# VarCo vs Chess Shield

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VarCo at none against Chess Shield's 2. VarCo also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). Chess Shield's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess Shield sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. VarCo asks for nothing beyond the download.

VarCo ships an update every 3 weeks, Chess Shield weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VarCo | Chess Shield |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-shield/id6772290132/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 165 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iSchool Bulgaria OOD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1488481481) | [Alejandro Trevino Saldana](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772290134) |

## What reviewers say

### VarCo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/varco/id1563161622)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Chess Shield

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-shield/id6772290132)

This app helps chess players improve by blocking distracting apps and replacing them with chess puzzles. Solve puzzles to advance your ELO and identify tactical weaknesses. It offers a free tier with basic features and a Pro version for advanced tactics and unlimited app blocking.

**Highlights:** Blocks distracting apps, Replaces app opens with chess puzzles, Puzzles matched to ELO, Tracks ELO in real-time, Tactical insights, Unlimited puzzles (Free), Block multiple apps (Pro)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chess Shield Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Chess Shield Pro | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VarCo free?

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

### Is Chess Shield free?

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

### Do VarCo or Chess Shield have ads?

Neither VarCo nor Chess Shield shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VarCo or Chess Shield?

VarCo ships an update every 3 weeks, and Chess Shield weekly. Most recently, VarCo was updated on October 1, 2026 and Chess Shield on October 7, 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.*