Comparison

Chess Genius vs Chess

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

Head to head
About

Chess Genius

This award-winning chess program offers superb playing strength with hundreds of levels for all skill sets. It features a clear interface, displays game analysis, and allows for saving, loading, and sharing games. Enjoy features like hints, legal move displays, and unlimited take-backs.

Highlights
  • Hundreds of playing levels
  • Displays thinking and analysis
  • Save/load games in PGN format
  • Hint and Tutor features
  • Unlimited take back
  • 2 player and self-play modes
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

ChessGenius, award winning chess program. Superb playing strength. The author's chess programs have won ten World Championships. Packed with features for beginners and experts: * Simple, elegant user interface * Powerful, compact and fast * Hundreds of playing levels including easy, blitz and tournament levels. Network connection not required * Displays thinking. Who is winning, by how much and the moves that ChessGenius is planning. Also Chess clocks, Captured pieces and Opening name. e.g. B12 Caro-Kann * Save/load games in PGN format. Send games by email. Set-up position * Easy import / export of PGN database files with iTunes file sharing * Hint, Show legal moves and Tutor. ChessGenius can warn if a blunder/weak move is played and give the option of take back * Unlimited take back and step forward * Play against ChessGenius. Also 2 player, self play and analysis mode * Optional display of captured pieces and count of positions searched * Game is restored after exit and restart * All functions work in Portrait and Landscape

About

Chess

This app offers a high-quality chess experience for players of all levels, from beginners to professionals. It features a strong engine, analysis tools, and learning resources to improve your game.

Highlights
  • Simulated human opponents for beginners
  • Top-tier chess engine for experts
  • Real-time game analysis
  • 1 or 2-player game support
  • Opening Library and PGN Database
  • Position Editor
  • Rated games and progress tracking
Features
Read full description

tChess Pro is the high-quality, critically acclaimed chess game with the richest features for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. It's perfect for every player: Beginners: Not everybody is a chess master! Most chess games are too strong or just make random mistakes at easier levels. tChess Pro has unique algorithms to simulate human opponents. Experts: tChess Pro has a top-tier chess engine. (Over 380 ELO points stronger than Caissa Chess.) Enthusiasts: tChess Pro's Analysis Mode is like having a chess master in your pocket. You can get the engine's "expert opinion" about any game or position in real-time: which side is winning, and the best sequence of moves. Just like a professional desktop chess package. More key features: - Perfect for 1- or 2-player games - Strong computer opponent - Play against any ELO rating from 500 to 2500 - Integrated "Learn Chess" e-book app (Apple Staff Favorite!) - Opening Library feature lets you explore chess opening theory as you play - PGN Database feature lets you download and view PGN files - Support for 3-stage time controls with Fischer increments - Position Editor to enter positions from books, newspapers, etc. - Save and load games; export them in standard PGN format - Use the Profile feature to play rated games against the computer and track your progress tChess Pro is developed by Tom Kerrigan, author of the TSCP and Stobor chess engines.

Screenshots

Chess Genius4 screens
Chess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Chess at 4.7 against Chess Genius's 3.9. Chess also leads on ratings volume (251 vs 10) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 12 months). Chess Genius's advantage is chart position (#103 vs unranked) and price ($5.99 vs $7.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Chess Genius costs $5.99 and Chess $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess has 251 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Chess Genius's written reviews are positive against 89% of Chess's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chess Genius ships an update every 12 months, Chess every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Chess Genius versus Chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChess GeniusChess
Price$5.99 — better$7.99
Rating3.9 (10 ratings)4.7 (251 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.9% of reviews88.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings10251 — better
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#103 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS6.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLang Software LimitedTom Kerrigan

Customer experience

Chess Genius

All ratings10 ratings
Positive70.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews152 reviews
Positive78.9%
Neutral11.2%
Negative9.9%

Chess

All ratings251 ratings
Positive92.0%
Neutral3.6%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews415 reviews
Positive88.7%
Neutral6.3%
Negative5.1%

User reviews

Chess Genius

From 10 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💪 Strong chess engine
  • 🧠 Good for learning and practice
  • ✨ Classic and well-established program
  • 👍 Simple and effective interface
  • 🚀 Fast performance

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 📉 Outdated graphics
  • 🐌 Slow updates
  • ⚠️ Incompatible with newer iOS versions
  • ❓ Confusing interface/menus

Chess

From 251 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Enjoyable and challenging
  • 🚀 Plays solid openings and variations
  • 👍 Thoroughly enjoyable for novice players
  • 👍 Great for beginners and seasoned players
  • 👍 Rated games help track progress

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes after updates
  • 🐛 Inaccurate rating system
  • 🐛 Bright screen background can be tiring
  • 🐛 Clunky online game menu

Bugs and requests

Chess Genius

Reported bugs

17 issues
  • App crashes frequently, especially when ending games
  • Cannot access settings
  • App crashes when starting new game or changing settings
  • Not working with iOS 17
  • Not working with iOS 14.3
Show 12 more
  • Not working with iOS 6
  • Menu buttons not working
  • No menus appear after a game
  • Opening names are incorrect
  • Graphical issues (low-res, contrast issues)
  • Pieces are cut off in landscape mode
  • App feels buggy when moving pieces
  • No ELO selection
  • No strong selection
  • Design for iPad is terrible
  • Next best move feature sometimes unavailable
  • Rule flaw: King can castle after being in check

Requested features

24 requests
  • Update for iOS compatibility
  • Refresh and update the app
  • Take advantage of iOS file app features
  • Specify opening repertoire training
  • Don't let playing style be trainer/hint man
Show 19 more
  • Improve graphics and piece sets
  • Add ELO rating selection
  • Add more opening book content
  • Implement gesture controls (swipe for undo/redo)
  • Add audible check/checkmate sounds
  • Add opponent faces to computer levels
  • Support for PGN download via email/internet
  • Improve landscape mode functionality
  • Add more analysis functions
  • Add board coordinates display
  • Add rating estimator
  • Add more time control options
  • Option to disable auto screen off
  • Option to show captured pieces
  • Option to auto-flip board in two-player mode
  • Mac version of desktop program
  • Dark mode option
  • More board colors and piece sets
  • Online play functionality

Chess

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when creating annotations
  • Zoomed-in screen issue when returning to the app
  • Difficulty settings not accurately reflecting the AI's strength

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add chess puzzles
  • Provide more board and piece style options
  • Implement a resign feature and draw offer
  • Add a move evaluation bar
  • Improve the online multiplayer experience
Show 1 more
  • Provide a way to organize and navigate through game databases

In-app purchases

None

Chess Genius

No in-app purchases

None

Chess

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chess Genius free?
Chess Genius costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chess free?
Chess costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chess Genius or Chess?
Chess is rated higher. Chess Genius averages 3.9 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Chess averages 4.7 from 251 ratings.
Do Chess Genius or Chess have ads?
Neither Chess Genius nor Chess shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chess Genius or Chess?
Chess Genius ships an update every 12 months, and Chess every 4 months. Most recently, Chess Genius was updated on October 16, 2026 and Chess on October 16, 2026.

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