Comparison

Chess vs Classic chess

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

Head to head
About

Chess

Engage in the classic game of chess with customizable graphics and multiple difficulty levels. Play against AI or a friend, with features like move undo, hints, and time controls. Enjoy a rich chess experience with detailed game history and board customization.

Highlights
  • HD graphics
  • 5 difficulty levels
  • Hint option
  • Play against computer or friend
  • 2D and 3D themes
  • Unlimited undo moves
  • Time control options
Features
Read full description

Chess is #1 popular game in the world. According to FIDE, about 600 million people play chess and it is the most widespread game on the planet. "The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions..." (Benjamin Franklin, scientist) Game features: - HD graphics for iPhone 5 and the new iPad retina display - 5 levels of difficulty - hint option to find out the best next move - play either white or black - play against the computer or a friend - 2D and 3D themes for chess pieces - unlimited ability to undo moves - AI quick response time - time control (5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes) - animated moves - highlight legal moves - easy to use interface design - ability to go back to any previous position in the game - auto-save when exit or phone ring - view captured pieces - full game history with chess notation - change the appearance of the board - ability to listen music in background Play one of the oldest and most enjoyable games in the world!

About

Classic chess

Learn chess rules intuitively with easy-to-understand explanations. Play against an AI with adjustable difficulty levels, from beginner to advanced. Choose between immersive 3D graphics or clear 2D views to suit your playstyle and mood.

Highlights
  • Intuitive rule explanations
  • Adjustable AI difficulty
  • 3D and 2D board options
  • Beginner-friendly
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

□■ Because it is an application! easy to understand explanations of rules! Rules are easier to understand intuitively than books and websites! I understand the rules necessary to play chess. Beginners who are going to start from now are also recommended for chess applications for those who want to check the rules! □■ AI with wide difficulty level is installed! AI equipped to be able to play from beginner to advanced! You can feel better progress as the level is divided finely. We will also install a stronger level of AI in future updates. □■ 3D and 2D correspondence! In 3D mode you can play chess while enjoying the atmosphere with beautiful graphics. In 2D mode, the piece information is easy to understand, and it is easy to confirm the war situation. Because you can choose your favorite mode, you can also use it properly according to your mood! ◆ Update schedule Adjustment of direction and operation feeling Addition of CPU AI Implementation of additional functions such as ranking ◆ When making inquiries, please contact us from the inquiry form within this application. BGM : Pocket Sound - https://pocket-se.info/

Screenshots

Chess4 screens
Classic chess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Classic chess at none against Chess's 4. Chess's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (39K vs 74). On price, review sentiment, update cadence 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

Both are free to download. Chess sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Classic chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess has 39K ratings behind it against 74, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Chess's written reviews are positive against 65% of Classic chess's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, Classic chess every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Chess versus Classic chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessClassic chess
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (39K ratings) — better4.4 (74 ratings)
Positive reviews70.2% of reviews — better64.7% of reviews
Number of ratings39K — better74
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.4 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB146 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVintolo LtdCross Field Inc.

Customer experience

Chess

All ratings38,795 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral3.8%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews574 reviews
Positive70.2%
Neutral11.1%
Negative18.6%

Classic chess

All ratings74 ratings
Positive85.1%
Neutral8.1%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive64.7%
Neutral10.3%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

Chess

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incorrect stalemate detection
  • Pieces disappearing or moving incorrectly
  • Compatibility issues on older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to replay puzzles
  • Undo/redo move functionality
  • Online/multiplayer mode
  • More advanced AI difficulty
  • Improved stalemate detection

Classic chess

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Chess

One-time4
  • 10 hints$4.99
  • 45 hints$19.99
  • 125 hints$49.99
Show 1 more
  • 200 hints$69.99
None

Classic chess

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chess free?
Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Classic chess free?
Classic chess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chess or Classic chess?
Chess is rated higher. Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 39K ratings, while Classic chess averages 4.4 from 74 ratings.
Do Chess or Classic chess have ads?
Classic chess shows ads; Chess does not.
Which is updated more often, Chess or Classic chess?
Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, and Classic chess every 2 months. Most recently, Chess was updated on October 27, 2026 and Classic chess on October 26, 2026.

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