Comparison

Chess Timer vs The Chess Clock App

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

Head to head
About

Chess Timer

A straightforward chess clock app designed for timing matches. It offers essential functions like pausing and resetting the timer, with customizable time intervals. The app is free and free of ads, in-app purchases, and tracking.

Highlights
  • Countdown timer
  • Pause clock function
  • Reset timer button
  • Customizable time intervals
  • Ad-free experience
Read full description

Simple chess timer with basic functions. Free. No in-app purchases, no ads, no tracking, just a super simple countdown timer. Tap on your side to start your opponent's timer. The screen will turn red once the timer runs out. Features - Pause the clock - Reset timer with the tap of a button - Choose your own time interval

About

The Chess Clock App

This app provides a customizable timer for various board games, including chess and shogi. It supports multiple time control modes like Sudden Death, Fischer, Byoyomi, and Handicap, allowing for individual player settings. Ideal for 2-4 player matches.

Highlights
  • Multiple time control modes
  • Fischer Mode support
  • Byoyomi Mode support
  • Sudden Death Mode support
  • Handicap time control
  • Customizable per-player settings
  • Supports 2-4 player games
Features
Read full description

The Chess Clock is a simple yet powerful game timer app, designed not only for two-player matches like shogi and chess, but also for 3–4 player games and various board game scenarios. Supported time control modes: - Sudden Death A classic format where the game ends when a player's time runs out. Each player’s initial time can be customized individually. - Fischer Mode A format where a fixed amount of time (e.g., +10 seconds) is added after each move. Both initial time and increment time can be set per player. - Byoyomi Mode After a player's main time runs out, each move must be played within a fixed number of seconds (e.g., 30 seconds). The byoyomi time and when it starts can be customized for each match. - Handicap Time Control Customize different time settings for each player to create a balanced or challenging match using any of the above formats. The app is perfect for serious chess and shogi matches, as well as for multiplayer board games with 3–4 players. With flexible per-player settings, it adapts to a wide range of game styles and situations. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Chess Timer4 screens
The Chess Clock App3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Chess Timer at 100% against The Chess Clock App's 33%. Chess Timer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). The Chess Clock App's advantage is ratings volume (31 vs 8). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. The Chess Clock App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Chess Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chess Timer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 31 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Chess Timer's written reviews are positive against 33% of The Chess Clock App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chess Timer ships an update every 2 days, The Chess Clock App every 36 months. The most recent releases landed on July 7, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Chess Timer versus The Chess Clock App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChess TimerThe Chess Clock App
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (8 ratings) — better4.6 (31 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings831 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 36 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.3 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size0 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperManuel LopezVida Apps Incorporated

Customer experience

Chess Timer

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

The Chess Clock App

All ratings31 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral3.2%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

Chess Timer

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

The Chess Clock App

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Plan - 1 Month1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • Premium Plan - 1 Year1 Month trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Chess Timer free?
Chess Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Chess Clock App free?
The Chess Clock App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Chess Timer or The Chess Clock App?
Chess Timer is rated higher. Chess Timer averages 5.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while The Chess Clock App averages 4.6 from 31 ratings.
Do Chess Timer or The Chess Clock App have ads?
The Chess Clock App shows ads; Chess Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Chess Timer or The Chess Clock App?
Chess Timer ships an update every 2 days, and The Chess Clock App every 36 months. Most recently, Chess Timer was updated on July 7, 2026 and The Chess Clock App on September 11, 2026.

Other comparisons