# ε Chess vs Lifeline Chess

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ε Chess at none against Lifeline Chess's 1. ε Chess also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 days). Lifeline Chess's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lifeline Chess sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 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 Lifeline Chess. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively.

ε Chess ships an update every 2 days, Lifeline Chess every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ε Chess | Lifeline Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id1668163621/reviews) | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifeline-chess/id6755204248/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 4 days |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 29 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Max Metral](https://appshunter.io/developer/1668163623) | [Michael Tillman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1852589500) |

## 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


### Lifeline Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifeline-chess/id6755204248)

This app offers a fresh take on chess with unique power-ups called Lifelines. It features real-time multiplayer, custom game creation, bot building, and a tournament system. Sharpen your skills with AI analysis and community-shared puzzles.

**Highlights:** 8 Unique Lifelines, Real-Time Multiplayer, Create Bots, Custom Games & Challenges, Tournament System, Stockfish 17.1 Analysis, Community Puzzles

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifeline Chess Full Game | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ε Chess free?

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

### Is Lifeline Chess free?

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

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

ε Chess and Lifeline Chess are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 4 ratings respectively.

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

ε Chess shows ads; Lifeline Chess does not.

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

ε Chess ships an update every 2 days, and Lifeline Chess every 4 days. Most recently, ε Chess was updated on November 3, 2026 and Lifeline Chess on October 30, 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.*