# Chess without ads vs Really Bad Chess+

The clearest difference is rating: Chess without ads at 4.7 against Really Bad Chess+'s 3.4. Chess without ads also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 54%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). Really Bad Chess+'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess without ads sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per 7 days. Really Bad Chess+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess without ads holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess without ads has 38K ratings behind it against 165, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Chess without ads's written reviews are positive against 54% of Really Bad Chess+'s.

Chess without ads ships an update fortnightly, Really Bad Chess+ every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess without ads | Really Bad Chess+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (38K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-without-ads/id522314512/reviews)** | [3.4 (165 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess-plus/id1551670264/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **38K** | 165 |
| Positive reviews | **90.4% of reviews** | 54.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 44 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christophe Théron](https://appshunter.io/developer/423198262) | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess without ads

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-without-ads/id522314512)

Learn and play chess without distractions. This app offers guided lessons for beginners and advanced analysis for experts, helping you improve your game with intelligent suggestions and post-game reviews. Play offline and enjoy a seamless, ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Ad-free learning and play, Introductory lessons for beginners, Grandmaster move suggestions, Game analysis with good/bad moves, Supports USCF and FIDE rating scales, Strong mobile chess engine, Offline play

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PRO, 1 week | $0.49 | per 7 days |
| PRO, 1 month | $0.99 | per month |
| PRO, 3 months | $1.99 | per 3 months |
| Learn chess | $4.99 | one-time |
| PRO, for life (SALE!) | $9.99 | one-time |
| PRO, for life (regular price) | $12.99 | one-time |
| PRO FOR LIFE - TODAY ONLY | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent chess training tool
- 🚀 Customizable difficulty levels
- 💡 Helpful move suggestions
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🚀 No ads or distractions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited free version with paid upgrade
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 💡 Desire for more chess variants and modes
- 🔒 Aggressive prompts to upgrade to paid version

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing on the login screen
- Incompatibility with older devices
- Inconsistent behavior when running out of free credits

**Requested features**

- Add more chess variants (3-check, king of the hill, etc.)
- Provide more detailed game analysis and feedback
- Improve the en passant move functionality
- Add online/multiplayer capabilities


### Really Bad Chess+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/really-bad-chess-plus/id1551670264)

Experience chess with a chaotic twist! This app replaces standard pieces with random assortments, forcing you to rethink strategy. Perfect for both seasoned players seeking a new challenge and beginners looking to learn the fundamentals in a fun, unpredictable way.

**Highlights:** Random piece assignments, AI challenges (Ranked, Daily, Weekly), Freeplay mode, Local versus mode, Daily chess puzzles, New strategic challenges

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Innovative concept
- 🤩 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Easy to learn
- 🧠 Improves chess skills
- ✨ Clean UI

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Unfair AI starting positions
- ⚖️ AI too lucky/strong
- 🚫 No draws (stalemate/repetition)
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 📱 UI scaling issues

**Reported bugs**

- App zoomed in, parts of board/UI cut off (recent update)
- Cannot make legal moves
- Game won't allow moves out of check
- AI gets stuck in infinite loops
- Incorrect checkmate detection

**Requested features**

- Add draws by repetition/stalemate
- Option for mirrored pieces
- Tutorial for beginners
- Ability to play online multiplayer
- Option to see solution for daily challenges


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess without ads free?

Chess without ads is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Really Bad Chess+ free?

Really Bad Chess+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chess without ads or Really Bad Chess+?

Chess without ads is rated higher. Chess without ads averages 4.7 out of 5 from 38K ratings, while Really Bad Chess+ averages 3.4 from 165 ratings.

### Do Chess without ads or Really Bad Chess+ have ads?

Neither Chess without ads nor Really Bad Chess+ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chess without ads or Really Bad Chess+?

Chess without ads ships an update fortnightly, and Really Bad Chess+ every 3 months. Most recently, Chess without ads was updated on September 25, 2026 and Really Bad Chess+ on September 6, 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.*