# Mastersoft Chess vs Classic chess

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Classic chess at none against Mastersoft Chess's 3. Mastersoft Chess's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (90% vs 64%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mastersoft Chess sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Classic chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mastersoft Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mastersoft Chess has 1.5K ratings behind it against 74, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Mastersoft Chess's written reviews are positive against 64% of Classic chess's.

Mastersoft Chess ships an update every 5 days, Classic chess every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mastersoft Chess | Classic chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mastersoft-chess/id378161776/reviews)** | [4.4 (74 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classic-chess/id1223231585/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 74 |
| Positive reviews | **90.5% of reviews** | 63.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 277 MB | 146 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mastersoft](https://appshunter.io/developer/994180799) | [Cross Field Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/465034947) |

## What reviewers say

### Mastersoft Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mastersoft-chess/id378161776)

Master the game of chess with this comprehensive app. Learn step-by-step, play against adaptive AI across 100 difficulty levels, and sharpen your skills with thousands of puzzles. Enjoy offline play and track your progress with an ELO rating.

**Highlights:** 100 difficulty levels, Interactive learning coach, Thousands of chess puzzles, Adaptive AI opponent, ELO rating tracker, Multiple game modes, Offline play

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chess Pro for 1 month. | $2.99 | per month |
| Buy Chess Pro. | $2.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Ginkgo. 10% Off. | $9.95 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great learning tool
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 💡 Helpful training mode
- 👍 Challenging at higher levels
- 👍 Customizable board and pieces

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🔍 Unclear move suggestions
- 🤖 Computer plays too strong at times

**Reported bugs**

- Pawn disappearing issue when castling
- Ratings not updating properly after games
- Crashes on certain iOS versions

**Requested features**

- More detailed explanations for suggested moves
- Option to play against other users online
- Ability to set up custom board positions
- Slower computer move speeds for beginners


### Classic chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classic-chess/id1223231585)

Learn chess rules intuitively with easy-to-understand explanations. Play against an AI with adjustable difficulty levels, from beginner to advanced. Choose between immersive 3D graphics or clear 2D views to suit your playstyle and mood.

**Highlights:** Intuitive rule explanations, Adjustable AI difficulty, 3D and 2D board options, Beginner-friendly, Progress tracking

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mastersoft Chess free?

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

### Is Classic chess free?

Classic chess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Mastersoft Chess or Classic chess?

Mastersoft Chess is rated higher. Mastersoft Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Classic chess averages 4.4 from 74 ratings.

### Do Mastersoft Chess or Classic chess have ads?

Both Mastersoft Chess and Classic chess show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mastersoft Chess or Classic chess?

Mastersoft Chess ships an update every 5 days, and Classic chess every 2 months. Most recently, Mastersoft Chess was updated on September 27, 2026 and Classic chess on September 27, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*