Comparison

Chess vs Master 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

Master Chess

Engage in the timeless strategy of chess against AI opponents or players worldwide. Master tactical moves to capture the opponent's king and achieve checkmate. This classic board game offers intuitive drag-and-drop controls for seamless gameplay.

Highlights
  • Play against computer AI
  • Compete with real players globally
  • Classic chess gameplay
  • Intuitive drag-and-drop controls
  • Capture the opponent's king
  • Achieve checkmate
Features
Read full description

Use the most effective strategies to defeat the computer or real players from all over the world in this classic game for all time. The goal of the game is to capture your opponent's king. This is done by moving the pieces on the board. Who will be the first to say "Checkmate". To make a move, click on the shape and drag it to the desired position. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Chess4 screens
Master Chess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Chess at 70% against Master Chess's 27%. Chess also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Chess sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Master Chess sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess has 39K ratings behind it against 17, 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 27% of Master Chess's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, Master Chess every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Chess versus Master Chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessMaster Chess
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (39K ratings) — better3.1 (17 ratings)
Positive reviews70.5% of reviews — better27.3% of reviews
Number of ratings39K — better17
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.412.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVintolo LtdCode This Lab srl

Customer experience

Chess

All ratings38,795 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral3.8%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews566 reviews
Positive70.5%
Neutral11.3%
Negative18.2%

Master Chess

All ratings17 ratings
Positive47.1%
Neutral5.9%
Negative47.1%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive27.3%
Neutral9.1%
Negative63.6%

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

Master 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
1 purchases

Master Chess

Subscriptions1
  • Chess Subscription$0.991 Month

Questions

Is Chess free?
Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Master Chess free?
Master Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Chess or Master Chess?
Chess is rated higher. Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 39K ratings, while Master Chess averages 3.1 from 17 ratings.
Do Chess or Master Chess have ads?
Master Chess shows ads; Chess does not.
Which is updated more often, Chess or Master Chess?
Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, and Master Chess every 3 months. Most recently, Chess was updated on September 26, 2026 and Master Chess on September 24, 2026.

Other comparisons