Comparison

Chessify vs ChessUp

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: - 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

ChessUp

This app enhances your chess experience with a smart chessboard. It offers game archives, analysis, and live AI assistance. Connect to play remote opponents on various platforms.

Highlights
  • Chess game archives
  • Game analysis
  • Live AI assistance
  • Remote opponent play
  • BLE connectivity
Features
Read full description

ChessUp is a companion app for the ChessUp smart chessboard. The app provides chess game archives and analysis. The app can link with the chessboard over BLE to provide live Ai assistance. The app can also provide an internet connection for the board in order to play remote chess opponents on various chess platforms.

Screenshots

Chessify4 screens
ChessUp4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ChessUp at none against Chessify's 15. ChessUp also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (2.6K vs 397). On price, update cadence, 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 15 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. ChessUp asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ChessUp holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ChessUp has 2.6K ratings behind it against 397, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Chessify's written reviews are positive against 55% of ChessUp's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chessify ships an update monthly, ChessUp every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Chessify versus ChessUp: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessifyChessUp
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (397 ratings)4.8 (2.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews46.2% of reviews54.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3972.6K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.016
Further details — not scored
Size139 MB218 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChessify Inc.Bryght Labs Inc.

Customer experience

Chessify

All ratings397 ratings
Positive85.4%
Neutral2.8%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews78 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral10.3%
Negative43.6%

ChessUp

All ratings2,636 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews121 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral12.4%
Negative33.1%

User reviews

Chessify

From 397 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 📸 Accurate chess board scanning from photos
  • 🚀 Fast and efficient position analysis
  • ☁️ Cloud-based powerful chess engine (Stockfish)
  • 💾 Easy PGN export and saving functionality
  • 📚 Perfect for studying chess books

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • 📸 Inconsistent scanning accuracy
  • ❌ App doesn't work on iOS 18 and older versions
  • 💰 Expensive paywall with limited free features
  • 🔥 Device overheating issues reported

ChessUp

From 2.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app and board
  • 👍 Fantastic board to learn and improve game
  • 🚀 Awesome chess experience
  • 👍 Wonderful app
  • 👍 Incredible learning tool

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Lots of bugs and glitches
  • 🐛 Crashes and connectivity issues
  • 🐛 Misleading marketing and unfinished product
  • 🐛 Haptics issues and unresponsive interface
  • 🐛 AI difficulty imbalanced

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)

ChessUp

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Moves not registering
  • Bluetooth connectivity issues
  • Crashes and freezes
  • Sync issues between app and board
  • Lessons not working properly
Show 1 more
  • Chess.com integration problems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add chess openings lessons
  • Implement position setup and export/import
  • Add post-game review mechanism
  • Improve AI difficulty scaling
  • Add chess puzzles

In-app purchases

15 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-time5
  • SuperFast analysis - 1000 sec.$0.99
  • SuperFast analysis - 10000sec.$3.99
  • SuperFast analysis - 30000sec.$5.99
Show 2 more
  • SuperFast analysis - 100000sec$13.99
  • SuperFast analysis - unlimited$34.99
None

ChessUp

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chessify free?
Chessify is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ChessUp free?
ChessUp is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chessify or ChessUp?
ChessUp is rated higher. Chessify averages 4.4 out of 5 from 397 ratings, while ChessUp averages 4.8 from 2.6K ratings.
Do Chessify or ChessUp have ads?
Neither Chessify nor ChessUp shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chessify or ChessUp?
Chessify ships an update monthly, and ChessUp every 3 weeks. Most recently, Chessify was updated on September 24, 2026 and ChessUp on September 23, 2026.

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