# Mastersoft Chess vs Master Chess

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mastersoft Chess at 90% against Master Chess's 27%. Mastersoft Chess also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.1) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months). Master Chess's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mastersoft Chess sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Master Chess sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mastersoft Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mastersoft Chess has 1.5K ratings behind it against 17, 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 27% of Master Chess's.

Mastersoft Chess ships an update every 5 days, Master Chess every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mastersoft Chess | Master Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mastersoft-chess/id378161776/reviews)** | [3.1 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/master-chess/id1289312267/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | **90.5% of reviews** | 27.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 277 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mastersoft](https://appshunter.io/developer/994180799) | [Code This Lab srl](https://appshunter.io/developer/377003842) |

## 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


### Master Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/master-chess/id1289312267)

Engage in the timeless strategy of chess against AI opponents or players worldwide. Master tactical moves to capture the opponent's king and achieve checkmate. This classic board game offers intuitive drag-and-drop controls for seamless gameplay.

**Highlights:** Play against computer AI, Compete with real players globally, Classic chess gameplay, Intuitive drag-and-drop controls, Capture the opponent's king, Achieve checkmate

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chess Subscription | $0.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mastersoft Chess free?

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

### Is Master Chess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mastersoft Chess or Master Chess?

Mastersoft Chess is rated higher. Mastersoft Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Master Chess averages 3.1 from 17 ratings.

### Do Mastersoft Chess or Master Chess have ads?

Both Mastersoft Chess and Master Chess show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mastersoft Chess or Master Chess?

Mastersoft Chess ships an update every 5 days, and Master Chess every 3 months. Most recently, Mastersoft Chess was updated on September 25, 2026 and Master Chess on September 24, 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.*