# Across Crossword Trainer vs Chess Notation Trainer

The clearest difference is price: Chess Notation Trainer at Free against Across Crossword Trainer's $6.99. Chess Notation Trainer also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). Across Crossword Trainer's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (129 vs 18). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Chess Notation Trainer is free to download; Across Crossword Trainer costs $6.99 up front. Across Crossword Trainer sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Chess Notation Trainer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Across Crossword Trainer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Across Crossword Trainer has 129 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 96% of Across Crossword Trainer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chess Notation Trainer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Across Crossword Trainer ships an update every 2 months, Chess Notation Trainer every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Across Crossword Trainer | Chess Notation Trainer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $6.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (129 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/across-crossword-trainer/id390989290/reviews)** | [4.4 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-notation-trainer/id6476576060/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **129** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | 95.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 28 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Literate Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/390989293) | [Nishat Majid](https://appshunter.io/developer/1727207034) |

## What reviewers say

### Across Crossword Trainer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/across-crossword-trainer/id390989290)

Learn to solve US-style English crosswords with this expertly designed app. It offers a collection of 75 specially crafted puzzles with learning notes to improve your skills, progressing from easy to advanced levels. Tackle published crosswords with confidence after completing the included challenges.

**Highlights:** Learn crossword solving techniques, 75 professionally constructed crosswords, Learning notes for each puzzle, Progression from easy to advanced levels, Unique interface like a printed crossword, Automated help for scanning and selecting clues

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gaffney's Mini Puzzles | $0.99 | one-time |
| Beguiling Bogglers | $0.99 | one-time |
| Confounding Challenges | $0.99 | one-time |
| Crosswords You Can Finish | $2.99 | one-time |
| Gaffney's Minis Practice Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Jonesin' Omnibus | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Excellent progressive learning structure from beginner to advanced
- 👍 User-friendly interface that's intuitive and easy to navigate
- 🧠 Effective teaching methodology with helpful hints and tips
- 🎯 Clear cumulative puzzles with step-by-step guidance
- 💰 Great value and reasonable pricing

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⌨️ Unconventional split-keyboard letter entry system is awkward
- 🎯 Inconsistent letter input responsiveness, requires multiple taps
- 🇺🇸 Heavy American bias in clues and references
- 📝 Weak puzzle construction with excessive whitespace
- 🔄 Repetitive clues and answers across puzzles

**Reported bugs**

- Split keyboard letter input is unreliable and requires excessive tapping
- Letters on left side of screen don't always respond to first tap
- App occasionally jumps to other squares unexpectedly
- Accidental letter taps count as errors against user
- Inconsistent tap detection requiring edge-of-key tapping

**Requested features**

- More puzzles and expanded content library
- In-game dictionary or definition lookup for educational value
- Traditional keyboard option for letter entry
- Horizontal puzzle orientation support
- Better international/non-American clue options


### Chess Notation Trainer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-notation-trainer/id6476576060)

Master chess squares and notation with this training app. Improve your ability to identify coordinates, translate moves, and visualize the board, even without one. Ideal for serious players looking to enhance calculation speed and chess understanding.

**Highlights:** Identify squares by coordinate, Translate move sequences to notation, Determine square color instantly, Stay oriented on the board, Follow chess tutorials without a board, Speed up calculation, Practice blind chess

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Across Crossword Trainer free?

Across Crossword Trainer costs $6.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Chess Notation Trainer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Across Crossword Trainer or Chess Notation Trainer?

Across Crossword Trainer is rated higher. Across Crossword Trainer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 129 ratings, while Chess Notation Trainer averages 4.4 from 18 ratings.

### Do Across Crossword Trainer or Chess Notation Trainer have ads?

Neither Across Crossword Trainer nor Chess Notation Trainer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Across Crossword Trainer or Chess Notation Trainer?

Across Crossword Trainer ships an update every 2 months, and Chess Notation Trainer every 2 days. Most recently, Across Crossword Trainer was updated on October 8, 2026 and Chess Notation Trainer on October 14, 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.*