Comparison

DigiChess vs PGN Trainer

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

Head to head
About

DigiChess

Instantly convert chess board images into interactive digital representations. An AI recognizes pieces, eliminating manual setup and saving preparation time. Export positions to analysis engines or popular chess platforms.

Highlights
  • Image to digital board conversion
  • AI piece recognition
  • FEN description generation
  • Save and edit positions
  • Export to Lichess/Chess.com
Features
Read full description

DigiChess will let you instantly transform a picture taken of a 2D position into a dynamic representation on the screen. The trained AI will recognize all the pieces for you and accurately place them on the board, eliminating the need for any manual setup. Cut out all the preparation time and get straight to the material that follows a diagram! - Take a picture of the board and the position comes to life instantly - Makes use of an AI to quickly and accurately recognize all the pieces - Easily export the positions into analysis engines and studies through the FEN description generated by the AI - Save the positions for future reference - Make changes and corrections to the positions - tweak the playing perspective and piece types - One button export to Lichess or Chess.com analysis.

About

PGN Trainer

Master chess openings with a personalized repertoire builder. Import PGNs, download studies, and train using spaced repetition and engine analysis. Syncs across devices.

Highlights
  • Build custom chess opening repertoires
  • Import PGN files and download studies
  • Search openings by move sequence or ECO
  • Train with spaced repetition
  • Analyze games with engine integration
  • Sync library across iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Features
Read full description

As an adult improver who reached a 2100+ rating in my 50s, I founded PGN Trainer to solve my own problem: I needed a better way to truly master my openings without relying on expensive, proprietary courses. By building and training my custom repertoire with these exact tools, I shattered my plateau and raised my rating by over 300 points. Whether you are a young club player crafting your first set of openings or a veteran organizing deep theoretical preparation, this is the all-in-one tool designed to help you do the exact same thing. BUILD & ORGANIZE YOUR LIBRARY • Create Your Way: Import your own PGN files, analyze and build a repertoire from the ground up, or download from our rich built-in library of effective, popular openings. • Tailored to You: Find downloadable studies that perfectly match your playing level (Intermediate, Advanced, or Master) and your personal style (whether you prefer Dominating attacks or Solid/Defensive setups). • Total Control: Reorganize your library effortlessly. Separate files, merge repertoires together, or edit and expand your lines directly using deep engine analysis. ADVANCED SEARCH & DISCOVERY • Find Any Line: Search your entire library by specific move sequences, official ECO names (e.g., "Sicilian"), or ECO numbers (e.g., "B90"). • Spotty Search: Use wildcard "spotty" moves to skip moves in your search and easily find transpositions. • Position Matching: Instantly search your custom repertoire for matching positions while you are analyzing your actual, real-world games. STUDY, TRAIN, AND ANALYZE • Three Seamless Modes: Effortlessly surf between Studying the theory, Training your memory, and Analyzing with the engine—all in one fluid experience to enhance your learning. • Spaced Repetition: Train your customized lines using smart spaced repetitions, ensuring you focus your time exactly on the variations you struggle to remember. • Active Learning: Play your prepared responses directly against the engine so you are fully prepared when you sit down at the board. GENEROUS FREE TIER & CLOUD SYNC • Truly Free for Most Players: Enjoy access to intermediate libraries, full study modes, and active training completely for free. We only require a premium upgrade for massive, master-level studies containing more than 2,000 total moves. • iCloud Sync: Your complete opening library syncs automatically across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Build a study on your Mac, and train it on your iPhone during your commute! Stop renting your chess knowledge. Build your ultimate repertoire, train your exact lines, and step up to the board with total confidence. Download PGN Trainer today! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://chesspgntrainer.smartworldinnovations.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

DigiChess3 screens
PGN Trainer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: PGN Trainer at every 5 days against DigiChess's every 8 months. PGN Trainer also leads on monetization model (freemium vs paid). DigiChess's advantage is iOS requirement (15.2 vs 18.0). On price, ads, 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. DigiChess sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PGN Trainer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DigiChess ships an update every 8 months, PGN Trainer every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
DigiChess versus PGN Trainer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDigiChessPGN Trainer
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.2 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB123 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSolnatrix Inc.Smart World Innovations LLC

Customer experience

DigiChess

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

PGN Trainer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

DigiChess

One-time1
  • DigiChess Premium No Advertisements$7.99
3 purchases

PGN Trainer

Subscriptions1
  • QueenBeak$7.991 Year
One-time2
  • KnightBeak$5.99
  • KingBeak$19.99

Questions

Is DigiChess free?
DigiChess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PGN Trainer free?
PGN Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do DigiChess or PGN Trainer have ads?
Neither DigiChess nor PGN Trainer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DigiChess or PGN Trainer?
DigiChess ships an update every 8 months, and PGN Trainer every 5 days. Most recently, DigiChess was updated on November 3, 2026 and PGN Trainer on November 9, 2026.

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