# RookStar vs ChessXpanse

The clearest difference is ratings volume: RookStar at 12 against ChessXpanse's 3. RookStar also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RookStar sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.49 per year and ChessXpanse sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for RookStar against 5.0 for ChessXpanse. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

RookStar ships an update every 6 weeks, ChessXpanse every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RookStar | ChessXpanse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rookstar/id1403334296/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessxpanse/id6502375303/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **12** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 104 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Mats Eriksson](https://appshunter.io/developer/789891228) | [Gamejillion, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1090144334) |

## What reviewers say

### RookStar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rookstar/id1403334296)

A challenging puzzle game where you strategically move rooks to target positions. Compete with friends or others in daily challenges. Offers a yearly subscription to remove ads.

**Highlights:** Strategic rook movement, Target position puzzles, Play with friends, Daily challenges, Ad-free subscription

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads 1 year subscription | $2.49 | per year |


### ChessXpanse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessxpanse/id6502375303)

Experience a unique chess variant with dynamic battlefields and new strategic units. Engage in intense, immediate matches where every move is critical to outmaneuver your opponent and achieve victory.

**Highlights:** Dynamic board sizes and starting positions, Three new strategic units: GateKeeper, Mage, Archer, Immediate and intense close-proximity combat, Adaptable strategy for varied gameplay, Focus on tactical piece deployment

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nova Membership | $2.99 | per month |
| Interstellar Membership | $3.99 | per month |
| Quasar Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| Quasar Membership | $5.99 | per month |
| 1000 Star Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 3000 Star Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Star Coins | $5.99 | one-time |
| 15000 Star Coins | $6.99 | one-time |
| 20000 Star Coins | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RookStar free?

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

### Is ChessXpanse free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RookStar or ChessXpanse?

RookStar and ChessXpanse are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 12 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do RookStar or ChessXpanse have ads?

Neither RookStar nor ChessXpanse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RookStar or ChessXpanse?

RookStar ships an update every 6 weeks, and ChessXpanse every 2 months. Most recently, RookStar was updated on October 25, 2026 and ChessXpanse on October 27, 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.*