# Chess Time vs Path to Zero

The clearest difference is ads: Path to Zero at none against Chess Time's shown. Path to Zero also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 days). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess Time sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Path to Zero sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chess Time ships an update every 10 days, Path to Zero every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Time | Path to Zero |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-time-multiplayer-chess/id455602152/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 42 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haptic Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/421590139) | [Felipe Grosze Nipper de Oliveira](https://appshunter.io/developer/1575428269) |

## 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 (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chess Time Premium | $1.99 | per month |
| Chess Time Premium - Annual | $17.99 | per year |
| IOS Chess Time Pro | $4.99 | one-time |

**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


### Path to Zero

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/path-to-zero/id1620651202)

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Time free?

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

### Is Path to Zero free?

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

### Do Chess Time or Path to Zero have ads?

Chess Time shows ads; Path to Zero does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess Time or Path to Zero?

Chess Time ships an update every 10 days, and Path to Zero every 3 days. Most recently, Chess Time was updated on October 7, 2026 and Path to Zero on October 5, 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.*