# Pop 8 vs Not Chess

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Not Chess at 70% against Pop 8's 0%. Not Chess also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 16 months). Pop 8's advantage is price (Free vs $1.99). On in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Pop 8 is free to download; Not Chess costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Not Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Not Chess has 266 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Pop 8's written reviews are positive against 70% of Not Chess's.

Pop 8 ships an update every 16 months, Not Chess every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pop 8 | Not Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pop-8/id1135446118/reviews) | **[4.4 (266 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/not-chess/id1535659343/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **266** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **69.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 7 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cubi](https://appshunter.io/developer/951783185) | [Tepes Ovidiu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225592787) |

## What reviewers say

### Pop 8

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pop-8/id1135446118)

A classic puzzle game where players match numbered tiles to clear the board. Score points by popping tiles and creating chain reactions. Develop strategies to achieve the highest score before the board fills.

**Highlights:** Number matching gameplay, Chain reaction scoring, Develop strategic tactics, Hone puzzle-solving skills, Relaxing and challenging

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Not Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/not-chess/id1535659343)

This mind-bending puzzle game uses simplified chess rules. Collect pieces to gain their abilities and strategize your way to the coin. Enjoy a stress-free, offline experience with adjustable difficulty levels and a relaxing soundtrack.

**Highlights:** Piece inheritance mechanics, Coin collection objective, 3 difficulty levels, Zen color palettes, Relaxing soundtrack, Offline play, Haptic feedback

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Enjoyable puzzles
- 🚀 Unique twist on chess
- 💡 Helpful for learning chess basics
- 🎨 Pleasant visuals and animations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
- 🔍 Lack of difficulty progression
- 🕹️ Clunky navigation between levels
- 🎨 Difficulty distinguishing pieces on some levels

**Reported bugs**

- Levels freezing or becoming unsolvable
- Inconsistent difficulty across levels
- Pieces not functioning correctly in some puzzles

**Requested features**

- More levels and increased difficulty
- Option to customize colors and accessibility settings
- Auto-advance to next level after completion
- User-generated puzzles or challenges
- Scoring system and achievements


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pop 8 free?

Pop 8 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Not Chess free?

Not Chess costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Pop 8 or Not Chess?

Not Chess is rated higher. Pop 8 averages 4.2 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Not Chess averages 4.4 from 266 ratings.

### Do Pop 8 or Not Chess have ads?

Pop 8 shows ads; Not Chess does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pop 8 or Not Chess?

Pop 8 ships an update every 16 months, and Not Chess every 4 weeks. Most recently, Pop 8 was updated on October 24, 2026 and Not Chess on October 27, 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.*