Comparison

Chess Openings Wizard vs BookMoves

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Chess Openings Wizard

This app helps tournament chess players prepare their openings by designing and testing their knowledge of specific lines. It offers powerful editing and training tools, syncing with desktop versions and providing Stockfish analysis for move validation. Prepare openings quickly with tools refined over decades.

Highlights
  • Design and test chess openings
  • Full editing and training power
  • Syncs with Mac and Windows versions
  • Stockfish analysis via PocketGM server
  • Pedigree ribbon shows top player game results
  • Fast opening preparation tools
Features
Read full description

Chess Openings Wizard is where tournament players go to work on their openings. The app is based on the Bookup program that first came out in 1984. The app has full editing and training power like its brethren apps on Macintosh and Windows. Openings can be moved back and forth to the Macintosh, Windows, and Android versions. Chess Openings Wizard does not play chess, nor does it come with a game collection. It is meant for designing openings for White and defenses for Black, and then testing the player's knowledge of the lines by playing mock games. Sample ebooks include an opening guide (thousands of named and categorized opening positions accessible through any move order), an ECO master framework, and the White and Black repertoires of Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, and Robert Fischer. It also includes a demo ebook with excerpts from a highly annotated repertoire in the Open Game. Chess Openings Wizard has a dedicated PocketGM server giving you full speed Stockfish analysis. (Internet connection required.) The Pedigree ribbon shows the results of games in each opening position but uses only games between two super GMs. That way you know if the move is trusted by the best players. (And it's important to know if a move has never been played by a super GM when facing another super GM.) This is the same feature found in Chess Openings Wizard Professional for Macintosh and Windows. The short version is: if you are designing an opening with a game database app or with a playing program, you're working too hard. Chess Openings Wizard contains 42 years of refinements, with precisely the tools that a tournament player requires to prepare openings fast.

About

BookMoves

Master chess openings with a unique blend of theory, computer science, and spaced repetition. Memorize hundreds of variants for both sides and transition from rote learning to intuitive application. Overcome the forgetting curve with an innovative technique for lasting mastery.

Highlights
  • Chess opening theory
  • Spaced repetition learning
  • Hundreds of chess variants
  • Statistical probabilities
  • Integrated scoring system
  • Algorithmic improvement
Features
Read full description

Embark on a transformative chess journey with our groundbreaking app, seamlessly blending Opening Theory, Computer Science, and Space Repetition. Easily memorize hundreds of chess variants for both white and black, transitioning from rote memorization to intuitive application of knowledge. Overcome the Forgetting Curve using our innovative Space Repetition technique, converting short-term storage into lasting mastery. Access a comprehensive database of 1 million+ opening variants, each accompanied by statistical probabilities. Our integrated scoring system considers game statistics and parameters for effective play, constantly evolving to provide you with the strongest advantage at your current skill level. Experience the power of continuous algorithmic improvement, ensuring you stay ahead in every game. Optimized for mobile, our app lets you practice openings anytime, anywhere, enhancing your skills on the move. Unleash your chess potential by consistently training with new openings, conveniently accessible through your mobile browser. Elevate your game, break free from stagnation, and become the chess pro you aspire to be. Start your journey to mastery today!

Screenshots

Chess Openings Wizard4 screens
BookMoves4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: BookMoves at Free against Chess Openings Wizard's $6.99. BookMoves also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Chess Openings Wizard's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

BookMoves is free to download; Chess Openings Wizard costs $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chess Openings Wizard holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Chess Openings Wizard's written reviews are positive against 50% of BookMoves's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chess Openings Wizard ships an update every 2 months, BookMoves every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Chess Openings Wizard versus BookMoves: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChess Openings WizardBookMoves
Price$6.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better4.5 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews54.5% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings44
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size167 MB70 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBookup Corp.Regulus Team s.r.o.

Customer experience

Chess Openings Wizard

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative45.5%

BookMoves

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Chess Openings Wizard

No in-app purchases

None

BookMoves

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chess Openings Wizard free?
Chess Openings Wizard costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is BookMoves free?
BookMoves is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chess Openings Wizard or BookMoves?
Chess Openings Wizard is rated higher. Chess Openings Wizard averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while BookMoves averages 4.5 from 4 ratings.
Do Chess Openings Wizard or BookMoves have ads?
Neither Chess Openings Wizard nor BookMoves shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chess Openings Wizard or BookMoves?
Chess Openings Wizard ships an update every 2 months, and BookMoves every 3 weeks. Most recently, Chess Openings Wizard was updated on September 17, 2026 and BookMoves on June 4, 2026.

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