# Chess without ads vs Play Chess for iMessage

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Chess without ads at 91% against Play Chess for iMessage's 29%. Chess without ads also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.1) and ratings volume (39K vs 170). Play Chess for iMessage's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and update cadence (daily vs fortnightly). On price, ads and device support 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. Play Chess for iMessage asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess without ads holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess without ads has 39K ratings behind it against 170, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Chess without ads's written reviews are positive against 29% of Play Chess for iMessage's.

Chess without ads ships an update fortnightly, Play Chess for iMessage daily. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess without ads | Play Chess for iMessage |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-without-ads/id522314512/reviews)** | [3.1 (170 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-chess-for-imessage/id6443798218/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **39K** | 170 |
| Positive reviews | **90.8% of reviews** | 29.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 44 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christophe Théron](https://appshunter.io/developer/423198262) | [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552) |

## 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


### Play Chess for iMessage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-chess-for-imessage/id6443798218)

Engage in unlimited chess matches directly through iMessage with friends. Customize your game with different boards and pieces. Enjoy a casual, timer-free experience without registration or in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Unlimited chess games, Play via iMessage, Customizable boards and pieces, Play multiple friends simultaneously, No timers or ratings, No registration required

**Features:** iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to play without knowing chess rules
- 🎮 Fun gameplay mechanics for iMessage
- 🎨 Theme customizer available
- 🔄 Move guide and helpful features
- 🎬 Can convert wins to GIF format

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Cannot uninstall app (major recurring issue)
- 🐛 iCloud login error persists despite being logged in
- ❌ App doesn't show on home screen
- 🔄 Must exit and reopen app to see opponent's moves
- ⚠️ Only playable in portrait mode

**Reported bugs**

- iCloud authentication error when already logged in
- App cannot be uninstalled from device
- No home screen icon appears after installation
- Game doesn't work with group chats over 2 people
- Time calculation error giving opponent extra time

**Requested features**

- Confirmation dialog for accidental game reviews
- Uninstall functionality
- Ability to choose piece color or randomize
- CPU/AI opponent mode
- Fischer random chess mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess without ads free?

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

### Is Play Chess for iMessage free?

Play Chess for iMessage is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chess without ads or Play Chess for iMessage?

Chess without ads is rated higher. Chess without ads averages 4.7 out of 5 from 39K ratings, while Play Chess for iMessage averages 3.1 from 170 ratings.

### Do Chess without ads or Play Chess for iMessage have ads?

Neither Chess without ads nor Play Chess for iMessage shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chess without ads or Play Chess for iMessage?

Chess without ads ships an update fortnightly, and Play Chess for iMessage daily. Most recently, Chess without ads was updated on October 30, 2026 and Play Chess for iMessage on October 27, 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.*