# Chess Timer vs Chess Royale

The clearest difference is ads: Chess Timer at none against Chess Royale's shown. Chess Royale's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (20K vs 55). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Chess Royale sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chess Royale holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Royale has 20K ratings behind it against 55, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Chess Timer's written reviews are positive against 60% of Chess Royale's.

Chess Timer ships an update every 11 months, Chess Royale every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Timer | Chess Royale |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-timer/id1208199658/reviews) | **[4.5 (20K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-royale/id1434658250/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 55 | **20K** |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **59.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 2 MB | 473 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DAVID CROOKS SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1654030206) | [SayGames LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1551847165) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-timer/id1208199658)

A straightforward dual timer designed for over-the-board chess and other two-player competitive games. It allows for customizable time increments, delays, and overtime limits, functioning as a simple chess clock or for games like Scrabble and Go.

**Highlights:** Dual timer for two-player games, Fischer, Bronstein, and simple delay increments, Overtime limits with penalties, Supports games like Scrabble and Go, Intuitive tap-to-switch interface

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chess Timer Pro | $2.99 | one-time |


### Chess Royale

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-royale/id1434658250)

Engage in the classic game of chess with millions worldwide. This app offers AI challenges, multiplayer matches, and extensive training tools including puzzles and post-game analysis to improve your strategic skills.

**Highlights:** Play against AI, Multiplayer matches, Chess puzzles, Post-game analysis, Beginner and advanced training, Multiple game modes

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Vip | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Vip | $19.99 | per month |
| Annual Vip | $39.99 | per year |
| Tiny Coins Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tiny Gems Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gold Reserve 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Coins Pack Offer | $3.99 | one-time |
| Disable Ads Forever | $4.99 | one-time |
| Medium Gems Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Large Gems Pack | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Enjoyable gameplay
- 🚀 Seamless matchmaking
- 💡 Helpful chess lessons and puzzles
- 🤩 Great for learning and improving chess skills

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Excessive and disruptive advertisements
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🕰️ Long wait times between games due to ads
- 🤖 Suspicion of playing against bots instead of real players

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect puzzle solutions being marked as wrong
- Game losses due to connection issues or app freezes
- Inconsistent trophy/ranking system
- Inability to report cheating or suspicious behavior

**Requested features**

- Ability to play longer timed games
- Option to disable ads for a one-time fee
- More advanced chess analysis and training features
- Improved matchmaking to pair players of similar skill levels


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Timer free?

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

### Is Chess Royale free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chess Timer or Chess Royale?

Chess Royale is rated higher. Chess Timer averages 4.3 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while Chess Royale averages 4.5 from 20K ratings.

### Do Chess Timer or Chess Royale have ads?

Chess Royale shows ads; Chess Timer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess Timer or Chess Royale?

Chess Timer ships an update every 11 months, and Chess Royale every 5 weeks. Most recently, Chess Timer was updated on September 30, 2026 and Chess Royale on October 13, 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.*