Chess vs Play Chess for iMessage
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chess
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.
- HD graphics
- 5 difficulty levels
- Hint option
- Play against computer or friend
- 2D and 3D themes
- Unlimited undo moves
- Time control options
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Chess is #1 popular game in the world. According to FIDE, about 600 million people play chess and it is the most widespread game on the planet. "The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions..." (Benjamin Franklin, scientist) Game features: - HD graphics for iPhone 5 and the new iPad retina display - 5 levels of difficulty - hint option to find out the best next move - play either white or black - play against the computer or a friend - 2D and 3D themes for chess pieces - unlimited ability to undo moves - AI quick response time - time control (5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes) - animated moves - highlight legal moves - easy to use interface design - ability to go back to any previous position in the game - auto-save when exit or phone ring - view captured pieces - full game history with chess notation - change the appearance of the board - ability to listen music in background Play one of the oldest and most enjoyable games in the world!
Play Chess for iMessage
Engage in unlimited chess matches directly through iMessage with friends. Customize your game with different boards and pieces. Enjoy a casual, timer-free experience without registration or in-app purchases.
- Unlimited chess games
- Play via iMessage
- Customizable boards and pieces
- Play multiple friends simultaneously
- No timers or ratings
- No registration required
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Play unlimited chess games with your friends via iMessage! Chess, ajedrez, xadrez, satranç, scacchi, schach, șah, šachy, şahmat… no matter the language, no matter the name, it's known as the best strategy game in the world. - Choose your favorite board and pieces! - Play multiple friends at once! - Keep it fun, friendly and casual! No timers or ratings to worry about - and no registration required. - App is 100% free - with no in-app purchases. Playing chess has never been so easy! Chess is the most popular game of all time! And Chess.com is the #1 place to play chess online with your friends and other players from all over the world! Please share your suggestions and comments with us. Our support team is happy to help you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! ABOUT CHESS.COM: Chess.com is created by chess players and people who love chess! Team: http://www.chess.com/about Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chess Twitter: http://twitter.com/chesscom YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/wwwchesscom TwitchTV: http://www.twitch.com/chess
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Chess at 4.7 against Play Chess for iMessage's 3.1. Chess also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 29%) and ratings volume (39K vs 170). Play Chess for iMessage's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (daily vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Chess sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Play Chess for iMessage asks for nothing beyond the download.
Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess has 39K ratings behind it against 170, 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 29% of Play Chess for iMessage's.
Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, Play Chess for iMessage daily. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chess | Play Chess for iMessage |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (39K ratings) — better | 3.1 (170 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 70.2% of reviews — better | 29.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 39K — better | 170 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 65 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Vintolo Ltd | Chess.com |
Customer experience
Chess
Play Chess for iMessage
User reviews
Chess
From 39K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Great for beginners
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 💡 Helpful puzzles and hints
- 🎨 Customizable chess sets
- 🎮 Fun and challenging
Room to improve
- 🐛 Glitchy pawn movement
- 🤖 AI too easy even on hard mode
- ⏱️ Stalemate issues
- 💰 Paid hints for puzzles
- 🔁 Repetitive AI moves
Play Chess for iMessage
From 170 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to play without knowing chess rules
- 🎮 Fun gameplay mechanics for iMessage
- 🎨 Theme customizer available
- 🔄 Move guide and helpful features
- 🎬 Can convert wins to GIF format
Room to improve
- 🚫 Cannot uninstall app (major recurring issue)
- 🐛 iCloud login error persists despite being logged in
- ❌ App doesn't show on home screen
- 🔄 Must exit and reopen app to see opponent's moves
- ⚠️ Only playable in portrait mode
Bugs and requests
Chess
Reported bugs
3 issues- Incorrect stalemate detection
- Pieces disappearing or moving incorrectly
- Compatibility issues on older devices
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to replay puzzles
- Undo/redo move functionality
- Online/multiplayer mode
- More advanced AI difficulty
- Improved stalemate detection
Play Chess for iMessage
Reported bugs
11 issues- iCloud authentication error when already logged in
- App cannot be uninstalled from device
- No home screen icon appears after installation
- Game doesn't work with group chats over 2 people
- Time calculation error giving opponent extra time
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- Unconfirmed moves being made automatically
- App freezes requiring phone restart
- First move triggers iCloud login requirement
- Message send failures requiring game restart
- VPN blocks app functionality
- Haptic feedback cannot be disabled
Requested features
11 requests- Confirmation dialog for accidental game reviews
- Uninstall functionality
- Ability to choose piece color or randomize
- CPU/AI opponent mode
- Fischer random chess mode
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- Android cross-platform compatibility
- Sticker support
- Haptic feedback toggle option
- Auto-update moves without closing app
- Resend option for failed messages
- Link chess.com account integration
In-app purchases
Chess
- 10 hints$4.99
- 45 hints$19.99
- 125 hints$49.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- 200 hints$69.99
Play Chess for iMessage
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Chess free?
Is Play Chess for iMessage free?
Which has better reviews, Chess or Play Chess for iMessage?
Do Chess or Play Chess for iMessage have ads?
Which is updated more often, Chess or Play Chess for iMessage?
Other comparisons
