# Chess HD  ∙ vs Chess without ads

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chess HD  ∙ at none against Chess without ads's 7. Chess HD  ∙ also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Chess without ads's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (90% vs 55%). On price there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess without ads sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per 7 days. Chess HD  ∙ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess without ads holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess without ads has 38K ratings behind it against 7.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Chess HD  ∙'s written reviews are positive against 90% of Chess without ads's.

Chess HD  ∙ ships an update every 5 months, Chess without ads fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess HD  ∙ | Chess without ads |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (7.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-hd/id367637700/reviews) | **[4.7 (38K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-without-ads/id522314512/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7.7K | **38K** |
| Positive reviews | 55.4% of reviews | **90.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 88 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Optime Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/289278460) | [Christophe Théron](https://appshunter.io/developer/423198262) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess HD  ∙

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-hd/id367637700)

Experience a visually stunning chess game with excellent graphics and sound effects. Play against a challenging AI or a friend, with features like configurable difficulty, score tracking, and an undo function. Enjoy a free, ad-supported chess experience.

**Highlights:** High-definition graphics and sound effects, 1-player vs. computer and 2-player modes, Configurable AI difficulty, Score tracking and player names, Undo function, Automatic save

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast gameplay
- 👍 Adjustable difficulty levels
- 💡 Undo feature
- 🎨 Nice graphics and design
- 🧠 Helps improve chess skills

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches (illegal moves, pieces disappearing, incorrect checkmate/stalemate detection)
- 💰 Intrusive ads
- 🔒 No option to disable ads even after purchase
- ⏱️ Slow computer moves on higher difficulty
- 🔀 Inability to castle or move pieces as per rules

**Reported bugs**

- Pieces disappearing during gameplay
- Incorrect checkmate/stalemate detection
- Computer making illegal moves
- Game freezing or crashing
- Inability to undo after checkmate/stalemate

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode support
- Ability to track wins/losses/draws
- More customization options (piece designs, board colors, etc.)
- Tutorials or lessons for beginners
- Multiplayer mode with friends


### Chess without ads

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-without-ads/id522314512)

Learn and play chess without distractions. This app offers guided lessons for beginners and advanced analysis for experts, helping you improve your game with intelligent suggestions and post-game reviews. Play offline and enjoy a seamless, ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Ad-free learning and play, Introductory lessons for beginners, Grandmaster move suggestions, Game analysis with good/bad moves, Supports USCF and FIDE rating scales, Strong mobile chess engine, Offline play

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PRO, 1 week | $0.49 | per 7 days |
| PRO, 1 month | $0.99 | per month |
| PRO, 3 months | $1.99 | per 3 months |
| Learn chess | $4.99 | one-time |
| PRO, for life (SALE!) | $9.99 | one-time |
| PRO, for life (regular price) | $12.99 | one-time |
| PRO FOR LIFE - TODAY ONLY | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent chess training tool
- 🚀 Customizable difficulty levels
- 💡 Helpful move suggestions
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🚀 No ads or distractions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited free version with paid upgrade
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 💡 Desire for more chess variants and modes
- 🔒 Aggressive prompts to upgrade to paid version

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing on the login screen
- Incompatibility with older devices
- Inconsistent behavior when running out of free credits

**Requested features**

- Add more chess variants (3-check, king of the hill, etc.)
- Provide more detailed game analysis and feedback
- Improve the en passant move functionality
- Add online/multiplayer capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess HD  ∙ free?

Chess HD  ∙ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Chess without ads free?

Chess without ads is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Chess HD  ∙ or Chess without ads?

Chess without ads is rated higher. Chess HD  ∙ averages 4.5 out of 5 from 7.7K ratings, while Chess without ads averages 4.7 from 38K ratings.

### Do Chess HD  ∙ or Chess without ads have ads?

Chess HD  ∙ shows ads; Chess without ads does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess HD  ∙ or Chess without ads?

Chess HD  ∙ ships an update every 5 months, and Chess without ads fortnightly. Most recently, Chess HD  ∙ was updated on September 25, 2026 and Chess without ads on September 25, 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.*