# Chess vs Master Chess

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess | Master Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id319305999/reviews)** | [3.1 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/master-chess/id1289312267/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **39K** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | **70.4% of reviews** | 27.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vintolo Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453865533) | [Code This Lab srl](https://appshunter.io/developer/377003842) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id319305999)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10 hints | $4.99 | one-time |
| 45 hints | $19.99 | one-time |
| 125 hints | $49.99 | one-time |
| 200 hints | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for beginners
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 💡 Helpful puzzles and hints
- 🎨 Customizable chess sets
- 🎮 Fun and challenging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy pawn movement
- 🤖 AI too easy even on hard mode
- ⏱️ Stalemate issues
- 💰 Paid hints for puzzles
- 🔁 Repetitive AI moves

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Master Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/master-chess/id1289312267)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chess Subscription | $0.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked 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.

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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.*