# SocialChess vs Really Bad Chess

The clearest difference is rating: SocialChess at 4.7 against Really Bad Chess's 3.8. SocialChess also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 46%) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SocialChess sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year and Really Bad Chess sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SocialChess holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7.2K and 1.6K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of SocialChess's written reviews are positive against 46% of Really Bad Chess's.

SocialChess ships an update weekly, Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SocialChess | Really Bad Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (7.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/socialchess-online-chess/id442239737/reviews)** | [3.8 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.2K** | 1.6K |
| Positive reviews | **82.2% of reviews** | 46.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 104 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Woodchop Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/442239740) | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) |

## What reviewers say

### SocialChess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/socialchess-online-chess/id442239737)

Engage in online chess matches with friends or strangers, featuring both timed and correspondence game modes. Enjoy a clean interface with no ads, advanced features, and detailed game statistics. Play offline and sync later, with options to expand game limits via in-app purchase.

**Highlights:** Online chess matches, Timed and correspondence games, No advertisements, Detailed statistics (ELO, wins, losses), Conditional moves and premoves, Offline play with later sync, User profiles and chat

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Membership | $14.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Membership | $14.99 | one-time |
| 1 Year Gift Membership | $14.99 | one-time |
| DecodeChess 1 Year | $41.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent app for playing chess
- 👍 Clean, user-friendly interface
- 👍 Large player base and easy to find opponents
- 👍 Ability to play slow or fast games
- 👍 No ads or distractions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
- 🔋 Potential battery drain issues
- 💰 Subscription fees for some features
- 🤖 Concerns about cheating and bots
- 🤬 Issues with toxic/abusive players

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing or crashing during gameplay
- Inaccurate game statistics and ratings
- Delayed or unresponsive move registrations
- Inability to cancel or delete games

**Requested features**

- Add chess analysis and training tools
- Implement anti-cheat measures
- Improve game history and statistics tracking
- Allow customization of board and piece designs
- Add tournament and team play modes


### Really Bad Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess/id1109751921)

This app reimagines chess with completely randomized pieces, offering a fresh strategic challenge. It's perfect for both seasoned players seeking a new puzzle and beginners looking to learn the fundamentals in a fun, accessible way.

**Highlights:** Randomized chess piece sets, AI opponent challenges, Ranked, Daily, and Weekly modes, Freeplay practice mode, Local multiplayer (with IAP), Alternate color palettes (with IAP)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Undos | $0.99 | one-time |
| Full Game Unlock | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive and fun gameplay
- 🤔 Unique and innovative concept
- 👍 Challenging and engaging
- ⭐ Great way to learn chess

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🕰️ Slow AI response times
- 💰 Paywalls for essential features
- 📺 Intrusive and excessive ads
- 🔁 Repetitive AI moves leading to stalemates

**Reported bugs**

- Pieces unable to move as per chess rules
- Game freezes and crashes
- Incorrect checkmate detection

**Requested features**

- Add draw conditions and stalemate rules
- Implement online/multiplayer mode
- Provide more difficulty settings
- Allow custom piece arrangements
- Sync progress across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SocialChess free?

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

### Is Really Bad Chess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SocialChess or Really Bad Chess?

SocialChess is rated higher. SocialChess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 7.2K ratings, while Really Bad Chess averages 3.8 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do SocialChess or Really Bad Chess have ads?

Really Bad Chess shows ads; SocialChess does not.

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

SocialChess ships an update weekly, and Really Bad Chess every 3 weeks. Most recently, SocialChess was updated on October 29, 2026 and Really Bad Chess on October 23, 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.*