Chess Royale vs Play Chess for iMessage
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chess Royale
Engage in the classic game of chess with millions worldwide. This app offers AI challenges, multiplayer matches, and extensive training tools including puzzles and post-game analysis to improve your strategic skills.
- Play against AI
- Multiplayer matches
- Chess puzzles
- Post-game analysis
- Beginner and advanced training
- Multiple game modes
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► THE ONLY CHESS APP YOU NEED Whether you’re a complete beginner or a highly experienced player, Chess Royale has everything you could need to enjoy one of the world’s greatest board games on your mobile device. Play with the AI, with friends, or with millions of strangers all over the world, then train your chess skills with tutorials, puzzles, and post-game analysis. One of the greatest things about chess is that there’s always something new to learn, and this beautifully designed app will allow you to keep on discovering the magic of chess and enhancing your love of the game day after day. ► WHY CHESS? ◾ With a history that stretches back over millennia, chess is both a vital cultural artefact and a beloved pastime that brings together millions of players all over the world. ◾ Renowned as a fierce test of the intellect, chess provides incredible training for your brain. Regularly playing chess and solving puzzles can train your strategic skills, develop logical and lateral thinking, help with learning and understanding psychology, improve your analysis and enhance your memory. ◾ It’s fun! Chess may be intimidating for beginners, but the more you learn and the better you understand the game, the more entertaining and rewarding it becomes. There’s some reason why it has remained among the most popular board games in the world for centuries, after all. ► WHY CHESS ROYALE? ◾ It pays to be popular: With over 50 000 000 players across all popular platforms, Chess Royale ensures there’s always a real opponent of similar skill online and ready to play in a variety of multiplayer formats. ◾ Endless variations: Not only can you challenge real players of different skill levels, you can also play in eight different modes. Play blitzes with varying time limitations, use the notifications system to play with friends when they’re online, test yourself in private against the game’s AI, and enter and arrange tournaments of various formats for more multiplayer fun. ◾ More than just a game: Chess Royale boasts more than 5000 chess puzzles to help you train specific aspects of your game. The app also features analysis tools that you can use post-match to help with your learning and development. And there is a trainer for beginners and more advanced players to get a better grasp of this intensely rich and complex game. Despite the wonders of modern technology, you’ll be hard pressed to find a mobile game that’s as challenging, enjoyable, and intellectually satisfying as chess. Whether you’re looking for just a new game to play online or a trainer to help you take the very first steps in exploring the magic of chess, Chess Royale offers something extra. Download the app now to discover the ultimate mobile chess environment. ►Vip Subscription: - You can subscribe to Vip membership to play without any ads, unlock all purchasable deck packs and play infinite puzzles every day. Also you can use infinite hints while solving chess puzzles - You are able to choose from three subscription options: a weekly subscription (free for the first 3 days) for $4.99 USD, a monthly subscription for $14.99 USD, an annual subscription for $79.99 USD - Subscription payments will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of your purchase and upon commencement of each renewal term. Subscription with a free trial period will automatically renew to a paid subscription. You can cancel your subscription or free trial in the iTunes settings at least 24-hours before the end of the free trial period. The cancellation will take effect the day after the last day of the current subscription period and you will be downgraded to the free service. - Please note that any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a premium subscription during the free trial period. - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase Privacy Policy: https://say.games/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://say.games/terms-of-use
Play Chess for iMessage
Engage in unlimited chess matches directly through iMessage with friends. Customize your game with different boards and pieces. Enjoy a casual, timer-free experience without registration or in-app purchases.
