# Chess Score Pad vs Chess

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chess Score Pad at none against Chess's 2. Chess's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months) and review sentiment (92% vs 65%). On rating, ratings volume, ads and chart position there is nothing between them.

Chess Score Pad costs $9.99 and Chess $3.99 up front. Chess sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Chess Score Pad asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Chess Score Pad against 4.7 for Chess. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 178 and 118 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 65% of Chess Score Pad's written reviews are positive against 92% of Chess's.

Chess Score Pad ships an update every 5 months, Chess fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Score Pad | Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **$3.99** |
| Rating | [4.7 (178 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-score-pad/id518018730/reviews) | [4.7 (118 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-studio/id684224545/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **178** | 118 |
| Positive reviews | 64.9% of reviews | **92.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | #197 | **#120** |
| Size | 3 MB | 237 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CalcFxC, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/395979596) | [Giordano Vicoli](https://appshunter.io/developer/460922805) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess Score Pad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-score-pad/id518018730)

**Currently charting:** #197 Top Paid · Board (US App Store)

This app provides a modern, distraction-free electronic scoresheet for over-the-board chess tournament play. Record moves effortlessly, review positions, and export games in PGN or PDF formats for post-game analysis. Designed by a tournament player, it streamlines the scoring process so you can focus on the game.

**Highlights:** Effortless move recording (tap or drag), Automatic game saving, Easy move correction, Step-through and slider game review, PGN export for analysis, PDF scoresheet export with diagram, Optional legal-move and time tracking

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use for recording games
- 👍 Great for over-the-board chess
- 👍 Converts games to PGN format
- 👍 Intuitive design
- 👍 Useful for correspondence chess

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Clunky and not intuitive
- 🐛 Screen controls are flaky
- 🐛 Missing many features for the price
- 🐛 Shows own pieces checking own King
- 🐛 Does not show check to opponent

**Reported bugs**

- Board not accessible to voiceover users
- Contact option on website is broken
- Screen controls are flaky, requiring repeated attempts
- Cost me a tournament game due to flaky controls
- Cannot use 'Save to Files' in iPad if the result is draw (1/2)

**Requested features**

- Make board accessible to voiceover users or allow notation entry
- Ability to enter ??, !!, !? and ?! notations
- Cloud support (iCloud/Dropbox)
- Option to load a game
- Built-in player list


### Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-studio/id684224545)

**Currently charting:** #120 Top Paid · Board (US App Store)

Manage and study chess databases and games in PGN format with advanced analysis tools. Supports game creation, modification, and import from various sources. Includes engine analysis, opening book management, and puzzle training.

**Highlights:** PGN database and game management, Create, modify, and import games, Advanced engine analysis with Stockfish, Opening book and ChessBase support, Chess 960 (Fischer Random) support, Diagram recognition for PGN conversion, Puzzle training and online play

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium Subscription | $8.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Powerful chess database features
- 👍 Comprehensive analysis tools
- 👍 Excellent PGN management
- 👍 Great value for price
- 👍 Frequent updates and improvements

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Steep learning curve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 🐛 Unintuitive interface
- 🐛 Some users find it confusing
- 🐛 Missing dark mode

**Reported bugs**

- Problem saving updated game data
- Engine stopped working after 30 seconds
- App crashes when adding annotations without hitting 'edit mode' first
- Crash opening .pgn in landscape mode
- Crashes when selecting a cell with 0 games associated

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode
- Add board flip button
- Improve interface for screen reader users
- Add private game feature with code
- Add computer whole game analysis with annotations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Score Pad free?

Chess Score Pad costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Chess free?

Chess costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chess Score Pad or Chess?

Chess Score Pad and Chess are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 178 and 118 ratings respectively.

### Do Chess Score Pad or Chess have ads?

Neither Chess Score Pad nor Chess shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chess Score Pad or Chess?

Chess Score Pad ships an update every 5 months, and Chess fortnightly. Most recently, Chess Score Pad was updated on October 15, 2026 and Chess on October 14, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Chess Score Pad or Chess?

Chess Score Pad currently peaks at #197 in the App Store charts, and Chess at #120. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*