# Chess vs Chess.com

The clearest difference is ads: Chess at none against Chess.com's shown. Chess also leads on iOS requirement (12.4 vs 17.0). Chess.com's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (827K vs 39K). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Chess.com sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. 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 Chess.com. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess.com has 827K ratings behind it against 39K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of Chess's written reviews are positive against 64% of Chess.com's.

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, Chess.com weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess | Chess.com |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id319305999/reviews) | **[4.8 (827K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 39K | **827K** |
| Positive reviews | **70.5% of reviews** | 63.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#5** |
| Size | 65 MB | 445 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vintolo Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453865533) | [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552) |

## 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


### Chess.com

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · Board, #6 Top Free · Strategy, #7 Top Grossing · Board, #17 Top Grossing · Strategy, #59 Top Free · Games, #70 Top Grossing · Games, #195 Top Grossing (US App Store)

Engage in online and offline chess matches with millions of players worldwide. Improve your skills through interactive lessons, over 500,000 puzzles, and powerful AI opponents. Compete in tournaments and explore various chess variants.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer chess, Offline play against AI, Extensive puzzle library, Interactive chess lessons, Tournament participation, Chess variants, Game analysis

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gold Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| Gold Membership | $6.99 | per month |
| Platinum Membership | $6.99 | per month |
| Platinum Membership | $10.99 | per month |
| Diamond Membership | $14.99 | per month |
| Diamond Membership | $16.99 | per month |
| Gold Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| Platinum Membership | $49.99 | per year |
| Gold Membership | $49.99 | per year |
| Platinum Membership | $79.99 | per year |
| Diamond Membership | $99.99 | per year |
| Diamond Membership | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent app for learning and improving chess skills
- 🎓 Comprehensive lessons, puzzles, and analysis tools
- 🌍 Large player base for quick matchmaking
- 📊 Detailed game statistics and progress tracking
- 💻 Seamless integration between mobile app and website

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection issues and game freezes
- ⏱️ Unreliable and inconsistent game timers
- 🔒 Lack of transparency around anti-cheating measures
- 💰 Aggressive paywall for advanced features
- 🤖 Subpar AI opponents with questionable move choices

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect move suggestions in game analysis
- Inability to leave or manage chess clubs within the app
- Puzzle mode crashing when attempting to reveal the solution
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data
- Pieces not registering correctly on the board during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize board and piece themes
- Option to pause and resume games at a later time
- Improved game analysis with more detailed explanations
- Enhanced social features for interacting with other players
- Offline mode for practicing puzzles and tactics


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess free?

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

### Is Chess.com free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chess or Chess.com?

Chess.com is rated higher. Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 39K ratings, while Chess.com averages 4.8 from 827K ratings.

### Do Chess or Chess.com have ads?

Chess.com shows ads; Chess does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess or Chess.com?

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, and Chess.com weekly. Most recently, Chess was updated on September 24, 2026 and Chess.com 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.*