# Chess vs Chess Clock by Chess.com

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chess Clock by Chess.com at none against Chess's 4. Chess Clock by Chess.com also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 70%) and chart position (#185 vs unranked). Chess's advantage is ratings volume (39K vs 338) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 14.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Chess Clock by Chess.com asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Chess against 4.6 for Chess Clock by Chess.com. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess has 39K ratings behind it against 338, 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 91% of Chess Clock by Chess.com's.

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, Chess Clock by Chess.com every 3 months. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess | Chess Clock by Chess.com |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id319305999/reviews)** | [4.6 (338 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-clock-by-chesscom/id858039162/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **39K** | 338 |
| Positive reviews | 70.5% of reviews | **90.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#185** |
| Size | 65 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| 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 Clock by Chess.com

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-clock-by-chesscom/id858039162)

**Currently charting:** #185 Top Free · Strategy (US App Store)

This free app functions as a digital chess clock, offering customizable time controls for any game. It supports various increment and delay types, multiple stages, and handicapping, making it ideal for casual play and tournaments. Adjust time on the fly and enjoy clear displays and audio alerts.

**Highlights:** Customizable time controls, Fischer and Bronstein increments, Multiple-stage time controls, Handicapping support, On-the-fly time adjustments, Pause and interruption support, Audio alerts

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⏱️ Simple and easy to use
- 🔒 No ads or data collection
- 🎨 Intuitive and clean interface
- 🔊 Satisfying click sound effects
- 🕰️ Customizable time controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sound issues (no sound in silent mode, changed sound)
- 🔍 Difficulty reading in bright outdoor settings
- 🤖 Limited functionality (can't set different times for players)

**Reported bugs**

- Time not always reduced when pressing the clock quickly
- Custom time settings not always saved properly

**Requested features**

- Add warning/countdown alerts for time running out
- Allow setting different times for each player
- Provide more theme/color options
- Add vibration feedback when pressing the clock


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess free?

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

### Is Chess Clock by Chess.com free?

Chess Clock by Chess.com is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Chess is rated higher. Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 39K ratings, while Chess Clock by Chess.com averages 4.6 from 338 ratings.

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

Neither Chess nor Chess Clock by Chess.com shows ads.

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

Chess ships an update every 6 weeks, and Chess Clock by Chess.com every 3 months. Most recently, Chess was updated on September 24, 2026 and Chess Clock by Chess.com on September 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*