# Chess vs Chess Prime

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chess Prime at none against Chess's 4. Chess Prime also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and review sentiment (84% vs 70%). Chess's advantage is ratings volume (39K vs 71) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Chess Prime 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 71, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of Chess's written reviews are positive against 84% of Chess Prime's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, Chess Prime every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess | Chess Prime |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id319305999/reviews)** | [4.4 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-prime/id632959906/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **39K** | 71 |
| Positive reviews | 70.5% of reviews | **83.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 65 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vintolo Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453865533) | [Vinta Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/505409005) |

## 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 Prime

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-prime/id632959906)

This app offers a challenging chess experience for players of all levels. It features a versatile AI engine, customizable game modes, and helpful tools for beginners. Save your progress and replay games to improve your skills.

**Highlights:** One player and two player modes, Challenging AI with flexible difficulty, Start from any position, Save and load games, Show legal moves for beginners, Undo and redo moves

**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 Chess Prime free?

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

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

Chess is rated higher. Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 39K ratings, while Chess Prime averages 4.4 from 71 ratings.

### Do Chess or Chess Prime have ads?

Neither Chess nor Chess Prime shows ads.

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

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, and Chess Prime every 2 weeks. Most recently, Chess was updated on October 20, 2026 and Chess Prime on October 14, 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.*