# Chess Time vs Safari Chess

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Safari Chess at none against Chess Time's 3. Chess Time's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 10 days vs monthly). On price, ads, 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. Safari Chess asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess Time holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Time has 1.7K ratings behind it against 88, 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 77% of Safari Chess's.

Chess Time ships an update every 10 days, Safari Chess monthly. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Time | Safari Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-time-multiplayer-chess/id455602152/reviews)** | [4.4 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safari-chess/id993624269/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 88 |
| Positive reviews | **86.2% of reviews** | 76.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 42 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haptic Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/421590139) | [Windigig](https://appshunter.io/developer/993624268) |

## 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


### Safari Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safari-chess/id993624269)

Engage in a strategic board game with animal-themed pieces. Challenge friends online or test your skills against AI opponents of varying difficulty. Enjoy smooth graphics, engaging animations, and a polished gameplay experience suitable for all ages.

**Highlights:** Single player AI challenges, Online multiplayer with friends, Local 2-player mode, Customizable emotes, Collectible achievements, Cross-platform online play, Game log and replay

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Time free?

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

### Is Safari Chess free?

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

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

Chess Time is rated higher. Chess Time averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Safari Chess averages 4.4 from 88 ratings.

### Do Chess Time or Safari Chess have ads?

Both Chess Time and Safari Chess show ads.

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

Chess Time ships an update every 10 days, and Safari Chess monthly. Most recently, Chess Time was updated on September 23, 2026 and Safari Chess on September 23, 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.*