# Chess Time vs Brain Swaggle

The clearest difference is ads: Brain Swaggle at none against Chess Time's shown. Brain Swaggle also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 86%). Chess Time's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 5). On price, in-app purchases, 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 and Brain Swaggle sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Brain Swaggle holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Time has 1.7K ratings behind it against 5, 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 100% of Brain Swaggle's.

Chess Time ships an update every 10 days, Brain Swaggle every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Time | Brain Swaggle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-time-multiplayer-chess/id455602152/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brain-swaggle/id6749670463/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haptic Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/421590139) | [Gary Downing](https://appshunter.io/developer/1831679393) |

## 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


### Brain Swaggle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brain-swaggle/id6749670463)

Engage in a competitive word-building game that sharpens spelling, memory, and strategic thinking. Players take turns constructing words against the computer, aiming for high scores by meeting minimum letter counts and outmaneuvering opponents. Experience a blend of education and fast-paced fun.

**Highlights:** Strategic word-building turns, Customizable match lengths, Adjustable minimum letter counts, Variable turn timers, Point-based scoring system, Computer opponent battles

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Power Ups | $1.49 | one-time |
| Power Ups | $2.49 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Time free?

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

### Is Brain Swaggle free?

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

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

Brain Swaggle is rated higher. Chess Time averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Brain Swaggle averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Chess Time or Brain Swaggle have ads?

Chess Time shows ads; Brain Swaggle does not.

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

Chess Time ships an update every 10 days, and Brain Swaggle every 2 months. Most recently, Chess Time was updated on October 16, 2026 and Brain Swaggle on October 8, 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.*