# Chess vs Chess without ads

Chess and Chess without ads both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 91% of Chess without ads's written reviews are positive against 70% of Chess's. Chess without ads also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). Chess's advantage is iOS requirement (12.4 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Chess without ads sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per 7 days. 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 4.7 for Chess without ads. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39K and 38K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of Chess's written reviews are positive against 91% of Chess without ads's.

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, Chess without ads fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess | Chess without ads |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id319305999/reviews) | [4.7 (38K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-without-ads/id522314512/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **39K** | 38K |
| Positive reviews | 70.5% of reviews | **90.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vintolo Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453865533) | [Christophe Théron](https://appshunter.io/developer/423198262) |

## 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 without ads

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-without-ads/id522314512)

Learn and play chess without distractions. This app offers guided lessons for beginners and advanced analysis for experts, helping you improve your game with intelligent suggestions and post-game reviews. Play offline and enjoy a seamless, ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Ad-free learning and play, Introductory lessons for beginners, Grandmaster move suggestions, Game analysis with good/bad moves, Supports USCF and FIDE rating scales, Strong mobile chess engine, Offline play

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PRO, 1 week | $0.49 | per 7 days |
| PRO, 1 month | $0.99 | per month |
| PRO, 3 months | $1.99 | per 3 months |
| Learn chess | $4.99 | one-time |
| PRO, for life (SALE!) | $9.99 | one-time |
| PRO, for life (regular price) | $12.99 | one-time |
| PRO FOR LIFE - TODAY ONLY | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent chess training tool
- 🚀 Customizable difficulty levels
- 💡 Helpful move suggestions
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🚀 No ads or distractions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited free version with paid upgrade
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 💡 Desire for more chess variants and modes
- 🔒 Aggressive prompts to upgrade to paid version

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing on the login screen
- Incompatibility with older devices
- Inconsistent behavior when running out of free credits

**Requested features**

- Add more chess variants (3-check, king of the hill, etc.)
- Provide more detailed game analysis and feedback
- Improve the en passant move functionality
- Add online/multiplayer capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess free?

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

### Is Chess without ads free?

Chess without ads is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Chess or Chess without ads?

Chess and Chess without ads are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 39K and 38K ratings respectively.

### Do Chess or Chess without ads have ads?

Neither Chess nor Chess without ads shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chess or Chess without ads?

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, and Chess without ads fortnightly. Most recently, Chess was updated on October 20, 2026 and Chess without ads on October 19, 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.*