# Chess ∙ vs Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chess ∙ at none against Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf's 8. Chess ∙ also leads on ratings volume (205K vs 27K). Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). On price, chart position, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Chess ∙ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess ∙ has 205K ratings behind it against 27K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Chess ∙'s written reviews are positive against 82% of Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf's.

Chess ∙ ships an update every 4 months, Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess ∙ | Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (205K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id311395856/reviews) | **[4.8 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-chess-with-dr-wolf/id1353041020/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **205K** | 27K |
| Positive reviews | 56.9% of reviews | **81.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#84** | #100 |
| Size | 84 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Optime Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/289278460) | [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess ∙

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id311395856)

**Currently charting:** #84 Top Free · Strategy, #117 Top Free · Board (US App Store)

Experience a visually appealing and engaging chess game on your iPhone and iPod Touch. Play against friends or a customizable AI opponent with features like undo and automatic saving. Enjoy a free, ad-supported experience.

**Highlights:** 1 and 2 player gameplay, Challenging computer opponent, Great graphics and sound, Configurable difficulty, Undo function, Automatic save

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun to play everyday
- 👍 Good free game
- 👍 Nice little game
- 👍 Very good practice
- 👍 Addictive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 AD crazy
- 🐛 Major glitches make the game impossible
- 🐛 Force draw
- 🐛 Issues, needs fixing but has potential
- 🐛 Disappearing Pieces

**Reported bugs**

- Rook being able to move diagonally
- Stalemate glitch where it will preemptively call stalemate before it even happens
- Call stalemate when only the king can't move, and the other pieces can still move
- Pieces move too fast
- Doesn't allow en-passant moves by pawns

**Requested features**

- Undo from stalemate
- Highland opponents last move in green and my last move in blue
- Allow a third level of zoom to fill the screen
- Display a numeric value when difficulty slider is moved
- Ability to turn off safety where you can't move king to where it would get taken out


### Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-chess-with-dr-wolf/id1353041020)

**Currently charting:** #100 Top Grossing · Board (US App Store)

This app provides personalized chess coaching with an AI companion who explains moves, identifies mistakes, and offers interactive lessons. It caters to beginners and intermediate players with a comprehensive curriculum and adaptive difficulty.

**Highlights:** Personalized AI coaching, Audible explanations of moves, Over 50 interactive lessons, Mistake correction and analysis, Adaptive difficulty levels, Multiple coach personalities

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dr. Wolf Coaching - Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Dr. Wolf Coaching - Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Dr. Wolf Coaching - Individual | $5.99 | per month |
| Dr. Wolf Coaching - Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Dr. Wolf Coaching - Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Dr. Wolf Coaching - Individual | $39.99 | per year |
| Dr. Wolf Coaching - Family | $49.99 | per year |
| 30 Days of Coaching | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Well-thought-out app
- 🚀 Great teaching tool
- 🤖 Friendly and encouraging AI coach
- 💡 Unique interface and gameplay
- 🎓 Helpful lessons and training

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Incorrect move suggestions
- 🤔 Lack of explanations for best moves
- 💰 Subscription-based model
- 🤖 AI can play suboptimally at times
- 🔍 Limited visibility of captured pieces

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing or crashing when switching between apps
- Subscription status not syncing across devices

**Requested features**

- More detailed explanations for suggested moves
- Additional difficulty levels between beginner and expert
- Ability to practice specific openings
- Option to review full game history
- Accessibility features for visually impaired users


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess ∙ free?

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

### Is Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf free?

Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Chess ∙ or Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf?

Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf is rated higher. Chess ∙ averages 4.5 out of 5 from 205K ratings, while Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf averages 4.8 from 27K ratings.

### Do Chess ∙ or Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf have ads?

Chess ∙ shows ads; Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess ∙ or Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf?

Chess ∙ ships an update every 4 months, and Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf fortnightly. Most recently, Chess ∙ was updated on September 25, 2026 and Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Chess ∙ or Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf?

Chess ∙ currently peaks at #84 in the App Store charts, and Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf at #100. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*