Comparison

ChessClock vs SmallFish Chess for Stockfish

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

Head to head
About

ChessClock

This app provides a digital and analog chess clock with customizable time controls, including Fischer, Bronstein, and USCF delay modes. It features a classic skeuomorphic design and highlights the active clock for easy tracking during games.

Highlights
  • Dual clock display
  • Fischer, Bronstein, USCF delay modes
  • Analog and digital modes
  • Independent clock settings
  • Active clock highlighting
  • Skeuomorphic design
Features
Read full description

My original iOS Chess Clock from 2008 is back... in all its old-school Skeuomorphic glory!  Two clocks. Tap one to start the other counting down. Tap both to stop both. Tap the little clock icon to set the time, and the info button to change the settings. Chess Clock includes features found in competition chess clocks, including Fischer, Bronstein, and USCF ("Simple") delay modes, which work in both digital and the visually appealing analog mode. Also, since this version was rewritten entirely within the borders of Switzerland, I guess this might be the cheapest Swiss timepiece you can have. Features: • Analog flag movement that swings back and forth as it falls (which took me a silly amount of time to get right, but I like it) • Set each clock independently • Analog and digital modes • Adjustable time delay (Bronstein, Fischer, and USCF modes) • Highlights the currently running clock

About

SmallFish Chess for Stockfish

This app leverages the powerful Stockfish chess engine to help you improve your game. Analyze your matches with detailed comments, study the engine's thought process, and track your progress. It offers advanced features like blunder checking and graphical evaluations without any ads or in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • Blunder checking
  • Multiple line analysis
  • Graphical game evaluation
  • Game previews
  • Dark mode support
  • Endgame tablebase
  • Opening books
Features
Read full description

SmallFish is a project based on the Stockfish chess engine. It uses the latest Stockfish chess engine (Stockfish 19), rated about Elo 3600+ and is the strongest chess app on the App Store. SmallFish offers you three distinct ways to improve your game. You can review your game with comments, or study how Stockfish thinks, or track your progress. No in-app purchase, no ads, no data tracking. SmallFish is simply amazing. It's small but powerful, you'll be surprised. Features --------- - Blunder checking - Multiple line analysis - Graphical evaluation of your game - Game previews - Dark mode support - Endgame tablebase - Opening books Why not just download and try it yourself?

Screenshots

ChessClock3 screens
SmallFish Chess for Stockfish4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ChessClock at Free against SmallFish Chess for Stockfish's $4.99. SmallFish Chess for Stockfish's advantage is review sentiment (79% vs 38%) and ads (none vs shown). On in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

ChessClock is free to download; SmallFish Chess for Stockfish costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ChessClock ships an update every 8 months, SmallFish Chess for Stockfish every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
ChessClock versus SmallFish Chess for Stockfish: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessClockSmallFish Chess for Stockfish
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating—4.8 (4.5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews37.5% of reviews79.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—4.5K — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
Best chart rank—#15 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.414.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB195 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAardustry GmbHTed Wong

Customer experience

ChessClock

Written reviews16 reviews
Positive37.5%
Neutral18.8%
Negative43.8%

SmallFish Chess for Stockfish

All ratings4,529 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral2.0%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews605 reviews
Positive79.0%
Neutral7.1%
Negative13.9%

Bugs and requests

ChessClock

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SmallFish Chess for Stockfish

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when setting up positions
  • Incorrect move suggestions and engine evaluations
  • Freezing and unresponsiveness during gameplay
  • Issues with board and coordinate display alignment

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for variations and multiple analysis lines
  • Implement a two-player mode with piece flipping
  • Add PGN file sorting, searching, and folder support
  • Provide an option to hide the board and show captured pieces
  • Integrate with chess.com and other platforms

In-app purchases

None

ChessClock

No in-app purchases

None

SmallFish Chess for Stockfish

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ChessClock free?
ChessClock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SmallFish Chess for Stockfish free?
SmallFish Chess for Stockfish costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do ChessClock or SmallFish Chess for Stockfish have ads?
ChessClock shows ads; SmallFish Chess for Stockfish does not.
Which is updated more often, ChessClock or SmallFish Chess for Stockfish?
ChessClock ships an update every 8 months, and SmallFish Chess for Stockfish every 8 days. Most recently, ChessClock was updated on October 16, 2026 and SmallFish Chess for Stockfish on October 26, 2026.

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