# Chess.com vs Really Bad Chess+

The clearest difference is rating: Chess.com at 4.8 against Really Bad Chess+'s 3.4. Chess.com also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (827K vs 165). Really Bad Chess+'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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. Really Bad Chess+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess.com holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess.com has 827K ratings behind it against 165, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Chess.com's written reviews are positive against 54% of Really Bad Chess+'s.

Chess.com ships an update weekly, Really Bad Chess+ every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess.com | Really Bad Chess+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (827K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549/reviews)** | [3.4 (165 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess-plus/id1551670264/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **827K** | 165 |
| Positive reviews | **63.9% of reviews** | 54.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | — |
| Size | 445 MB | 100 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) | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess.com

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

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · Board, #6 Top Free · Strategy, #8 Top Grossing · Board, #20 Top Grossing · Strategy, #61 Top Free · Games, #82 Top Grossing · Games (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


### Really Bad Chess+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess-plus/id1551670264)

Experience chess with a chaotic twist! This app replaces standard pieces with random assortments, forcing you to rethink strategy. Perfect for both seasoned players seeking a new challenge and beginners looking to learn the fundamentals in a fun, unpredictable way.

**Highlights:** Random piece assignments, AI challenges (Ranked, Daily, Weekly), Freeplay mode, Local versus mode, Daily chess puzzles, New strategic challenges

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Innovative concept
- 🤩 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Easy to learn
- 🧠 Improves chess skills
- ✨ Clean UI

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Unfair AI starting positions
- ⚖️ AI too lucky/strong
- 🚫 No draws (stalemate/repetition)
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 📱 UI scaling issues

**Reported bugs**

- App zoomed in, parts of board/UI cut off (recent update)
- Cannot make legal moves
- Game won't allow moves out of check
- AI gets stuck in infinite loops
- Incorrect checkmate detection

**Requested features**

- Add draws by repetition/stalemate
- Option for mirrored pieces
- Tutorial for beginners
- Ability to play online multiplayer
- Option to see solution for daily challenges


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess.com free?

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

### Is Really Bad Chess+ free?

Really Bad Chess+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chess.com or Really Bad Chess+?

Chess.com is rated higher. Chess.com averages 4.8 out of 5 from 827K ratings, while Really Bad Chess+ averages 3.4 from 165 ratings.

### Do Chess.com or Really Bad Chess+ have ads?

Chess.com shows ads; Really Bad Chess+ does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess.com or Really Bad Chess+?

Chess.com ships an update weekly, and Really Bad Chess+ every 3 months. Most recently, Chess.com was updated on September 25, 2026 and Really Bad Chess+ on September 6, 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.*