# Chess.com vs OpenChess

The clearest difference is ads: OpenChess at none against Chess.com's shown. OpenChess also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Chess.com's advantage is ratings volume (859K vs 2) and chart position (#1 vs unranked). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess.com sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and OpenChess sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

OpenChess holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess.com has 859K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Chess.com ships an update weekly, OpenChess fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess.com | OpenChess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (859K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openchess-an-opening-explorer/id6504700904/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **859K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 64.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#1** | — |
| Size | 464 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552) | [David Bryant](https://appshunter.io/developer/1559648957) |

## 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, #17 Top Free · Games, #17 Top Grossing · Strategy, #67 Top Grossing · Games, #96 Top Free, #179 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


### OpenChess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openchess-an-opening-explorer/id6504700904)

Master chess openings by playing against a specialized AI. Explore specific defenses or move sequences, and gain insights into positional advantages and piece values. Improve your game from the very first moves.

**Highlights:** Learn specific chess openings, Play against AI focused on opening lines, Analyze positional advantages, Evaluate piece values and mobility, Understand pawn structure, Track defended and attacked pieces

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tarrasch Defense Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Trompowsky Attack Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Scandinavian Defense Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Three Knights Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Zukertort Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Van't Kruijs Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Vienna Game Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ware Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Opening Explorer | $4.99 | one-time |
| OpenChess Premium | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess.com free?

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

### Is OpenChess free?

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

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

OpenChess is rated higher. Chess.com averages 4.8 out of 5 from 859K ratings, while OpenChess averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

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

Chess.com shows ads; OpenChess does not.

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

Chess.com ships an update weekly, and OpenChess fortnightly. Most recently, Chess.com was updated on October 28, 2026 and OpenChess on October 15, 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.*