# Chess vs Glow Chess

The clearest difference is ads: Chess at none against Glow Chess's shown. Chess also leads on ratings volume (39K vs 39) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Glow Chess sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Chess against 4.8 for Glow Chess. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess has 39K ratings behind it against 39, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, Glow Chess every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and August 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess | Glow Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id319305999/reviews) | **[4.8 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glow-chess/id1615039615/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **39K** | 39 |
| Positive reviews | 70.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 78 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) | [Phuong Ta](https://appshunter.io/developer/1466076556) |

## 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


### Glow Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glow-chess/id1615039615)

Engage in the classic strategy game with adjustable difficulty levels and helpful features. Practice tactics and strategy to become a Chess Master. Offers puzzles and a two-player mode for interactive play.

**Highlights:** 5 difficulty levels, Chess Puzzles, Game Assistant, Undo move, Hints, 2 player mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess free?

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

### Is Glow Chess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chess or Glow Chess?

Glow Chess is rated higher. Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 39K ratings, while Glow Chess averages 4.8 from 39 ratings.

### Do Chess or Glow Chess have ads?

Glow Chess shows ads; Chess does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess or Glow Chess?

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, and Glow Chess every 6 months. Most recently, Chess was updated on September 26, 2026 and Glow Chess on August 22, 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.*