# Chess Time vs Sternzy

The clearest difference is ads: Sternzy at none against Chess Time's shown. Sternzy also leads on monetization model (free vs freemium) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Chess Time's advantage is ratings volume (1.7K vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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 Sternzy sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sternzy 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 1, 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 Sternzy's.

Chess Time ships an update every 10 days, Sternzy weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Time | Sternzy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-time-multiplayer-chess/id455602152/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sternzy-block-drop/id6771868077/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 42 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haptic Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/421590139) | [David Stern](https://appshunter.io/developer/6771868079) |

## 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


### Sternzy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sternzy-block-drop/id6771868077)

A relaxing block puzzle game where you drag shapes to fill rows and columns for points. Features unique diagonal clears, a daily challenge, and wildcard pieces. Play offline with no ads or paywalls.

**Highlights:** Drag and drop block puzzles, Fill rows/columns to clear, Diagonal clear mechanic, Daily puzzle challenges, Wildcard pieces, Offline play, Customizable appearance

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Diner Coffee | $0.99 | one-time |
| Café Cappuccino | $1.99 | one-time |
| Artisan Pour-Over | $4.99 | one-time |
| Fancy Bistro Latte | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Time free?

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

### Is Sternzy free?

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

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

Sternzy is rated higher. Chess Time averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Sternzy averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Chess Time or Sternzy have ads?

Chess Time shows ads; Sternzy does not.

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

Chess Time ships an update every 10 days, and Sternzy weekly. Most recently, Chess Time was updated on October 16, 2026 and Sternzy on September 24, 2026.

---

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