Comparison

Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner vs Chess Shield

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

Head to head
About

Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner

Instantly analyze chess positions from images or videos. Scan diagrams from books or live streams and get engine analysis. Save positions, find related videos, and explore games.

Highlights
  • Scan chess positions from images and video
  • Analyze positions with a chess engine
  • Save scanned positions to a library
  • Find and play related chess videos
  • Explore games matching scanned positions
  • Share scanned diagrams
Features
Read full description

Scan and analyze chess positions from prints and 2d sources on your smartphone or tablet. Like to watch chess videos from your favorite players or streamers? Now you can analyze what they do and why - live on the video! Stop wondering "is f6 good in this position or not?" - just take a picture of a video and analyze the position with the engine! Need a tip while solving chess puzzles or analyzing a diagram from a chess book? Want to find a video with the scanned position? - Chessvision.ai is here for you. Features: - the app opens the Lichess analysis board with all its functionality - save scanned positions to the Diagram Library so you can easily open them later - the app automatically searches for videos matching scanned chess positions and plays them from the time when the position appears - Video Board Explorer lets you play moves and explore videos matching positions on the board. Load PGN of your games and use the videos to improve - the app automatically finds games matching the scanned position - share screenshots and images directly from other apps to Chessvision.ai for instant and convenient scanning of chess positions - share your scanned chess diagrams as images, making it easier to discuss strategies and positions with your friends or chess colleagues Read the Terms of Use here: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Membership available in the app: $5.99/month ($45.99/year) - Unlimited Scans - Unlimited Video Search - Unlimited Video Board Explorer Prices may vary based on your location.

About

Chess Shield

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
Read full description

For chess players who want to actually get better. Endless scrolling steals the hours you'd rather spend improving. Chess Shield blocks the apps that eat your chess time. Try to open one, and a puzzle takes over the screen. Solve it to get past. Every solve moves your ELO. HOW IT WORKS Pick the apps you reach for when you meant to study. Instagram, TikTok, X, whatever's eating you. When you try to open them, a puzzle takes over. Solve it to unlock the app for a few minutes. The puzzles match your level. Type your chess.com or Lichess ELO and we'll start there. Or skip the input and we'll test you with three puzzles. From then on, every puzzle is challenging enough to make you think, solvable enough that you'll get there. Insights show you which tactics keep tripping you up. Your ELO moves in real time on every solve. FREE INCLUDES – Unlimited puzzles, matched to your ELO – 6 starter tactics: Fork, Pin, Skewer, Mate-in-1, Mate-in-2, Back-rank – 1 shielded app – Full ELO tracking – Insights into what you solve and what you miss PRO UNLOCKS – All 52 advanced tactics. Mate-in-3, Discovered Attack, Zwischenzug, endgames. The full library, not just the starters. – See every blind spot. Insights unlocks every theme. Your full weakness map, no locked tiles. – Block every app you want, not just one. Plenty to start on Free. Pro is where you stop guessing what to study. 7-day free trial on the yearly plan. $4.99/month or $39.99/year. WHY IT'S DIFFERENT Most focus apps are guilt machines. Most chess apps want your scroll. Chess Shield does both jobs at once. Every minute in here is measurable progress, not just dopamine. If you've ever wished the time you waste scrolling could be real chess time, this is it. PRIVACY We don't collect anything. No accounts, no analytics, no backend. The apps you block are opaque tokens iOS hands us. We literally can't see them. Everything stays on your device. ——— Subscription details Chess Shield Pro is offered as a monthly ($4.99/month) or yearly ($39.99/year) auto-renewing subscription. The yearly plan includes a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation. The subscription auto-renews unless turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in iPhone Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. Privacy Policy: https://chessshield.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://chessshield.com/terms

Screenshots

Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner4 screens
Chess Shield4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner at 4.8 against Chess Shield's 3.7. Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner also leads on ratings volume (1K vs 3) and review sentiment (69% vs 50%). Chess Shield's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Chess Shield sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner has 1K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner's written reviews are positive against 50% of Chess Shield's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner ships an update every 4 months, Chess Shield weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner versus Chess Shield: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessvision.ai Chess ScannerChess Shield
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (1K ratings) — better3.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews68.6% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1K — better3
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPawel KacprzakAlejandro Trevino Saldana

Customer experience

Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner

All ratings1,048 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral1.6%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews121 reviews
Positive68.6%
Neutral9.1%
Negative22.3%

Chess Shield

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashing issues
  • Inverted board orientation
  • Disappearing saved positions
  • Compatibility problems on M1 Macs

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to save and manage scanned positions
  • Integration with other chess platforms
  • Offline analysis capabilities
  • Support for handwritten chess notation
  • Customizable analysis settings

Chess Shield

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner

Subscriptions2
  • Chessvision.ai Membership$5.991 Month
  • Chessvision.ai Membership$45.991 Year
2 purchases

Chess Shield

Subscriptions2
  • Chess Shield Pro7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Chess Shield Pro$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner free?
Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chess Shield free?
Chess Shield is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner or Chess Shield?
Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner is rated higher. Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Chess Shield averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner or Chess Shield have ads?
Neither Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner nor Chess Shield shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner or Chess Shield?
Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner ships an update every 4 months, and Chess Shield weekly. Most recently, Chessvision.ai Chess Scanner was updated on October 19, 2026 and Chess Shield on October 7, 2026.

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