# Mastersoft Chess vs Chess Opener Lite

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mastersoft Chess at 90% against Chess Opener Lite's 43%. Mastersoft Chess also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks). Chess Opener Lite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price, 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. Chess Opener Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mastersoft Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. 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 43% of Chess Opener Lite's.

Mastersoft Chess ships an update every 5 days, Chess Opener Lite every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and August 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mastersoft Chess | Chess Opener Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mastersoft-chess/id378161776/reviews)** | [4.1 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-opener-lite/id1489281014/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | **90.5% of reviews** | 42.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 277 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mastersoft](https://appshunter.io/developer/994180799) | [Stanislav Basovnik](https://appshunter.io/developer/1469334974) |

## 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


### Chess Opener Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-opener-lite/id1489281014)

Master chess openings with an interactive trainer and comprehensive database. Build and memorize your own repertoire, compare variations, and track your progress. Works offline and offers extensive opening exploration.

**Highlights:** Chess opening tree with game statistics, Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO), Build and edit opening repertoire, Interactive opening trainer, Offline functionality, PGN export, 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 Chess Opener Lite free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mastersoft Chess or Chess Opener Lite?

Mastersoft Chess is rated higher. Mastersoft Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Chess Opener Lite averages 4.1 from 17 ratings.

### Do Mastersoft Chess or Chess Opener Lite have ads?

Mastersoft Chess shows ads; Chess Opener Lite does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mastersoft Chess or Chess Opener Lite?

Mastersoft Chess ships an update every 5 days, and Chess Opener Lite every 5 weeks. Most recently, Mastersoft Chess was updated on September 27, 2026 and Chess Opener Lite on August 18, 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.*