# HIARCS Chess vs Chess.com

The clearest difference is price: Chess.com at Free against HIARCS Chess's $9.99. Chess.com also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (827K vs 199). HIARCS Chess's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). On rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Chess.com is free to download; HIARCS Chess costs $9.99 up front. Chess.com sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. HIARCS Chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for HIARCS Chess against 4.8 for Chess.com. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess.com has 827K ratings behind it against 199, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of HIARCS Chess's written reviews are positive against 64% of Chess.com's.

HIARCS Chess ships an update every 3 months, Chess.com weekly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | HIARCS Chess | Chess.com |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.8 (199 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hiarcs-chess/id327708154/reviews) | [4.8 (827K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 199 | **827K** |
| Positive reviews | **75.9% of reviews** | 63.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | #84 | **#5** |
| Size | 21 MB | 445 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Applied Computer Concepts Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/327708157) | [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552) |

## What reviewers say

### HIARCS Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hiarcs-chess/id327708154)

**Currently charting:** #84 Top Paid · Board (US App Store)

This app offers a powerful chess engine for playing, analyzing, and learning chess. It provides adjustable difficulty levels and coaching features to help players of all abilities improve their game. Analyze professional games and track your progress with an Elo rating.

**Highlights:** World Championship winning chess engine, Adjustable playing strengths and styles, Advanced coaching features, Elo rating tracking, PGN database support, Large tournament book, Multiple playing modes

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Strong chess engine
- 👍 Human-like play
- 🧠 Excellent coaching/analysis features
- 🔧 Customizable difficulty levels
- 💾 Saves and loads games well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Lacks advanced features (PGN import/export, database navigation)
- 🖼️ Outdated or subpar UI/UX
- 💤 Slow move animations
- 🤖 Engine strength may be overstated

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on certain iOS versions
- Discount codes not working
- Issues with hotspot mode

**Requested features**

- PGN import/export functionality
- Advanced database navigation (next/previous game)
- Endgame tablebase support
- Improved UI/UX for modern devices
- More customization options


### Chess.com

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · Board, #7 Top Free · Strategy, #7 Top Grossing · Board, #16 Top Grossing · Strategy, #60 Top Free · Games, #69 Top Grossing · Games, #193 Top Grossing (US App Store)

Engage in online and offline chess matches with millions of players worldwide. Improve your skills through interactive lessons, over 500,000 puzzles, and powerful AI opponents. Compete in tournaments and explore various chess variants.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer chess, Offline play against AI, Extensive puzzle library, Interactive chess lessons, Tournament participation, Chess variants, Game analysis

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gold Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| Gold Membership | $6.99 | per month |
| Platinum Membership | $6.99 | per month |
| Platinum Membership | $10.99 | per month |
| Diamond Membership | $14.99 | per month |
| Diamond Membership | $16.99 | per month |
| Gold Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| Platinum Membership | $49.99 | per year |
| Gold Membership | $49.99 | per year |
| Platinum Membership | $79.99 | per year |
| Diamond Membership | $99.99 | per year |
| Diamond Membership | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent app for learning and improving chess skills
- 🎓 Comprehensive lessons, puzzles, and analysis tools
- 🌍 Large player base for quick matchmaking
- 📊 Detailed game statistics and progress tracking
- 💻 Seamless integration between mobile app and website

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection issues and game freezes
- ⏱️ Unreliable and inconsistent game timers
- 🔒 Lack of transparency around anti-cheating measures
- 💰 Aggressive paywall for advanced features
- 🤖 Subpar AI opponents with questionable move choices

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect move suggestions in game analysis
- Inability to leave or manage chess clubs within the app
- Puzzle mode crashing when attempting to reveal the solution
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data
- Pieces not registering correctly on the board during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize board and piece themes
- Option to pause and resume games at a later time
- Improved game analysis with more detailed explanations
- Enhanced social features for interacting with other players
- Offline mode for practicing puzzles and tactics


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HIARCS Chess free?

HIARCS Chess costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Chess.com free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HIARCS Chess or Chess.com?

HIARCS Chess and Chess.com are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 199 and 827K ratings respectively.

### Do HIARCS Chess or Chess.com have ads?

Chess.com shows ads; HIARCS Chess does not.

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

HIARCS Chess ships an update every 3 months, and Chess.com weekly. Most recently, HIARCS Chess was updated on September 25, 2026 and Chess.com on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, HIARCS Chess or Chess.com?

HIARCS Chess currently peaks at #84 in the App Store charts, and Chess.com at #5. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

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