# Chess vs Lichess

The clearest difference is rating: Chess at 4.7 against Lichess's 4.1. Chess also leads on ratings volume (39K vs 662) and review sentiment (70% vs 52%). Lichess's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess has 39K ratings behind it against 662, 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 52% of Lichess's.

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, Lichess fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess | Lichess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id319305999/reviews)** | [4.1 (662 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lichess/id1662361230/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **39K** | 662 |
| Positive reviews | **70.4% of reviews** | 51.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#39** |
| Size | 65 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vintolo Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453865533) | [LICHESS.ORG](https://appshunter.io/developer/968371783) |

## 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


### Lichess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lichess/id1662361230)

**Currently charting:** #39 Top Free · Strategy (US App Store)

Play chess online with millions of users, participate in tournaments, solve puzzles, and analyze games. This free and open-source application offers a comprehensive chess experience for players of all levels, with features for learning and casual play.

**Highlights:** Real-time and correspondence chess, Arena tournaments, Chess puzzles, Game analysis with Stockfish, Interactive study feature, Chess clock

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great interface
- 🚀 Smooth performance
- 💡 Useful resources for learning and analysis

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional UI issues
- 💡 Room for more customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Swipe-to-go-back gesture interferes with piece placement

**Requested features**

- Name of opening in opening explorer
- Ability to add and subtract additional things on the homepage
- Reset/replay button on puzzles


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess free?

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

### Is Lichess free?

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

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

Chess is rated higher. Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 39K ratings, while Lichess averages 4.1 from 662 ratings.

### Do Chess or Lichess have ads?

Neither Chess nor Lichess shows ads.

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

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, and Lichess fortnightly. Most recently, Chess was updated on October 16, 2026 and Lichess on October 16, 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.*