Comparison

SparkChess Pro vs ChessCoda

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SparkChess Pro

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
Read full description

SparkChess is the only chess game that puts fun first. With a choice of boards, computer opponents and online play, it delivers a first-class experience that is as accessible to experts as it is to beginners, kids and anyone else who wants to discover how entertaining this ancient strategy game really is. The chess game that everyone can enjoy! Too many chess apps are impossible for anyone but the experts and masters. The real test of a truly intelligent chess game isn’t how hard it is to beat, but how well it can adapt to players of all skill levels. That’s exactly what makes the award-winning SparkChess stand out. Whether you’re brand new to the chess board, looking to improve your game, to teach your kids to play, or are ready to take it to the next challenging level, everyone can find the perfect balance in SparkChess. FEATURES: * Practice chess against the computer or challenge your friends in multiplayer. * A simple user interface that makes it easy to set up and play games. * Choose from different boards: 2D, 3D and a stunning fantasy chess set. * Play casual, quick or expert games, depending on your level. * Learn chess with over 30 interactive lessons. * Study famous historcal games. * Test your skills with over 70 chess puzzles. * Learn and practice common openings and their variations (over 100 in total). * A Virtual Chess Coach explains the consequences of your moves. * The only chess game that appeals to beginners and experts alike. * Track your multiplayer progress with statistics. * Create and join teams. * Save and replay your games. * Import/Export games in PGN format. * Watch and comment on live multiplayer games. * Child-safe design, with built-in anti-abuse measures built-in. * Edit the board. * Large and friendly community of chess lovers from all over the world. Young or old, beginner or advanced, SparkChess gives you the extra edge to become a better chess player while having fun! REVIEWS “Your chess board and pieces are the best by far (compared to any other program, including Fritz 12).” “SparkChess is a superbly presented and polished program. I think you have achieved your aim of making chess fun, accessible and entertaining for a wide audience.” “I love the game and play it regularly - great work on the game” “SparkChess provides deep, intelligent gameplay… [Its] multiplayer offerings are just as impressive.” ~ MaximumPC.com, app of the week.

About

ChessCoda

Features
Read full description

ChessCoda is chess coaching from your own games. Your AI Coach finds the moment that decided each game, explains what you missed in plain language, and turns it into practice. REVIEWS THAT TALK YOU THROUGH IT Import your games from Lichess or Chess.com, or play right in the app. Every game is analyzed by the ChessCoda Coach Engine. Your coach talks you through the key moments on the live board: what happened, why you missed it, and what to play instead. TWENTY OPPONENTS, ONE AT YOUR LEVEL Spar any time against twenty opponents rated 800 to 2000, each with a style of their own: attackers, tricksters, grinders and strategists. They play the moves a real person at their rating would play, not perfect engine chess. Finished games land in your library and get reviewed like any other game. DRILLS FROM YOUR OWN GAMES An endless stream of puzzles built from the mistakes you actually make, themed around what your coach wants you to sharpen next. The positions you got wrong come back until the pattern sticks. INSIGHTS THAT TRACK YOUR PROGRESS See your recurring weaknesses and how they change over time, which phase of the game costs you the most, and your opening repertoire with the move where you usually leave theory. HONEST BY DESIGN We can't promise rating points. Nobody honestly can. What we promise is that you'll always know the single most useful thing to work on next. FREE AND PLUS Free: analysis of every game with accuracy and move-quality marks, puzzles at your level, progress insights, one coached review and 10 Coach games each week. Plus: the one lesson of every game and why it happened, reviews your coach picks for you plus 2 of your choice each week, deeper Insights into your leaks, and practice drills built from your own mistakes. Available monthly or yearly. Subscriptions are billed to your Apple Account and renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Service: https://chesscoda.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://chesscoda.com/privacy

Screenshots

SparkChess Pro4 screens
ChessCoda4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ChessCoda at Free against SparkChess Pro's $24.99. ChessCoda also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months). SparkChess Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

ChessCoda is free to download; SparkChess Pro costs $24.99 up front. ChessCoda sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. SparkChess Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SparkChess Pro ships an update every 4 months, ChessCoda weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SparkChess Pro versus ChessCoda: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSparkChess ProChessCoda
Price$24.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (42 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews60.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings42 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB54 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMedia Division SRLMaritacas OÜ

In-app purchases

None

SparkChess Pro

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

ChessCoda

Subscriptions2
  • Plus Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Plus Yearly$49.001 Year

Questions

Is SparkChess Pro free?
SparkChess Pro costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ChessCoda free?
ChessCoda is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SparkChess Pro or ChessCoda have ads?
Neither SparkChess Pro nor ChessCoda shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SparkChess Pro or ChessCoda?
SparkChess Pro ships an update every 4 months, and ChessCoda weekly. Most recently, SparkChess Pro was updated on October 18, 2026 and ChessCoda on October 14, 2026.

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