# DigiChess vs PGN Trainer

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | DigiChess | PGN Trainer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pgn-trainer-chess-openings/id6757391707/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 24 MB | 123 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.2** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Solnatrix Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1642997323) | [Smart World Innovations LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1866576406) |

## What reviewers say

### DigiChess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digichess/id1642997321)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DigiChess Premium No Advertisements | $7.99 | one-time |


### PGN Trainer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pgn-trainer-chess-openings/id6757391707)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| QueenBeak | $7.99 | per year |
| KnightBeak | $5.99 | one-time |
| KingBeak | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*