# Readlax vs AroundChess

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Readlax at 95% against AroundChess's 17%. Readlax also leads on rating (4.5 vs 2.2) and ads (none vs shown). AroundChess's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Readlax sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and AroundChess sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Readlax holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Readlax has 55 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 95% of Readlax's written reviews are positive against 17% of AroundChess's.

Readlax ships an update monthly, AroundChess every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Readlax | AroundChess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readlax-brain-productivity/id1529149313/reviews)** | [2.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aroundchess/id6746404970/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **55** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **94.7% of reviews** | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 157 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Readlax, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529149315) | [aroundchess AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/1816680097) |

## What reviewers say

### Readlax

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readlax-brain-productivity/id1529149313)

Enhance cognitive skills with a suite of tools including memory games, speed reading exercises, and a habit tracker. Improve focus, learn touch typing, and organize knowledge with smart note-taking features.

**Highlights:** Habit tracker, Memory games, Speed reading exercises, Smart note-taking, Focus timer, Touch typing training

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Readlax PRO Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| $5.99/month Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| Readlax PRO Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Readlax PRO Yearly | $44.99 | per year |
| Readlax for Life, billed once | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🧠 Effective brain training games
- 💡 Variety of exercises (memory, focus, reading speed)
- 📈 Progress tracking feature
- ✨ Clean and organized layout

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ Trial period confusion/unexpected charges
- 🤔 Instructions can be confusing sometimes
- 🔄 Repetitive exercises over time
- 💰 Perceived high subscription costs
- 📱 Some users experienced issues with app functionality on iPhone

**Reported bugs**

- Trial period confusion leading to unexpected charges
- Difficulty understanding game stages/instructions
- Visual clarity issues with text/background colors
- Specific game glitches (e.g., Memory Number marking correct answers as incorrect)
- App not working well on iPhone for one user

**Requested features**

- Improve UI for better navigation
- Add more game variety to reduce repetitiveness
- Include a 'How to use the app' section
- Add social media sharing for scores
- Improve visibility of text in certain games


### AroundChess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aroundchess/id6746404970)

Analyze your chess games with detailed metrics, track your progress with interactive charts, and train with tactical puzzles and endgame scenarios. Experiment with positions in an interactive playground to improve your strategy and win more games.

**Highlights:** Deep game analysis with PGN import and Chess.com linking, Move-by-move accuracy metrics and mistake breakdowns, Opening explorer with success rate statistics, Interactive rating charts and win/loss/draw stats, Endgame and tactical drills powered by Stockfish, Interactive playground for position experimentation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $4.49 | per month |
| Premium Subscription (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Subscription (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| 6-Month Premium Subscription | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| Yearly Premium Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Subscription (Yearly) | $79.99 | per year |
| 1 Analysis Token | $0.49 | one-time |
| 5 Analysis Tokens | $1.49 | one-time |
| 10 Analysis Tokens | $2.79 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Readlax free?

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

### Is AroundChess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Readlax or AroundChess?

Readlax is rated higher. Readlax averages 4.5 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while AroundChess averages 2.2 from 6 ratings.

### Do Readlax or AroundChess have ads?

AroundChess shows ads; Readlax does not.

### Which is updated more often, Readlax or AroundChess?

Readlax ships an update monthly, and AroundChess every 2 weeks. Most recently, Readlax was updated on November 3, 2026 and AroundChess on October 30, 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.*