Comparison

PVChess vs Chessable

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

Head to head
About

PVChess

Master chess with an AI tutor that provides hints, lessons, and game analysis. Improve your openings, middlegames, and endgames by playing at your skill level and reviewing every move.

Highlights
  • AI chess tutor
  • Personalized hints and feedback
  • Lessons on openings, middlegames, endgames
  • Game review and analysis
  • Play at your skill level
Features
Read full description

Improve your chess with an AI tutor, strong computer opponents, interactive lessons, and detailed game reviews. Learn openings, tactics, middlegames, and endgames with smart hints and move-by-move feedback. Play at your own level, analyze mistakes, and build stronger chess skills through guided practice. The app also includes two interactive classic chess books: Chess Fundamentals and Modern Ideas in Chess. Study timeless strategies, annotated games, and essential chess concepts directly inside the app. Features: * AI tutor with hints and feedback * Strong computer opponents * Interactive lessons and practice * Opening and endgame training * Game review and analysis * Save and replay games anytime

About

Chessable

Master chess openings, tactics, and endgames with a science-backed system. Learn from top players and retain moves through spaced repetition. Track your progress and join a community of players improving their game.

Highlights
  • Spaced repetition system
  • 1,000+ chess courses
  • Learn from top players
  • MoveTrainer® for practice
  • Offline mode (PRO)
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

Master Chess Like a Grandmaster Chessable is the science-backed way to learn chess openings, tactics, and endgames—and actually remember them. Used by beginners and Grandmasters alike, our spaced repetition system ensures you’ll never forget a move again. What Makes Chessable Unique? • 1,000+ Courses – Learn from Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, Judit Polgar and other top players, who help you understand each move—not just memorize them. • Spaced Repetition – Train smarter with MoveTrainer®. • Offline Mode – Download courses and study anytime, anywhere (PRO feature). • From First Moves to Mastery – Learn opening repertoires, crush endgames, and dominate tactics. Why Chessable Works… • Backed by Science: Our method is based on cognitive research for long-term mastery. • Trusted by 2 million+ Players: Join a community of chess improvers leveling up their game. • Progress You Can Feel: Track your improvement with stats and streaks. Don’t Just Take Our Word For It… • • • • • "Want to work on an opening repertoire? Check. Want to improve your endgame? Check. Want to dominate in the middle game? Check." - HeyBinet! • • • • • "The MoveTrainer is the real benefit. This allows you to practice the moves and see the variations set up and play out in real time." - Mazurekphoto If you like Chessable, try Chessable PRO for 7 days free! Upgrade for: • Access to 300+ short courses • Unlimited Variation Preview - get a sample of any paid course you want! • Full offline training - No Wifi? No problem. Monthly and yearly subscriptions are available in the app. Terms of Use: https://www.chessable.com/terms/ Terms of use for auto-renewable subscriptions: Your subscription will be charged to your Apple account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew (at the duration selected) unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Current subscription may not be canceled during the active subscription period; however, you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes account settings after purchase. Privacy policy: https://www.chessable.com/privacy/ Find us on… Team: http://www.chessable.com/about Twitter: http://twitter.com/chessable Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chessable YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/chessable

Screenshots

PVChess3 screens
Chessable4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PVChess at none against Chessable's 2. PVChess also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 50%). Chessable's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (6K vs 23). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement 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. Chessable sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. PVChess asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chessable holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chessable has 6K ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of PVChess's written reviews are positive against 50% of Chessable's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PVChess ships an update every 2 months, Chessable every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
PVChess versus Chessable: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPVChessChessable
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (23 ratings)4.8 (6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.8% of reviews — better49.9% of reviews
Number of ratings236K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB55 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperJianfeng WuChess.com

Customer experience

PVChess

All ratings23 ratings
Positive91.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.7%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive70.8%
Neutral8.3%
Negative20.8%

Chessable

All ratings5,985 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral1.4%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews337 reviews
Positive49.9%
Neutral10.4%
Negative39.8%

Bugs and requests

PVChess

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Chessable

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inconsistent login and account issues
  • Unreliable offline functionality
  • Glitches with move tracking and progress
  • Video playback problems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Analysis board and opening explorer
  • Ability to customize font size
  • Landscape mode support
  • Improved video playback controls
  • Syncing progress across devices

In-app purchases

None

PVChess

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Chessable

Subscriptions2
  • Chessable Monthly Membership$11.991 Month
  • Chessable Annual Membership$74.991 Year

Questions

Is PVChess free?
PVChess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chessable free?
Chessable is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PVChess or Chessable?
Chessable is rated higher. PVChess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while Chessable averages 4.8 from 6K ratings.
Do PVChess or Chessable have ads?
PVChess shows ads; Chessable does not.
Which is updated more often, PVChess or Chessable?
PVChess ships an update every 2 months, and Chessable every 3 weeks. Most recently, PVChess was updated on October 24, 2026 and Chessable on October 25, 2026.

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