# Chess vs SparkChess Pro

The clearest difference is price: Chess at Free against SparkChess Pro's $24.99. Chess also leads on ratings volume (39K vs 42) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). SparkChess Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Chess is free to download; SparkChess Pro costs $24.99 up front. Chess sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. SparkChess Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess has 39K ratings behind it against 42, 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 61% of SparkChess Pro's.

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, SparkChess Pro every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess | SparkChess Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $24.99 |
| Rating | **[4.7 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id319305999/reviews)** | [4.4 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkchess-pro/id398133128/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **39K** | 42 |
| Positive reviews | **70.5% of reviews** | 60.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 65 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vintolo Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453865533) | [Media Division SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/398133131) |

## 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


### SparkChess Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkchess-pro/id398133128)

This ancient strategy game offers a fun and accessible experience for all skill levels. Practice against the computer, challenge friends online, or learn with interactive lessons and puzzles. Features include various board styles, a virtual coach, and progress tracking.

**Highlights:** Practice against computer or friends, Interactive lessons and puzzles, Multiple board styles (2D, 3D, fantasy), Virtual Chess Coach, Multiplayer progress tracking, Save and replay games

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess free?

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

### Is SparkChess Pro free?

SparkChess Pro costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chess or SparkChess Pro?

Chess is rated higher. Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 39K ratings, while SparkChess Pro averages 4.4 from 42 ratings.

### Do Chess or SparkChess Pro have ads?

Neither Chess nor SparkChess Pro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chess or SparkChess Pro?

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, and SparkChess Pro every 4 months. Most recently, Chess was updated on September 25, 2026 and SparkChess Pro on September 23, 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.*