# Chess.com vs Classic chess

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Classic chess at none against Chess.com's 12. Classic chess also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Chess.com's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and rating (4.8 vs 4.4). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess.com sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Classic chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess.com holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess.com has 827K ratings behind it against 74, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 64% and 64% positive.

Chess.com ships an update weekly, Classic chess every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess.com | Classic chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (827K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549/reviews)** | [4.4 (74 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classic-chess/id1223231585/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **827K** | 74 |
| Positive reviews | **64.0% of reviews** | 63.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | — |
| Size | 445 MB | 146 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552) | [Cross Field Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/465034947) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess.com

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

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · Board, #8 Top Grossing · Board, #9 Top Free · Strategy, #14 Top Grossing · Strategy, #64 Top Grossing · Games, #66 Top Free · Games, #186 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


### Classic chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classic-chess/id1223231585)

Learn chess rules intuitively with easy-to-understand explanations. Play against an AI with adjustable difficulty levels, from beginner to advanced. Choose between immersive 3D graphics or clear 2D views to suit your playstyle and mood.

**Highlights:** Intuitive rule explanations, Adjustable AI difficulty, 3D and 2D board options, Beginner-friendly, Progress tracking

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess.com free?

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

### Is Classic chess free?

Classic chess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chess.com or Classic chess?

Chess.com is rated higher. Chess.com averages 4.8 out of 5 from 827K ratings, while Classic chess averages 4.4 from 74 ratings.

### Do Chess.com or Classic chess have ads?

Both Chess.com and Classic chess show ads.

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

Chess.com ships an update weekly, and Classic chess every 2 months. Most recently, Chess.com was updated on September 27, 2026 and Classic chess on September 27, 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.*