# Azul Chess vs CheckMat

The clearest difference is rating: CheckMat at 4.7 against Azul Chess's 4.1. CheckMat also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 66 months) and ratings volume (159 vs 10). Azul Chess's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CheckMat sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Azul Chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

CheckMat holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CheckMat has 159 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Azul Chess's written reviews are positive against 81% of CheckMat's.

Azul Chess ships an update every 66 months, CheckMat every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Azul Chess | CheckMat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/azul-chess/id412345121/reviews) | **[4.7 (159 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/checkmat-chess-and-puzzles/id6736687441/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **159** |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | **81.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 66 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 97 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Omar Mody](https://appshunter.io/developer/297279263) | [CHECKMAT](https://appshunter.io/developer/1769612878) |

## What reviewers say

### Azul Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/azul-chess/id412345121)

Engage in strategic chess matches against AI opponents or challenge friends. Features include move assistance, undo functionality, and adjustable difficulty levels. Enjoy sound effects and a built-in chess clock for a complete experience.

**Highlights:** Play against computer or friend, Show available moves, Take back moves, Get hints, Five difficulty levels, Chess clock

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### CheckMat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/checkmat-chess-and-puzzles/id6736687441)

Learn, play, and improve at chess with AI opponents, friends, and daily puzzles. Earn rewards, customize your board, and track your progress with an Elo rating. Perfect for beginners and improving players.

**Highlights:** Play chess vs computer AI, Play chess with friends online, Solve daily chess puzzles, Track Elo chess rating, Earn trophies and achievements, Customize chess board, Step-by-step chess guide

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium (Monthly) | $3.49 | per month |
| Checkmat Pro | $3.99 | per month |
| No Ads (Yearly) | $9.99 | per year |
| Pawns 50 | $0.79 | one-time |
| Pawns 150 | $2.29 | one-time |
| Pawns 250 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pawns 500 | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Azul Chess free?

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

### Is CheckMat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Azul Chess or CheckMat?

CheckMat is rated higher. Azul Chess averages 4.1 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while CheckMat averages 4.7 from 159 ratings.

### Do Azul Chess or CheckMat have ads?

CheckMat shows ads; Azul Chess does not.

### Which is updated more often, Azul Chess or CheckMat?

Azul Chess ships an update every 66 months, and CheckMat every 9 days. Most recently, Azul Chess was updated on November 1, 2026 and CheckMat on November 8, 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.*