# Chess Genius vs HIARCS Chess

The clearest difference is rating: HIARCS Chess at 4.8 against Chess Genius's 3.9. HIARCS Chess also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (204 vs 10). Chess Genius's advantage is price ($5.99 vs $9.99) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 15.0). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Chess Genius costs $5.99 and HIARCS Chess $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

HIARCS Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HIARCS Chess has 204 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of Chess Genius's written reviews are positive against 76% of HIARCS Chess's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Chess Genius ships an update every 12 months, HIARCS Chess every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Genius | HIARCS Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$5.99** | $9.99 |
| Rating | [3.9 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-genius/id294631172/reviews) | **[4.8 (204 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hiarcs-chess/id327708154/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **204** |
| Positive reviews | **78.9% of reviews** | 75.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 2 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lang Software Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/294631175) | [Applied Computer Concepts Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/327708157) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess Genius

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-genius/id294631172)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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- 📉 Outdated graphics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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### HIARCS Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hiarcs-chess/id327708154)

This app offers a powerful chess engine for playing, analyzing, and learning chess. It provides adjustable difficulty levels and coaching features to help players of all abilities improve their game. Analyze professional games and track your progress with an Elo rating.

**Highlights:** World Championship winning chess engine, Adjustable playing strengths and styles, Advanced coaching features, Elo rating tracking, PGN database support, Large tournament book, Multiple playing modes

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Strong chess engine
- 👍 Human-like play
- 🧠 Excellent coaching/analysis features
- 🔧 Customizable difficulty levels
- 💾 Saves and loads games well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Lacks advanced features (PGN import/export, database navigation)
- 🖼️ Outdated or subpar UI/UX
- 💤 Slow move animations
- 🤖 Engine strength may be overstated

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on certain iOS versions
- Discount codes not working
- Issues with hotspot mode

**Requested features**

- PGN import/export functionality
- Advanced database navigation (next/previous game)
- Endgame tablebase support
- Improved UI/UX for modern devices
- More customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Genius free?

Chess Genius costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HIARCS Chess free?

HIARCS Chess costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chess Genius or HIARCS Chess?

HIARCS Chess is rated higher. Chess Genius averages 3.9 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while HIARCS Chess averages 4.8 from 204 ratings.

### Do Chess Genius or HIARCS Chess have ads?

Neither Chess Genius nor HIARCS Chess shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chess Genius or HIARCS Chess?

Chess Genius ships an update every 12 months, and HIARCS Chess every 3 months. Most recently, Chess Genius was updated on October 26, 2026 and HIARCS Chess on October 26, 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.*