# ε Chess vs Active Chess

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ε Chess at none against Active Chess's 3. ε Chess also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 39 months) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). Active Chess's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Active Chess sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. ε Chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for ε Chess against 5.0 for Active Chess. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

ε Chess ships an update every 2 days, Active Chess every 39 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ε Chess | Active Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id1668163621/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/active-chess/id6449165496/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 39 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 29 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Max Metral](https://appshunter.io/developer/1668163623) | [Alexey Polunin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1541894864) |

## What reviewers say

### ε Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id1668163621)

Experience chess with a unique twist where pieces can move fractional distances. Capture opponents by overlapping their pieces, with the game concluding upon capturing the opposing king. This innovative take on the classic strategy game offers a fresh challenge.

**Highlights:** Fractional piece movement, Overlap capture mechanic, Capture the opposing king to win, Innovative chess strategy, Unique gameplay

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Active Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/active-chess/id6449165496)

Experience a unique chess variant with randomized starting positions and modified rules for dynamic gameplay. Develop your strategic thinking and planning skills in this engaging board game.

**Highlights:** Randomized starting positions, Modified chess rules, Strategic gameplay, Cognitive skill development, Choice of board sizes, Play against a chess bot

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Positions 1 Week | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Positions 1 Month | $1.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Positions 3 Month | $4.99 | per 3 months |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ε Chess free?

ε Chess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Active Chess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ε Chess or Active Chess?

ε Chess and Active Chess are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do ε Chess or Active Chess have ads?

ε Chess shows ads; Active Chess does not.

### Which is updated more often, ε Chess or Active Chess?

ε Chess ships an update every 2 days, and Active Chess every 39 months. Most recently, ε Chess was updated on October 2, 2026 and Active Chess on September 23, 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.*