# Mastersoft Chess vs Really Bad Chess+

The clearest difference is rating: Mastersoft Chess at 4.7 against Really Bad Chess+'s 3.4. Mastersoft Chess also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 54%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months). Really Bad Chess+'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. Really Bad Chess+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mastersoft Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mastersoft Chess has 1.5K ratings behind it against 165, 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 54% of Really Bad Chess+'s.

Mastersoft Chess ships an update every 5 days, Really Bad Chess+ every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mastersoft Chess | Really Bad Chess+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mastersoft-chess/id378161776/reviews)** | [3.4 (165 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess-plus/id1551670264/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 165 |
| Positive reviews | **90.5% of reviews** | 54.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 277 MB | 100 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) | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) |

## 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


### Really Bad Chess+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess-plus/id1551670264)

Experience chess with a chaotic twist! This app replaces standard pieces with random assortments, forcing you to rethink strategy. Perfect for both seasoned players seeking a new challenge and beginners looking to learn the fundamentals in a fun, unpredictable way.

**Highlights:** Random piece assignments, AI challenges (Ranked, Daily, Weekly), Freeplay mode, Local versus mode, Daily chess puzzles, New strategic challenges

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Innovative concept
- 🤩 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Easy to learn
- 🧠 Improves chess skills
- ✨ Clean UI

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Unfair AI starting positions
- ⚖️ AI too lucky/strong
- 🚫 No draws (stalemate/repetition)
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 📱 UI scaling issues

**Reported bugs**

- App zoomed in, parts of board/UI cut off (recent update)
- Cannot make legal moves
- Game won't allow moves out of check
- AI gets stuck in infinite loops
- Incorrect checkmate detection

**Requested features**

- Add draws by repetition/stalemate
- Option for mirrored pieces
- Tutorial for beginners
- Ability to play online multiplayer
- Option to see solution for daily challenges


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mastersoft Chess free?

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

### Is Really Bad Chess+ free?

Really Bad Chess+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Mastersoft Chess or Really Bad Chess+?

Mastersoft Chess is rated higher. Mastersoft Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Really Bad Chess+ averages 3.4 from 165 ratings.

### Do Mastersoft Chess or Really Bad Chess+ have ads?

Mastersoft Chess shows ads; Really Bad Chess+ does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mastersoft Chess or Really Bad Chess+?

Mastersoft Chess ships an update every 5 days, and Really Bad Chess+ every 3 months. Most recently, Mastersoft Chess was updated on September 25, 2026 and Really Bad Chess+ on September 6, 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.*