Comparison

Chess Opener Lite vs ChessM8

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

Head to head
About

Chess Opener Lite

Master chess openings with an interactive trainer and comprehensive database. Build and memorize your own repertoire, compare variations, and track your progress. Works offline and offers extensive opening exploration.

Highlights
  • Chess opening tree with game statistics
  • Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO)
  • Build and edit opening repertoire
  • Interactive opening trainer
  • Offline functionality
  • PGN export
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

Features: - Chess opening tree with game statistics - The Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO) - Compare ECO and opening tree moves side by side in any position - Export chess openings in PGN format - Build your own opening repertoire - Add or edit comments on moves - Automatically classify any sequence of moves using the ECO system - Chess opening explorer highlights moves already in your repertoire - Chess database includes all transpositions - Interactive trainer to memorize your chess openings and variations - Train multiple variations at once against random opponent moves from your repertoire - Set up a starting position for training - Track your training progress - Customize chessboard colors and chess pieces - Supports dark mode - Works completely offline CHESS OPENING EXPLORER Search in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings or browse the chess opening tree. Swipe left or right to switch between the exploration features in any position. BUILD YOUR OPENING REPERTOIRE Add your favorite opening lines to your repertoire using the chess opening explorer. You can always edit the names of your openings and organize them in your repertoire. OPENING TRAINER A simple and efficient method to memorize variations of openings in your repertoire. You can train either white’s moves or black’s moves only or both. Optionally, you can train all variations at once. The trainer chooses the opponent’s moves randomly from your opening repertoire. Chess Opener tracks your progress and shows your stats. Upgrade to Chess Opener PRO to unlock more features: - Unlimited repertoire size - Unlimited depth of openings - 6x larger opening tree with game statistics - Database of top 100+ grandmasters’ repertoires - Powerful chess engine analysis - Import openings in PGN format

About

ChessM8

Engage in correspondence chess with players globally. Plan your moves, communicate with opponents, and invite others to spectate your matches. Receive post-game analysis from a computer engine.

Highlights
  • Correspondence chess play
  • Global player matchmaking
  • Move planning tools
  • In-game chat functionality
  • Spectator mode for games
  • Post-game computer analysis
Features
Read full description

This app allows players around the world to play correspondence chess. It allows players to plan moves, chat with each other, invite others to watch games. It also provides a computer analysis after games are completed.

Screenshots

Chess Opener Lite4 screens
ChessM84 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ChessM8 at 100% against Chess Opener Lite's 43%. ChessM8 also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ChessM8 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Chess Opener Lite's written reviews are positive against 100% of ChessM8's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chess Opener Lite ships an update every 5 weeks, ChessM8 every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on August 18, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Chess Opener Lite versus ChessM8: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChess Opener LiteChessM8
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (17 ratings)5.0 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews42.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings17 — better15
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStanislav BasovnikCorneliu Lupu

Customer experience

Chess Opener Lite

All ratings17 ratings
Positive76.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative23.5%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative57.1%

ChessM8

All ratings15 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Chess Opener Lite

No in-app purchases

None

ChessM8

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chess Opener Lite free?
Chess Opener Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ChessM8 free?
ChessM8 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chess Opener Lite or ChessM8?
ChessM8 is rated higher. Chess Opener Lite averages 4.1 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while ChessM8 averages 5.0 from 15 ratings.
Do Chess Opener Lite or ChessM8 have ads?
Neither Chess Opener Lite nor ChessM8 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chess Opener Lite or ChessM8?
Chess Opener Lite ships an update every 5 weeks, and ChessM8 every 2 weeks. Most recently, Chess Opener Lite was updated on August 18, 2026 and ChessM8 on August 18, 2026.

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