Comparison

Chess Opener PRO vs Nimzo

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

Head to head
About

Chess Opener PRO

Master chess openings with a comprehensive trainer and explorer. Analyze grandmaster repertoires, build your own opening lines, and memorize variations with interactive training. Works offline with no ads.

Highlights
  • Chess opening tree with statistics
  • Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO)
  • Grandmaster repertoire database
  • Stockfish engine analysis
  • Interactive opening trainer
  • Build and manage opening repertoire
  • PGN import/export
Features
Read full description

Features: - Chess opening tree with game statistics - The Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO) - Database of top 100+ grandmasters’ repertoires - Stockfish chess engine analysis - Compare ECO, opening tree and engine moves side by side in any position - Import and 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 - No ads - Works completely offline CHESS OPENING EXPLORER Search in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, browse the chess opening tree, explore the opening repertoires of famous chess grandmasters, or ask the chess engine to find the best moves. 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 or import your openings in PGN format from other chess programs. 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.

About

Nimzo

Master chess openings with a smart flashcard system that uses spaced repetition to build lasting memory. Actively recall moves and variations to keep your repertoire sharp and ensure your preparation sticks when it matters most.

Highlights
  • Smart flashcard review system
  • Personal opening repertoire building
  • Memorize main lines and variations
  • Earn XP and track progress
  • Create custom or community decks
  • Spaced repetition learning
Features
Read full description

Are chess openings holding back your progress? Ever study an opening—only to forget it when you're at the board? Nimzo uses a smart flashcard system that shows you opening lines exactly when you're about to forget them. By reviewing at the right moment, you build lasting memory so your preparation actually sticks when it matters most. Instead of passively reading theory, you actively recall moves and variations through spaced repetition — the proven method for long-term retention. Over time, Nimzo learns what you know and what you don't, keeping your repertoire sharp without wasting time on lines you've already mastered. With Nimzo you can (subscription required): - Study opening lines through a smart flashcard review system - Build and maintain a personal opening repertoire over time - Memorize main lines and variations so they stick at the board - Earn XP for study activity and track your progress over time - Create your own decks or study decks shared by the community Whether you're preparing a full repertoire or picking up a new opening for the first time, Nimzo makes sure you never forget your preparation when it counts. --- SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Access to Nimzo requires a subscription. Please be aware of the following: - Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period at the cost of the chosen subscription plan - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to Account Settings after purchase - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription, where applicable --- Terms of Use: https://nimzochess.com/termsofuse Privacy Policy: https://nimzochess.com/privacypolicy Terms & Conditions: https://nimzochess.com/termsandconditions

Screenshots

Chess Opener PRO4 screens
Nimzo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Nimzo at Free against Chess Opener PRO's $8.99. Nimzo also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). Chess Opener PRO's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). On ads 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

Nimzo is free to download; Chess Opener PRO costs $8.99 up front. Nimzo sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Chess Opener PRO asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chess Opener PRO holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Opener PRO has 80 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chess Opener PRO ships an update every 5 weeks, Nimzo every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Chess Opener PRO versus Nimzo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChess Opener PRONimzo
Price$8.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (80 ratings) — better4.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews75.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings80 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size149 MB51 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperStanislav BasovnikMaximilian Leiwig

Customer experience

Chess Opener PRO

All ratings80 ratings
Positive83.8%
Neutral5.0%
Negative11.3%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive75.9%
Neutral7.4%
Negative16.7%

Nimzo

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

Chess Opener PRO

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Invalid PGN import
  • Crashes quite often
  • Repeats same variation
  • Cannot review lines while training
  • App not functioning with iOS 16.7.4
Show 1 more
  • PGN import is tedious and doesn't support variants

Requested features

12 requests
  • Include position setting
  • Start study from a later position
  • Multiple folders for simultaneous practice
  • Option to switch between figure visibility modes (normal, queen pieces, none)
  • Blindfold practice option
Show 7 more
  • Show +1 for capturing a pawn
  • iCloud sync across devices
  • Organize repertoires (move, sort, add folders)
  • Predefine variants not to reappear during training
  • User guide or help information
  • Support for split screen
  • Fix compatibility with iOS 16.7.4

Nimzo

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Chess Opener PRO

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Nimzo

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly access3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Monthly access$8.991 Month
  • Yearly access3 Days trial$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly access3 Days trial$89.991 Year

Questions

Is Chess Opener PRO free?
Chess Opener PRO costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Nimzo free?
Nimzo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Chess Opener PRO or Nimzo?
Chess Opener PRO is rated higher. Chess Opener PRO averages 4.4 out of 5 from 80 ratings, while Nimzo averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Chess Opener PRO or Nimzo have ads?
Neither Chess Opener PRO nor Nimzo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chess Opener PRO or Nimzo?
Chess Opener PRO ships an update every 5 weeks, and Nimzo every 2 weeks. Most recently, Chess Opener PRO was updated on November 11, 2026 and Nimzo on November 5, 2026.

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