Comparison

ChessManual vs Chess Masterclasses

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

Head to head
About

ChessManual

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
Read full description

Learn chess in short, focused steps—and turn every idea into a move on the board. ChessManual is an interactive chess book for beginners, kids, parents, and club players who want a clear path from the rules to confident play. Instead of memorizing disconnected positions, you learn an idea, check your understanding, and practice it in a matching puzzle. BUILD A SOLID FOUNDATION • Start with the board, piece movement, special rules, and basic checkmates. • Continue through tactics, positional ideas, strategy, openings, and endgames. • Answer quick questions inside lessons to make sure each idea sticks. • Return to reference articles whenever you want to review a concept. PRACTICE ON AN INTERACTIVE BOARD • Solve chess positions grouped by theme and difficulty. • See the goal and the side to move before every puzzle. • Ask for a hint when you need a nudge. • Work through checkmate challenges and practical tactical patterns. • Replay annotated games and learn from the plans of world champions. MAKE DAILY PROGRESS VISIBLE • Track completed lessons and puzzles. • Build a daily learning streak and unlock achievements. • Review your recent practice activity. • See accuracy and hint-use trends from your own moves. KNOW WHAT TO PRACTICE NEXT ChessManual turns your practice history into useful direction. Detailed Insights can highlight weak themes, compare performance by topic and difficulty, and recommend matching puzzles—so your next session starts with a clear goal. CHESSMANUAL PRO Upgrade when you are ready for: • Unlimited hints • Detailed progress and weak-topic insights • Personalized puzzle recommendations • Streak recovery without watching an ad • An ad-free learning experience The app is free to download and includes an optional ChessManual Pro subscription. Prices, billing periods, and any introductory offer are shown in the app before purchase and may vary by storefront. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled in your App Store account settings. Learn more and get support: https://slazarenko.com/apps/chess-learn-and-play/ Advertising information: https://slazarenko.com/app-ads.txt Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://slazarenko.com/privacy/

About

Chess Masterclasses

Features
Read full description

Unlock the Secrets of Chess Legends, Study Iconic Games, Learn Master-Level Strategy, and Improve Your Play with Expert Commentary. Chess Masterclasses is the ultimate educational app for chess lovers. Whether you're a beginner eager to learn strategy or an advanced player aiming to sharpen your tactical edge, this app brings history’s greatest chess games to your fingertips, complete with deep analysis and professional commentary. Learn from the Greatest Chess Minds Step into the minds of grandmasters. Review iconic games played by world champions like Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, Magnus Carlsen, Jose Capablanca, and many more. Each move is broken down with insightful commentary, giving you a front-row seat to master-level decision-making. Interactive Game Review Each featured match is presented with an intuitive, interactive board. Tap through moves, pause for thought, or jump to critical moments. Our detailed move-by-move breakdowns explain tactics, openings, endgames, positional play, and the psychology behind each decision. Perfect for All Skill Levels Whether you're just learning how to play chess or studying for tournaments, Chess Masterclass adapts to your level: - Beginners can follow commentary to build foundational understanding - Intermediate players gain insights into strategy, tempo, sacrifices, and transitions - Advanced users explore grandmaster-level ideas, complex variations, and historical context Why Choose Chess Masterclass? - Legendary Games Library: Hundreds of classic and modern games analyzed in depth - Expert Commentary: Learn why each move was made, not just what happened - Searchable Content: Filter by player, era, opening, or theme - Regular Updates: New games and commentary added frequently - Offline Mode: Study your favorite games anywhere, anytime - Beautiful UI: Clean, elegant interface optimized for iPhone and iPad Key Features: - Instructive commentary from experienced players - Move-by-move interactive analysis - Famous chess openings and traps explained - Deep dives into tactics, endgames, and positional ideas - Historic matches from tournaments, championships, and rivalries - Regularly updated content to keep learning fresh For the Global Chess Community Chess is a universal language, and Chess Masterclass is your companion for lifelong improvement. Whether you play online, at the club, or over-the-board with friends, you’ll build a stronger game by understanding how the masters think. Start your journey today, download Chess Masterclasses and transform how you study chess. Learn from the best to become your best.

Screenshots

ChessManual4 screens
Chess Masterclasses4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Chess Masterclasses at none against ChessManual's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ChessManual ships an update every 2 months, Chess Masterclasses monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
ChessManual versus Chess Masterclasses: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessManualChess Masterclasses
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS1615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size116 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSergei LazarenkoDAVIDE CASARINI

In-app purchases

None

ChessManual

No in-app purchases

None

Chess Masterclasses

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ChessManual free?
ChessManual is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chess Masterclasses free?
Chess Masterclasses is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ChessManual or Chess Masterclasses have ads?
ChessManual shows ads; Chess Masterclasses does not.
Which is updated more often, ChessManual or Chess Masterclasses?
ChessManual ships an update every 2 months, and Chess Masterclasses monthly. Most recently, ChessManual was updated on September 22, 2026 and Chess Masterclasses on October 7, 2026.

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