# Chess Premium HD vs Really Bad Chess

The clearest difference is price: Really Bad Chess at Free against Chess Premium HD's $1.99. Really Bad Chess also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months) and device support (3 vs 1). Chess Premium HD's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Really Bad Chess is free to download; Chess Premium HD costs $1.99 up front. Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Chess Premium HD asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess Premium HD holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 662 and 1.6K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Chess Premium HD's written reviews are positive against 46% of Really Bad Chess's.

Chess Premium HD ships an update every 12 months, Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Premium HD | Really Bad Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.6 (662 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-premium-hd/id366248696/reviews)** | [3.8 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 662 | **1.6K** |
| Positive reviews | **80.6% of reviews** | 46.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 81 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Optime Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/289278460) | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess Premium HD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-premium-hd/id366248696)

Experience visually stunning chess gameplay with strategic challenges. Play against friends or a sophisticated AI, with features like configurable difficulty, undo, and automatic saving. Enjoy a premium chess experience on your device.

**Highlights:** High-quality graphics and sound effects, 1 and 2 player modes, Challenging AI opponent, Configurable difficulty levels, Undo function, Automatic game saving

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 💡 Adjustable difficulty levels
- 🎨 Good graphics and design
- ⏱️ Fast computer opponent

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔀 No landscape mode
- 🔍 Missing captured pieces display
- ⚠️ Inconsistent move recognition
- ⏳ Slow computer response time

**Reported bugs**

- Pieces disappearing from the board
- Incorrect checkmate detection
- Inability to castle
- Game freezes and crashes
- Moves not registering properly

**Requested features**

- Online multiplayer mode
- Ability to save and replay games
- More customization options for boards and pieces
- Hints and tips for beginners
- Detailed win/loss tracking


### Really Bad Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921)

This app reimagines chess with completely randomized pieces, offering a fresh strategic challenge. It's perfect for both seasoned players seeking a new puzzle and beginners looking to learn the fundamentals in a fun, accessible way.

**Highlights:** Randomized chess piece sets, AI opponent challenges, Ranked, Daily, and Weekly modes, Freeplay practice mode, Local multiplayer (with IAP), Alternate color palettes (with IAP)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Undos | $0.99 | one-time |
| Full Game Unlock | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive and fun gameplay
- 🤔 Unique and innovative concept
- 👍 Challenging and engaging
- ⭐ Great way to learn chess

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🕰️ Slow AI response times
- 💰 Paywalls for essential features
- 📺 Intrusive and excessive ads
- 🔁 Repetitive AI moves leading to stalemates

**Reported bugs**

- Pieces unable to move as per chess rules
- Game freezes and crashes
- Incorrect checkmate detection

**Requested features**

- Add draw conditions and stalemate rules
- Implement online/multiplayer mode
- Provide more difficulty settings
- Allow custom piece arrangements
- Sync progress across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Premium HD free?

Chess Premium HD costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Really Bad Chess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chess Premium HD or Really Bad Chess?

Chess Premium HD is rated higher. Chess Premium HD averages 4.6 out of 5 from 662 ratings, while Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Chess Premium HD or Really Bad Chess have ads?

Both Chess Premium HD and Really Bad Chess show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chess Premium HD or Really Bad Chess?

Chess Premium HD ships an update every 12 months, and Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. Most recently, Chess Premium HD was updated on October 16, 2026 and Really Bad Chess on October 17, 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.*