# Word Chums! vs PacketChess

The clearest difference is ads: PacketChess at none against Word Chums!'s shown. PacketChess also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months). Word Chums!'s advantage is chart position (#61 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Word Chums! sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and PacketChess sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Word Chums! ships an update every 4 months, PacketChess every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Word Chums! | PacketChess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-chums/id517840944/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **24K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 88.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#61** | — |
| Size | 200 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PeopleFun, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/517840947) | [Lukasz Skierkowski](https://appshunter.io/developer/1280847319) |

## What reviewers say

### Word Chums!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-chums/id517840944)

**Currently charting:** #61 Top Grossing · Word, #119 Top Grossing · Board (US App Store)

Engage in a classic word-building puzzle game with a unique twist. Compete with friends or AI, customize characters, and expand your vocabulary with an integrated dictionary. Offers a deep and rewarding experience for word game enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** 2-4 player games, Play versus friends, random opponents, and computer Chumbots, Customizable Chum characters, Integrated dictionary with word definitions, Weekly leaderboard competitions, Hints and best-word challenges

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 500 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1,100 Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Get 2,200 Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Starter Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| 3,000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Premium Upgrade | $4.99 | one-time |
| 6,500 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 13,000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 17,500 Coins | $24.99 | one-time |
| 40,000 Coins | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💖 Love the game
- 👍 Fun to play
- 🧠 Keeps mind active
- 🤝 Ability to play with friends
- 🎨 Customizable characters

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🗣️ Censorship of chat messages
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🔍 Dictionary issues - missing common words
- 🔁 Too many ads that interrupt gameplay
- 🔔 Notification issues

**Reported bugs**

- Ads that cannot be closed
- Incorrect game statistics and leaderboards
- Crashes and freezes after updates

**Requested features**

- Improved dictionary and word acceptance
- More ways to earn in-game currency
- Better matchmaking and opponent selection
- Group chat/messaging features
- Parental controls for younger players


### PacketChess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packetchess/id6758742856)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Word Chums! free?

Word Chums! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is PacketChess free?

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

### Do Word Chums! or PacketChess have ads?

Word Chums! shows ads; PacketChess does not.

### Which is updated more often, Word Chums! or PacketChess?

Word Chums! ships an update every 4 months, and PacketChess every 6 weeks. Most recently, Word Chums! was updated on October 17, 2026 and PacketChess on October 1, 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.*