# Chess.com vs Play Chess for iMessage

The clearest difference is rating: Chess.com at 4.8 against Play Chess for iMessage's 3.1. Chess.com also leads on review sentiment (64% vs 29%) and ratings volume (859K vs 170). Play Chess for iMessage'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. Play Chess for iMessage asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess.com holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess.com has 859K ratings behind it against 170, 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 29% of Play Chess for iMessage's.

Chess.com ships an update weekly, Play Chess for iMessage daily. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess.com | Play Chess for iMessage |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (859K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549/reviews)** | [3.1 (170 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-chess-for-imessage/id6443798218/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **859K** | 170 |
| Positive reviews | **64.4% of reviews** | 29.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#1** | — |
| Size | 447 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552) | [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess.com

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

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Free · Strategy, #2 Top Free · Board, #6 Top Grossing · Board, #14 Top Grossing · Strategy, #16 Top Free · Games, #60 Top Grossing · Games, #96 Top Free, #167 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


### Play Chess for iMessage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-chess-for-imessage/id6443798218)

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.

**Highlights:** Unlimited chess games, Play via iMessage, Customizable boards and pieces, Play multiple friends simultaneously, No timers or ratings, No registration required

**Features:** iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Confirmation dialog for accidental game reviews
- Uninstall functionality
- Ability to choose piece color or randomize
- CPU/AI opponent mode
- Fischer random chess mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess.com free?

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

### Is Play Chess for iMessage free?

Play Chess for iMessage is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chess.com or Play Chess for iMessage?

Chess.com is rated higher. Chess.com averages 4.8 out of 5 from 859K ratings, while Play Chess for iMessage averages 3.1 from 170 ratings.

### Do Chess.com or Play Chess for iMessage have ads?

Chess.com shows ads; Play Chess for iMessage does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess.com or Play Chess for iMessage?

Chess.com ships an update weekly, and Play Chess for iMessage daily. Most recently, Chess.com was updated on October 28, 2026 and Play Chess for iMessage on October 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.*