# SocialChess vs Chessplode

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | SocialChess | Chessplode |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (7.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/socialchess-online-chess/id442239737/reviews)** | [4.5 (573 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessplode/id1439047052/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.2K** | 573 |
| Positive reviews | **82.2% of reviews** | 61.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 104 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Woodchop Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/442239740) | [Juan Manuel Altamirano Argudo](https://appshunter.io/developer/391953849) |

## 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


### Chessplode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessplode/id1439047052)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| +100 Undos | $0.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Massive Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| INFINITE UNDOS | $1.99 | one-time |
| Amazing Tip | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


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