# Chessify vs ChessBase Mobile Chess

The clearest difference is rating: Chessify at 4.4 against ChessBase Mobile Chess's 2.9. Chessify also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (397 vs 18). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chessify sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and ChessBase Mobile Chess sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chessify holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chessify has 397 ratings behind it against 18, 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 39% of ChessBase Mobile Chess's.

Chessify ships an update monthly, ChessBase Mobile Chess every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chessify | ChessBase Mobile Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (397 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessify-magic-chess-tools/id1397066775/reviews)** | [2.9 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessbase-mobile-chess/id6739000093/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **397** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | **46.2% of reviews** | 38.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 139 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chessify Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1397066774) | [ChessBase GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/417720797) |

## What reviewers say

### Chessify

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessify-magic-chess-tools/id1397066775)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bronze 1 Month | $0.99 | per month |
| Silver 1 month | $2.49 | per month |
| Gold 1 Month | $7.99 | per month |
| Bronze 12 months | $7.99 | per year |
| Amateur | $12.99 | per month |
| Silver 12 months | $14.99 | per year |
| Gold 12 months | $49.99 | per year |
| Master | $59.99 | per month |
| Amateur Yearly | $129.99 | per year |
| Master | $559.99 | per year |
| SuperFast analysis - 1000 sec. | $0.99 | one-time |
| SuperFast analysis - 10000sec. | $3.99 | one-time |
| SuperFast analysis - 30000sec. | $5.99 | one-time |
| SuperFast analysis - 100000sec | $13.99 | one-time |
| SuperFast analysis - unlimited | $34.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📸 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### ChessBase Mobile Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessbase-mobile-chess/id6739000093)

Access a vast chess game database, save and analyze your own games, and practice openings. This app offers advanced notation and sharing features, with a free tier and optional premium upgrades for more extensive cloud storage and search capabilities.

**Highlights:** Access 13+ million chess games, Save and sync personal game databases, Analyze games with built-in engine, Live opening book statistics, Create and practice opening repertoires, Advanced game notation and sharing, PGN file compatibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ChessBase Premium (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chessify free?

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

### Is ChessBase Mobile Chess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chessify or ChessBase Mobile Chess?

Chessify is rated higher. Chessify averages 4.4 out of 5 from 397 ratings, while ChessBase Mobile Chess averages 2.9 from 18 ratings.

### Do Chessify or ChessBase Mobile Chess have ads?

Neither Chessify nor ChessBase Mobile Chess shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chessify or ChessBase Mobile Chess?

Chessify ships an update monthly, and ChessBase Mobile Chess every 6 months. Most recently, Chessify was updated on September 24, 2026 and ChessBase Mobile Chess on September 21, 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.*