month | $1.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Positions 3 Month | $4.99 | per 3 months |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess REAL free?

Chess REAL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Active Chess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chess REAL or Active Chess?

Chess REAL and Active Chess are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Chess REAL or Active Chess have ads?

Chess REAL shows ads; Active Chess does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess REAL or Active Chess?

Chess REAL ships an update every 59 months, and Active Chess every 39 months. Most recently, Chess REAL was updated on November 2, 2026 and Active Chess on November 8, 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.*