# ARChess vs Chess Era

The clearest difference is ads: ARChess at none against Chess Era's shown. ARChess also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ARChess ships an update every 5 weeks, Chess Era every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARChess | Chess Era |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archess-chi-software/id1369203879/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **16** | — |
| Positive reviews | — | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 308 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [CHISW Development LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439571073) | [KREEDALOKA PRIVATE LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1524223875) |

## What reviewers say

### ARChess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archess-chi-software/id1369203879)

Experience classic chess with an augmented reality twist. Enjoy a realistic 3D design and interactive gameplay on any flat surface. Take back moves, automatically rotate the board, and reposition it during your game.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality chess board projection, Realistic 3D design, Hot-seat multiplayer mode, Play against AI, Take back moves, Automatic board rotation, Board repositioning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Chess Era

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-era/id1524223873)

This online chess school connects students, coaches, schools, and parents. Students can play, challenge friends, and track progress. Coaches can conduct tournaments and provide live online lessons, while schools manage classes and students.

**Highlights:** Play with other students, Challenge friends, Track progress, Collaborative study, Conduct tournaments, Online coaching with video, Student game analysis, School management dashboard

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARChess free?

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

### Is Chess Era free?

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

### Do ARChess or Chess Era have ads?

Chess Era shows ads; ARChess does not.

### Which is updated more often, ARChess or Chess Era?

ARChess ships an update every 5 weeks, and Chess Era every 3 weeks. Most recently, ARChess was updated on October 15, 2026 and Chess Era on October 1, 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.*