# Chess HD  ∙ vs Chess Prime

The clearest difference is ads: Chess Prime at none against Chess HD  ∙'s shown. Chess Prime also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Chess HD  ∙'s advantage is ratings volume (7.7K vs 71). On price, rating and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Chess HD  ∙ against 4.4 for Chess Prime. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess HD  ∙ has 7.7K ratings behind it against 71, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Chess HD  ∙ ships an update every 5 months, Chess Prime every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and August 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess HD  ∙ | Chess Prime |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (7.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-hd/id367637700/reviews)** | [4.4 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-prime/id632959906/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.7K** | 71 |
| Positive reviews | — | 83.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 88 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Optime Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/289278460) | [Vinta Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/505409005) |

## 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 Prime

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-prime/id632959906)

This app offers a challenging chess experience for players of all levels. It features a versatile AI engine, customizable game modes, and helpful tools for beginners. Save your progress and replay games to improve your skills.

**Highlights:** One player and two player modes, Challenging AI with flexible difficulty, Start from any position, Save and load games, Show legal moves for beginners, Undo and redo moves

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess HD  ∙ free?

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

### Is Chess Prime free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chess HD  ∙ or Chess Prime?

Chess HD  ∙ is rated higher. Chess HD  ∙ averages 4.5 out of 5 from 7.7K ratings, while Chess Prime averages 4.4 from 71 ratings.

### Do Chess HD  ∙ or Chess Prime have ads?

Chess HD  ∙ shows ads; Chess Prime does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess HD  ∙ or Chess Prime?

Chess HD  ∙ ships an update every 5 months, and Chess Prime every 2 weeks. Most recently, Chess HD  ∙ was updated on September 30, 2026 and Chess Prime on August 28, 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.*