# Chess Time vs Chess

The clearest difference is rating: Chess Time at 4.7 against Chess's 3.1. Chess Time also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 49%) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 21 months). Chess's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 15.6). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Chess Time holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Time has 1.7K ratings behind it against 75, 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 49% of Chess's.

Chess Time ships an update every 10 days, Chess every 21 months. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## 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)** | [3.1 (75 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-free/id541067628/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 75 |
| Positive reviews | **86.2% of reviews** | 48.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 21 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **5.1.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haptic Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/421590139) | [况 郭](https://appshunter.io/developer/499174210) |

## 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


### Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-free/id541067628)

Engage in classic chess with a feature-rich application. Play against AI across ten difficulty levels, challenge friends locally or online, and hone your skills with thousands of puzzles. Customize your experience with various board and piece styles.

**Highlights:** Play against AI or friends, 10 difficulty levels, Online and LAN multiplayer, 38,000+ chess puzzles, Customizable boards and pieces, Load/save games (PGN), Thousands of classic games

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Time free?

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

### Is Chess free?

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

### 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 3.1 from 75 ratings.

### Do Chess Time or Chess have ads?

Both Chess Time and Chess show ads.

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

Chess Time ships an update every 10 days, and Chess every 21 months. Most recently, Chess Time was updated on October 16, 2026 and Chess on October 16, 2026.

---

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