# ChessManual vs SSAcademy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SSAcademy at none against ChessManual's 2. SSAcademy also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). ChessManual's advantage is iOS requirement (16 vs 18.2). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ChessManual sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. SSAcademy asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for ChessManual against 5.0 for SSAcademy. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

ChessManual ships an update every 2 months, SSAcademy weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ChessManual | SSAcademy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessmanual-learn-and-practice/id1597903654/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ssacademy/id6670340680/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 116 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16** | 18.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Sergei Lazarenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818587669) | [Sridhar Seshadri](https://appshunter.io/developer/963575280) |

## What reviewers say

### ChessManual

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessmanual-learn-and-practice/id1597903654)

Master the game of chess with interactive lessons, puzzles, and classic game analysis. Suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced players, it offers a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.

**Highlights:** Interactive chess puzzles, Games by world champions, Classic and modern chess strategies, Learn and play quests, Kid-friendly lessons, Comprehensive step-by-step lessons, Checkmate challenges

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ChessManual Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| ChessManual Pro Yearly | $24.99 | per year |


### SSAcademy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ssacademy/id6670340680)

Master chess with this comprehensive platform designed for all skill levels. Learn the basics, refine your strategy, and unlock your full potential with tailored resources.

**Highlights:** Chess mastery platform, Resources for all levels, Beginner to advanced content, Strategy refinement, Unlock chess potential

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ChessManual free?

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

### Is SSAcademy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ChessManual or SSAcademy?

ChessManual and SSAcademy are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do ChessManual or SSAcademy have ads?

ChessManual shows ads; SSAcademy does not.

### Which is updated more often, ChessManual or SSAcademy?

ChessManual ships an update every 2 months, and SSAcademy weekly. Most recently, ChessManual was updated on October 21, 2026 and SSAcademy 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.*