- Unlimited chess games
- Play via iMessage
- Customizable boards and pieces
- Play multiple friends simultaneously
- No timers or ratings
- No registration required
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Play unlimited chess games with your friends via iMessage! Chess, ajedrez, xadrez, satranç, scacchi, schach, șah, šachy, şahmat… no matter the language, no matter the name, it's known as the best strategy game in the world. - Choose your favorite board and pieces! - Play multiple friends at once! - Keep it fun, friendly and casual! No timers or ratings to worry about - and no registration required. - App is 100% free - with no in-app purchases. Playing chess has never been so easy! Chess is the most popular game of all time! And Chess.com is the #1 place to play chess online with your friends and other players from all over the world! Please share your suggestions and comments with us. Our support team is happy to help you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! ABOUT CHESS.COM: Chess.com is created by chess players and people who love chess! Team: http://www.chess.com/about Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chess Twitter: http://twitter.com/chesscom YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/wwwchesscom TwitchTV: http://www.twitch.com/chess
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Chess Royale at 4.5 against Play Chess for iMessage's 3.1. Chess Royale also leads on review sentiment (60% vs 29%) and ratings volume (20K vs 170). Play Chess for iMessage's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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
Both are free to download. Chess Royale sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Play Chess for iMessage asks for nothing beyond the download.
Chess Royale holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Royale has 20K ratings behind it against 170, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Chess Royale's written reviews are positive against 29% of Play Chess for iMessage's.
Chess Royale ships an update every 5 weeks, Play Chess for iMessage daily. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chess Royale | Play Chess for iMessage |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (20K ratings) — better | 3.1 (170 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 59.5% of reviews — better | 29.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 20K — better | 170 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Daily — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #151 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 490 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SayGames LTD | Chess.com, LLC |
Customer experience
Chess Royale
Play Chess for iMessage
User reviews
Chess Royale
From 20K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Enjoyable gameplay
- 🚀 Seamless matchmaking
- 💡 Helpful chess lessons and puzzles
- 🤩 Great for learning and improving chess skills
Room to improve
- 🤬 Excessive and disruptive advertisements
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🕰️ Long wait times between games due to ads
- 🤖 Suspicion of playing against bots instead of real players
Play Chess for iMessage
From 170 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to play without knowing chess rules
- 🎮 Fun gameplay mechanics for iMessage
- 🎨 Theme customizer available
- 🔄 Move guide and helpful features
- 🎬 Can convert wins to GIF format
Room to improve
- 🚫 Cannot uninstall app (major recurring issue)
- 🐛 iCloud login error persists despite being logged in
- ❌ App doesn't show on home screen
- 🔄 Must exit and reopen app to see opponent's moves
- ⚠️ Only playable in portrait mode
Bugs and requests
Chess Royale
Reported bugs
4 issues- Incorrect puzzle solutions being marked as wrong
- Game losses due to connection issues or app freezes
- Inconsistent trophy/ranking system
- Inability to report cheating or suspicious behavior
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to play longer timed games
- Option to disable ads for a one-time fee
- More advanced chess analysis and training features
- Improved matchmaking to pair players of similar skill levels
Play Chess for iMessage
Reported bugs
11 issues- iCloud authentication error when already logged in
- App cannot be uninstalled from device
- No home screen icon appears after installation
- Game doesn't work with group chats over 2 people
- Time calculation error giving opponent extra time
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- Unconfirmed moves being made automatically
- App freezes requiring phone restart
- First move triggers iCloud login requirement
- Message send failures requiring game restart
- VPN blocks app functionality
- Haptic feedback cannot be disabled
Requested features
11 requests- Confirmation dialog for accidental game reviews
- Uninstall functionality
- Ability to choose piece color or randomize
- CPU/AI opponent mode
- Fischer random chess mode
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- Android cross-platform compatibility
- Sticker support
- Haptic feedback toggle option
- Auto-update moves without closing app
- Resend option for failed messages
- Link chess.com account integration
In-app purchases
Chess Royale
- Weekly Vip3 Days trial2 variants$7.997 Days
- Monthly Vip$19.991 Month
- Annual Vip$39.991 Year
- Tiny Coins Pack$0.99
- Tiny Gems Pack$1.99
- Coins Pack Offer$3.99
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- Disable Ads Forever$4.99
- Medium Gems Pack$6.99
- Large Gems Pack$19.99
Play Chess for iMessage
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Chess Royale free?
Is Play Chess for iMessage free?
Which has better reviews, Chess Royale or Play Chess for iMessage?
Do Chess Royale or Play Chess for iMessage have ads?
Which is updated more often, Chess Royale or Play Chess for iMessage?
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