# Puzzled vs Starchess

The clearest difference is rating: Starchess at 5.0 against Puzzled's 4.5. Starchess also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2). Puzzled's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (16 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Puzzled sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Starchess asks for nothing beyond the download.

Starchess holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Puzzled has 16 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Puzzled ships an update every 3 weeks, Starchess every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Puzzled | Starchess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puzzled-chess-trainer/id1493090358/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starchess/id6446507272/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 21 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Liam Mccluskey](https://appshunter.io/developer/1493090357) | [Nathan Lane](https://appshunter.io/developer/1422920165) |

## What reviewers say

### Puzzled

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puzzled-chess-trainer/id1493090358)

Enhance your chess tactics with over 8000 puzzles, from beginner to expert. Test your skills in timed Puzzle Rush or blindfold challenges. Track your progress and compete on the leaderboard.

**Highlights:** Rated chess puzzles, Puzzle Rush mode, Blindfold chess puzzles, Progress tracking, Leaderboard, Unlimited puzzle access with Gold Membership

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Silver Membership | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gold Membership | $4.99 | one-time |


### Starchess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starchess/id6446507272)

Experience chess with a unique twist on a three-dimensional board. Pieces gain new movement capabilities, allowing for strategic plays in up, down, and diagonal directions. Enjoy a fresh challenge to your chess skills.

**Highlights:** Three-dimensional chess board, Traditional chess rules, Expanded piece movement (up, down, diagonal), Unique strategic gameplay

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Puzzled free?

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

### Is Starchess free?

Starchess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Puzzled or Starchess?

Starchess is rated higher. Puzzled averages 4.5 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Starchess averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Puzzled or Starchess have ads?

Neither Puzzled nor Starchess shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Puzzled or Starchess?

Puzzled ships an update every 3 weeks, and Starchess every 4 months. Most recently, Puzzled was updated on September 10, 2026 and Starchess on June 4, 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.*