# Chess Time vs Chess

The clearest difference is rating: Chess Time at 4.7 against Chess's 4.0. Chess Time also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (86% vs 53%). Chess's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Chess Time asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess Time holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Time has 1.7K ratings behind it against 82, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Chess Time's written reviews are positive against 53% of Chess's.

Chess Time ships an update every 10 days, Chess every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Time | Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-time-multiplayer-chess/id455602152/reviews)** | [4.0 (82 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-play-with-friends/id1509924265/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 82 |
| Positive reviews | **86.2% of reviews** | 53.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 128 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haptic Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/421590139) | [Pirinel Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450962183) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess Time

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-time-multiplayer-chess/id455602152)

Engage in online chess matches with friends or players worldwide. This app supports correspondence play with extended move times and offers features like in-game chat and customizable themes. Track your progress with an auto-calculated ELO rating.

**Highlights:** Online correspondence chess, Play with friends, Global player matchmaking, In-game chat, Customizable chess sets and themes, Auto-calculated ELO rating, PGN export

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🌍 Cross-platform play
- 📊 Detailed player stats and rankings
- 💬 In-game chat functionality
- 🕰️ Flexible time controls for games

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 💰 Ads can be intrusive
- 🔒 Lack of robust anti-cheat measures
- 🖥️ Outdated or basic user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Game incorrectly declaring draws on checkmate
- Inability to castle or move pieces in certain situations
- Notification issues across different devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to invite friends to watch ongoing games
- Option to disable move analysis for rated games
- Faster move processing and real-time gameplay
- More diverse chess piece and board designs
- In-app purchase to remove ads permanently


### Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-play-with-friends/id1509924265)

Engage in classic chess battles with friends, strangers online, or the AI. Enjoy cross-device multiplayer, daily puzzles, and in-game chat. Analyze your games with an optional paid feature.

**Highlights:** Play with friends online, Play against computer AI, Daily chess puzzles, Cross-device multiplayer, In-game chat, Game timers, Chess960 variant

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Version (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium Version (Yearly) | $14.99 | per year |
| Unlock Premium Version | $22.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Time free?

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

### Is Chess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chess Time or Chess?

Chess Time is rated higher. Chess Time averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Chess averages 4.0 from 82 ratings.

### Do Chess Time or Chess have ads?

Chess Time shows ads; Chess does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess Time or Chess?

Chess Time ships an update every 10 days, and Chess every 4 weeks. Most recently, Chess Time was updated on November 1, 2026 and Chess on November 3, 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.*