Comparison

SocialChess vs Chessplode

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

Head to head
About

SocialChess

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
Read full description

A polished, full featured way to play chess against friends or random opponents online. Play fast chess with a clock, or play many correspondence games at a time making moves whenever you have a chance every day or so. "Social Chess Is The Best Way To Get Your iCheckmate On" -CultOfMac.com DESIGN PRINCIPLES * No Advertisements! * Beautiful, clean, intuitive layout. * Features are chosen and implemented carefully. * Your privacy is respected. We will not spam or share any user info. * Game features are driven by your feedback. GAME FEATURES * Statistics - ELO Rating, Wins, Losses, Draws. * Elo Charts & Per Opponent statistics. * Advanced features such as Conditional Moves and Premoves. * Receive push notifications when a game is updated. * Play even when there is no internet connection. Moves are sent later. * Play up to 5 games at a time, or increase it to 100 with In-App purchase. * Search for opponents by username, email, or we'll match you with a random opponent. * Claim Victory if opponent does not make a move in the time allowed. * Optional Takeback move. * Chess960 * Analysis Board to work out your strategy. SOCIAL FEATURES * User Profile including picture, comments, etc. * Map view of your opponent's location. * Chat and Group Chat * Browse your opponent's games, and their opponent's games. * Elo Rankings Apple End User License Agreement https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

About

Chessplode

This app offers a unique twist on chess where capturing a piece causes others in the same line and column to explode. It's designed to be fun and accessible, even for those who aren't skilled at traditional chess, offering both single-player and multiplayer modes.

Highlights
  • Exploding pieces on capture
  • Real-time multiplayer battles
  • User-created levels
  • Local multiplayer mode
  • AI opponent practice
  • Customizable color themes
Features
Read full description

Chessplode is modern chess for everyone, it makes chess fun even if you're bad ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, one simply move... can change all game. -- THE MODERN RULE -- Chessplode is pretty much like chess with a really BIG twist... - CAPTURE a piece and everything in the same LINE and COLUMN will EXPLODE... - But if a KING is in that LINE or COLUMN it will be a really *boring* chess capture (no explosions) -- THINK DIFF... *DISTINCT* -- This rule is pretty tricky, in regular chess you need to defend your KING, but in Chessplode it can save your pieces. Remember, you can't capture some pieces because you could get check. Sometimes you will checkmate capturing a piece that explodes. And other you will be afraid of having several pieces in the same line or column...(POP!) -- FRIENDS (Who love chess) REVIEW -- They find Chessplode a great challenge and love how they need to change the old way of thinking even if they are winning... a bad move and they will run out of pieces. -- FRIENDS (Who *meh* chess) REVIEW -- Chess + Explosions... you got my attention. Some of these friends were casual chess players and others didn't really feel the attraction for chess. Both find Chessplode a really fun game. When they were playing regular chess they were not good, now they are the kings of the hill. -- FEATURES -- * FREE TO PLAY * Realtime chess battles multiplayer with people around the world. * In multiplayer you can send an emoji (to express your feelings) with every move you submit. Instant fun! * Play Levels created for other players, you can find really madness here, but you can undo your move... everyone can make a mistake. * Create your own custom Level and submit it to everyone can play it. Challenge the world! * Try local multiplayer battles with friends in the same device. Head to head! * Practice playing versus Ziri. * A lot of different color themes, play day and night with your favourite colors. Thank you for playing "Chessplode"! I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it ;) Support: Are you having problems? http://twitter.com/juaxma http://twitter.com/chessplode hello@juan.ma Privacy Policy: http://juan.ma/chessplode/privacypolicy/ AppPreview Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music/track/jazzy-frenchy © Juan Manuel Altamirano Argudo / juan.ma

Screenshots

SocialChess4 screens
Chessplode4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: SocialChess at none against Chessplode's shown. SocialChess also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 61%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Chessplode's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. SocialChess sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year and Chessplode sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SocialChess holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SocialChess has 7.2K ratings behind it against 573, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of SocialChess's written reviews are positive against 61% of Chessplode's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SocialChess ships an update weekly, Chessplode every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SocialChess versus Chessplode: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSocialChessChessplode
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (7.2K ratings) — better4.5 (573 ratings)
Positive reviews82.2% of reviews — better61.2% of reviews
Number of ratings7.2K — better573
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB86 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperWoodchop Software LLCJuan Manuel Altamirano Argudo

Customer experience

SocialChess

All ratings7,245 ratings
Positive94.0%
Neutral2.8%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews1,225 reviews
Positive82.2%
Neutral4.0%
Negative13.8%

Chessplode

All ratings573 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral3.8%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive61.2%
Neutral9.0%
Negative29.9%

User reviews

SocialChess

From 7.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 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

Room to improve

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

Chessplode

From 573 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Quick gameplay
  • 👍 Beautiful and fun game
  • 👍 Fantastic and great fun twist on chess
  • 👍 Lovely little game
  • 👍 Chess with a new challenge

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Won't open or get stuck
  • 🐛 Issues with king movement and checkmate detection
  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes
  • 🐛 AI issues with thinking and repeating moves
  • 🐛 Overly difficult, even at easy levels

Bugs and requests

SocialChess

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Chessplode

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Won't open or get stuck on certain screens
  • Issues with king movement and checkmate detection
  • Crashes and freezes, especially when AI is thinking
  • AI issues with thinking and repeating moves

Requested features

9 requests
  • Add local multiplayer mode
  • Add classic chess mode
  • Add more basic puzzles
  • Add ability to go back to previous levels
  • Add option to remove explosions
Show 4 more
  • Add Repetition end-condition
  • Add Resign button
  • Add themed boards
  • Add online levels and multiplayer

In-app purchases

4 purchases

SocialChess

Subscriptions1
  • Annual Membership$14.991 Year
One-time3
  • 1 Year Membership$14.99
  • 1 Year Gift Membership$14.99
  • DecodeChess 1 Year$41.99
5 purchases

Chessplode

One-time5
  • +100 Undos$0.99
  • Generous Tip$0.99
  • Massive Tip$1.99
Show 2 more
  • INFINITE UNDOS$1.99
  • Amazing Tip$2.99

Questions

Is SocialChess free?
SocialChess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chessplode free?
Chessplode is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SocialChess or Chessplode?
SocialChess is rated higher. SocialChess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 7.2K ratings, while Chessplode averages 4.5 from 573 ratings.
Do SocialChess or Chessplode have ads?
Chessplode shows ads; SocialChess does not.
Which is updated more often, SocialChess or Chessplode?
SocialChess ships an update weekly, and Chessplode every 2 weeks. Most recently, SocialChess was updated on October 28, 2026 and Chessplode on October 20, 2026.

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