# ARChess vs Big Chess

The clearest difference is rating: Big Chess at 4.8 against ARChess's 4.2. ARChess's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Big Chess sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. ARChess asks for nothing beyond the download.

Big Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 38 respectively.

ARChess ships an update every 5 weeks, Big Chess every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARChess | Big Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archess-chi-software/id1369203879/reviews) | **[4.8 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-chess-online-strategy/id6745835661/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 17 | **38** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 308 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CHISW Development LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439571073) | [Big Chess](https://appshunter.io/developer/1814163739) |

## 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


### Big Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-chess-online-strategy/id6745835661)

Experience chess on a larger 10x10 board with new pieces and expanded strategic depth. Play online, challenge friends, train against AI, solve puzzles, and explore nine unique chess variants.

**Highlights:** 10x10 board chess, Nine chess variants, Online ELO matchmaking, AI training up to level 7, Hundreds of puzzles, Game history review, Customizable time controls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Premium Plan – All Features | $2.99 | per 6 months |
| Premium Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Plan – All Features | $3.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARChess free?

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

### Is Big Chess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ARChess or Big Chess?

Big Chess is rated higher. ARChess averages 4.2 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Big Chess averages 4.8 from 38 ratings.

### Do ARChess or Big Chess have ads?

Neither ARChess nor Big Chess shows ads.

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

ARChess ships an update every 5 weeks, and Big Chess every 3 weeks. Most recently, ARChess was updated on November 6, 2026 and Big Chess on November 10, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*