# Chess vs Chess.com

The clearest difference is price: Chess.com at Free against Chess's $0.99. Chess.com also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (827K vs 77). Chess's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). On device support there is nothing between them.

Chess.com is free to download; Chess costs $0.99 up front. Chess.com sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess.com holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess.com has 827K ratings behind it against 77, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 85% of Chess's written reviews are positive against 64% of Chess.com's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Chess ships an update every 5 months, Chess.com weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess | Chess.com |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.6 (77 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tchess-lite/id296756437/reviews) | **[4.8 (827K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 77 | **827K** |
| Positive reviews | **85.4% of reviews** | 63.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#5** |
| Size | 6 MB | 445 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tom Kerrigan](https://appshunter.io/developer/295445504) | [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tchess-lite/id296756437)

Enjoy a classic chess experience on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. This app offers a clean interface, beautiful graphics, and intuitive gameplay perfect for casual players. Play against a computer opponent, review game history, and track your progress.

**Highlights:** 1- or 2-player games on one device, Tap-to-move piece selection, Highlights legal moves, Full game history and move list, Built-in chess clock, Get hint feature, Undo moves

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 💡 Helpful hints and features
- 🎨 Excellent graphics and visuals
- 🧠 Challenging AI opponent

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔍 Limited difficulty levels
- 🤖 AI can be predictable at times
- 💤 Lack of online/multiplayer options

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent pawn movement rules
- Stalemate issues and computer refusing to resign
- Connectivity problems with Game Center

**Requested features**

- Ability to set up custom board positions
- More difficulty levels and ELO ratings
- Online/multiplayer functionality
- Notification options for opponent moves
- Chess puzzle/training mode


### Chess.com

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · Board, #6 Top Free · Strategy, #8 Top Grossing · Board, #21 Top Grossing · Strategy, #57 Top Free · Games, #90 Top Grossing · Games (US App Store)

Engage in online and offline chess matches with millions of players worldwide. Improve your skills through interactive lessons, over 500,000 puzzles, and powerful AI opponents. Compete in tournaments and explore various chess variants.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer chess, Offline play against AI, Extensive puzzle library, Interactive chess lessons, Tournament participation, Chess variants, Game analysis

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gold Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| Gold Membership | $6.99 | per month |
| Platinum Membership | $6.99 | per month |
| Platinum Membership | $10.99 | per month |
| Diamond Membership | $14.99 | per month |
| Diamond Membership | $16.99 | per month |
| Gold Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| Platinum Membership | $49.99 | per year |
| Gold Membership | $49.99 | per year |
| Platinum Membership | $79.99 | per year |
| Diamond Membership | $99.99 | per year |
| Diamond Membership | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent app for learning and improving chess skills
- 🎓 Comprehensive lessons, puzzles, and analysis tools
- 🌍 Large player base for quick matchmaking
- 📊 Detailed game statistics and progress tracking
- 💻 Seamless integration between mobile app and website

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection issues and game freezes
- ⏱️ Unreliable and inconsistent game timers
- 🔒 Lack of transparency around anti-cheating measures
- 💰 Aggressive paywall for advanced features
- 🤖 Subpar AI opponents with questionable move choices

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect move suggestions in game analysis
- Inability to leave or manage chess clubs within the app
- Puzzle mode crashing when attempting to reveal the solution
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data
- Pieces not registering correctly on the board during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize board and piece themes
- Option to pause and resume games at a later time
- Improved game analysis with more detailed explanations
- Enhanced social features for interacting with other players
- Offline mode for practicing puzzles and tactics


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess free?

Chess costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Chess.com free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chess or Chess.com?

Chess.com is rated higher. Chess averages 4.6 out of 5 from 77 ratings, while Chess.com averages 4.8 from 827K ratings.

### Do Chess or Chess.com have ads?

Chess.com shows ads; Chess does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess or Chess.com?

Chess ships an update every 5 months, and Chess.com weekly. Most recently, Chess was updated on September 21, 2026 and Chess.com on September 25, 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.*