Comparison

Chessify vs Fairy Chess

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

Head to head
About

Chessify

This app offers advanced chess analysis tools, including a real-time chessboard scanner, powerful cloud-based engines, and a unique video finder. Analyze games, puzzles, and learn chess theory with comprehensive features for players of all levels.

Highlights
  • Real chessboard scanner
  • Superfast cloud chess engine analysis
  • Video finder for chess positions
  • Offline play against Stockfish
  • Opening Explorer with Lichess database
  • Import/export FEN/PGN
  • Online real-time Blitz
Features
Read full description

Chessify is an all-in-one chess platform built for players who want to improve with professional-level chess tools. Analyze with powerful cloud engines running on servers up to 1024 threads and 1 Billion NPS speed, explore databases of 12 million+ professional games, scan real chessboards and books, prepare openings, and review games from anywhere. Features that once required heavy desktop software are now available in a single mobile app designed for players of all levels. Whether you’re solving puzzles, training openings, or analyzing tournament games, Chessify combines advanced chess tools into one fast and easy-to-use experience. Features: ZIUK — YOUR AI CHESS ASSISTANT Ziuk is your AI chess assistant that helps you analyze games, understand positions, learn from mistakes, and explore openings. Unlike traditional chess engines that show you the best moves and evaluations, Ziuk explains the ideas behind them. Ask questions in your own language and get explanations that help you understand the game. Ziuk combines artificial intelligence, powerful chess engines, and Chessify’s analysis tools in one conversation. Connect your Chess.com or Lichess account to import your games and analyze them with Ziuk. - Powerful Cloud Engine Analysis Analyze with Stockfish 18, Lc0, Berserk, Caissa, Crystal, Patricia, Viridithas, AsmFish, ShashChess, Koivisto, RubiChess, and Sugar AI chess engines on cloud servers with up to 1024 threads, reaching up to 1BN/s speed. - Mega Database Search through 10 million+ professional FIDE-rated games with move statistics, player ratings, and opening trends. - Correspondence Chess Database Study the 2 Million+ official ICCF database games played with deep engine-assisted preparation. - Scan 2D & 3D Chessboards Scan real boards and diagrams from books or screens with high accuracy and instantly analyze the position with Stockfish 18. - Chess PDF Scanner Import chess PDF books and scan positions directly from pages for quick analysis and study. - Play Against Stockfish Challenge one of the world’s strongest chess engines with adjustable strength settings. Play from initial or any given position. - PGN & Move Notation Create analysis files with multiple variations and comments or import your existing files and review them with your phone at any time. - Save Games & Analysis Store your games, analysis, and studies locally or in the cloud and access them anytime. - Import, Export, and Share PGN/FEN Easily import your games or export positions and analysis to share with chess friends or students. Whether you’re a beginner, club player, coach, or grandmaster, Chessify provides powerful analysis and training tools for every stage of your chess journey. Privacy Policy: https://chessify.me/privacy-policy Terms of Use / End User License Agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Fairy Chess

Experience a fresh take on chess with unique rules, new pieces, and a dynamic chessboard. Create custom starting positions and challenge the computer or a "boss" character. Progress through levels by winning games to unlock more pieces for your initial setup.

Highlights
  • New chess rules and pieces
  • Custom initial board positions
  • Play against computer or boss
  • Unlock new pieces by leveling up
  • Progressive difficulty
Features
Read full description

Fairy Chess is a new version of chess with new rules, new pieces and even a new chessboard. You can create your own initial position and play against the computer or the boss. To unlock more pieces you have to beat the boss and reach new boss levels. If you reach a new level by winning enough games you will be able to add more pieces to your initial position.

Screenshots

Chessify4 screens
Fairy Chess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Fairy Chess at 100% against Chessify's 46%. Fairy Chess also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 19) and iOS requirement (12.1 vs 16.0). Chessify's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 3.6) and ratings volume (398 vs 5). On price, ads and device support 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

Both are free to download. Chessify sells 19 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Fairy Chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chessify holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chessify has 398 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of Chessify's written reviews are positive against 100% of Fairy Chess's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chessify ships an update monthly, Fairy Chess every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Chessify versus Fairy Chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessifyFairy Chess
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (398 ratings) — better3.6 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews45.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings398 — better5
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.012.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size140 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChessify Inc.Simon Zehnder

Customer experience

Chessify

All ratings398 ratings
Positive85.4%
Neutral2.8%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews83 reviews
Positive45.8%
Neutral12.0%
Negative42.2%

Fairy Chess

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Chessify

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Black screen in camera view during scanning
  • Scanning omits first or last rank of board
  • App crashes when loading images
  • Buttons not clickable on certain iOS versions
  • Position not recognized from screenshots
Show 7 more
  • App closes immediately after opening
  • Board rotation lock resets to landscape
  • Analysis not visible unless switching apps
  • Scanning fails 3 out of 5 times
  • Subscription billing issues (wrong tier shown)
  • App doesn't load past starting screen
  • Photo library order reversed for board photos

Requested features

12 requests
  • Add move comments and annotations capability
  • Board flip option during gameplay
  • Auto-save functionality to prevent position loss
  • Ability to edit and extend saved games
  • Tactics puzzle mode with move verification
Show 7 more
  • Automatic analysis on position scan
  • Lc0 engine option
  • iPad version support
  • Lichess app integration
  • Move sound toggle persistence
  • Better indication of which side has advantage
  • Depth control for analysis (stop at specific depth)

Fairy Chess

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

19 purchases

Chessify

Subscriptions10
  • Bronze 1 Month$0.991 Month
  • Silver 1 month$2.491 Month
  • Gold 1 Month$7.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Bronze 12 months$7.991 Year
  • Amateur$12.991 Month
  • Silver 12 months$14.991 Year
  • Gold 12 months$49.991 Year
  • Master$59.991 Month
  • Amateur Yearly$129.991 Year
  • Master$559.991 Year
One-time9
  • SuperFast analysis - 1000 sec.$0.99
  • SuperFast analysis - 10000sec.$3.99
  • SuperFast analysis - 30000sec.$5.99
Show 6 more
  • Starter Pack$5.99
  • Standard Pack$11.49
  • SuperFast analysis - 100000sec$13.99
  • Popular Pack$29.49
  • SuperFast analysis - unlimited$34.99
  • Ultimate Pack$117.99
None

Fairy Chess

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chessify free?
Chessify is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Fairy Chess free?
Fairy Chess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chessify or Fairy Chess?
Chessify is rated higher. Chessify averages 4.4 out of 5 from 398 ratings, while Fairy Chess averages 3.6 from 5 ratings.
Do Chessify or Fairy Chess have ads?
Neither Chessify nor Fairy Chess shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chessify or Fairy Chess?
Chessify ships an update monthly, and Fairy Chess every 3 months. Most recently, Chessify was updated on October 28, 2026 and Fairy Chess on October 24, 2026.

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