The Chess Clock App vs Parlor
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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/
Parlor
This app brings the fun of game night to your phone with a variety of social games, including detective mysteries and party classics. It's designed for groups to interact, laugh, and collaborate, offering immersive experiences with custom clues and puzzles.
- Instant party games
- Immersive mystery experiences
- Face-to-face group interaction
- Easy hosting and customization
- Custom clues with photos and AR
- Social deduction and creative games
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Your Pocket Game Night Parlor brings the best parts of game night to your phone. From detective mysteries to party classics, play social games that get everyone talking, laughing, and working together—anywhere, anytime. INSTANT PARTY GAMES Jump into quick social games perfect for any group—bluffing games, creative challenges, deduction puzzles, and more. Fast party games where you bluff, guess, deduce, and debate. No setup, no cleanup, just pure fun. MYSTERIES THAT COME ALIVE Host immersive experiences where your space becomes the game board. Print evidence, and take images to hide clues in real locations, unlock puzzles by scanning objects, and watch friends piece together the mystery. BUILT FOR GROUPS Every game is designed to get people interacting face-to-face. Share theories, vote together, collaborate on puzzles, call out bluffs. Whether you're hosting or playing, everyone's engaged. EASY TO HOST, MAGIC TO PLAY Setting up takes minutes. Choose a game, customize if you want, and invite your crew. Hosts can monitor progress and drop hints in real-time. Players just experience the magic unfolding through their phones. WHAT YOU CAN PLAY - Fast party games for casual hangouts - Social deduction and creative games - Full mystery experiences with interconnected puzzles - Custom clues using photos, videos, sounds, PDFs, and AR Parlor brings people together for memorable, flexible, social fun. Download Parlor. Game night starts now. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://fuyulabs.com/parlor/privacy.html End User License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Roadmap - NFC: coming soon. - Ability to create your own stories: coming eventually.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Parlor at none against The Chess Clock App's shown. Parlor also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 36 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). The Chess Clock App's advantage is ratings volume (31 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
Both are free to download. The Chess Clock App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Parlor sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Parlor holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Chess Clock App has 31 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
The Chess Clock App ships an update every 36 months, Parlor every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Chess Clock App | Parlor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (31 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 31 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 36 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 95 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Vida Apps Incorporated | Tifany Pan |
In-app purchases
The Chess Clock App
- Premium Plan - 1 Month1 Month trial$2.991 Month
- Premium Plan - 1 Year1 Month trial$29.991 Year
Parlor
- Who Stole My Matcha$3.99
- The Retrospector$5.99
- The Rift$5.99
Questions
Is The Chess Clock App free?
Is Parlor free?
Which has better reviews, The Chess Clock App or Parlor?
Do The Chess Clock App or Parlor have ads?
Which is updated more often, The Chess Clock App or Parlor?
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