# ARChess vs Starchess

The clearest difference is rating: Starchess at 5.0 against ARChess's 4.2. ARChess's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (16 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Starchess holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ARChess has 16 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ARChess ships an update every 5 weeks, Starchess every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARChess | Starchess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archess-chi-software/id1369203879/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starchess/id6446507272/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 308 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CHISW Development LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439571073) | [Nathan Lane](https://appshunter.io/developer/1422920165) |

## 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


### Starchess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starchess/id6446507272)

Experience chess with a unique twist on a three-dimensional board. Pieces gain new movement capabilities, allowing for strategic plays in up, down, and diagonal directions. Enjoy a fresh challenge to your chess skills.

**Highlights:** Three-dimensional chess board, Traditional chess rules, Expanded piece movement (up, down, diagonal), Unique strategic gameplay

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARChess free?

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

### Is Starchess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ARChess or Starchess?

Starchess is rated higher. ARChess averages 4.2 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Starchess averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do ARChess or Starchess have ads?

Neither ARChess nor Starchess shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ARChess or Starchess?

ARChess ships an update every 5 weeks, and Starchess every 4 months. Most recently, ARChess was updated on September 30, 2026 and Starchess on September 28, 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.*