# Verbal Chess vs Openings Mastermind

The clearest difference is rating: Openings Mastermind at 4.3 against Verbal Chess's 3.5. Openings Mastermind also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). Verbal Chess's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 50%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Verbal Chess sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Openings Mastermind asks for nothing beyond the download.

Openings Mastermind holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 6 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of Verbal Chess's written reviews are positive against 50% of Openings Mastermind's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Verbal Chess | Openings Mastermind |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/verbal-chess/id1602860192/reviews) | **[4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openings-mastermind/id6448386251/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 90 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Conceptual Software, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1229226443) | [Christian Heise](https://appshunter.io/developer/1632898424) |

## What reviewers say

### Verbal Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/verbal-chess/id1602860192)

Play chess using only your voice, making it accessible for everyone. Control every aspect of the game, from moves to navigation, without touching the screen. Ideal for multitasking or those with physical limitations.

**Highlights:** Voice-controlled gameplay, Hands-free operation, Accessible for physical limitations, Blindfold chess mode, Full app navigation by voice, Play against AI or global players

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Verbal Chess - Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Verbal Chess - Annual | $14.99 | per year |
| Verbal Chess - Perpetual | $39.99 | one-time |


### Openings Mastermind

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openings-mastermind/id6448386251)

Master chess openings with this app. Import studies, explore with advanced engines, and practice specific lines through repetition. Track your progress and improve your game.

**Highlights:** Import Lichess Studies or PGNs, Explore openings with Stockfish 15, Practice openings by repetition, Smart practice queue, Track learning progress

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Verbal Chess free?

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

### Is Openings Mastermind free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Verbal Chess or Openings Mastermind?

Openings Mastermind is rated higher. Verbal Chess averages 3.5 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Openings Mastermind averages 4.3 from 6 ratings.

### Do Verbal Chess or Openings Mastermind have ads?

Verbal Chess shows ads; Openings Mastermind does not.

### Which is updated more often, Verbal Chess or Openings Mastermind?

Verbal Chess ships an update fortnightly, and Openings Mastermind fortnightly. Most recently, Verbal Chess was updated on October 17, 2026 and Openings Mastermind 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.*