# SparkChess Pro vs Chess Time

The clearest difference is price: Chess Time at Free against SparkChess Pro's $24.99. Chess Time also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (86% vs 61%). SparkChess Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On device support there is nothing between them.

Chess Time is free to download; SparkChess Pro costs $24.99 up front. Chess Time sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. SparkChess Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess Time holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Time has 1.7K ratings behind it against 42, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of SparkChess Pro's written reviews are positive against 86% of Chess Time's.

SparkChess Pro ships an update every 4 months, Chess Time every 10 days. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | SparkChess Pro | Chess Time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $24.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.4 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkchess-pro/id398133128/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-time-multiplayer-chess/id455602152/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 42 | **1.7K** |
| Positive reviews | 60.9% of reviews | **86.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 65 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Media Division SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/398133131) | [Haptic Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/421590139) |

## What reviewers say

### SparkChess Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkchess-pro/id398133128)

This ancient strategy game offers a fun and accessible experience for all skill levels. Practice against the computer, challenge friends online, or learn with interactive lessons and puzzles. Features include various board styles, a virtual coach, and progress tracking.

**Highlights:** Practice against computer or friends, Interactive lessons and puzzles, Multiple board styles (2D, 3D, fantasy), Virtual Chess Coach, Multiplayer progress tracking, Save and replay games

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Chess Time

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-time-multiplayer-chess/id455602152)

Engage in online chess matches with friends or players worldwide. This app supports correspondence play with extended move times and offers features like in-game chat and customizable themes. Track your progress with an auto-calculated ELO rating.

**Highlights:** Online correspondence chess, Play with friends, Global player matchmaking, In-game chat, Customizable chess sets and themes, Auto-calculated ELO rating, PGN export

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chess Time Premium | $1.99 | per month |
| Chess Time Premium - Annual | $17.99 | per year |
| IOS Chess Time Pro | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🌍 Cross-platform play
- 📊 Detailed player stats and rankings
- 💬 In-game chat functionality
- 🕰️ Flexible time controls for games

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 💰 Ads can be intrusive
- 🔒 Lack of robust anti-cheat measures
- 🖥️ Outdated or basic user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Game incorrectly declaring draws on checkmate
- Inability to castle or move pieces in certain situations
- Notification issues across different devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to invite friends to watch ongoing games
- Option to disable move analysis for rated games
- Faster move processing and real-time gameplay
- More diverse chess piece and board designs
- In-app purchase to remove ads permanently


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SparkChess Pro free?

SparkChess Pro costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Chess Time free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SparkChess Pro or Chess Time?

Chess Time is rated higher. SparkChess Pro averages 4.4 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Chess Time averages 4.7 from 1.7K ratings.

### Do SparkChess Pro or Chess Time have ads?

Chess Time shows ads; SparkChess Pro does not.

### Which is updated more often, SparkChess Pro or Chess Time?

SparkChess Pro ships an update every 4 months, and Chess Time every 10 days. Most recently, SparkChess Pro was updated on September 23, 2026 and Chess Time on September 23, 2026.

---

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