# Simple chess board vs Chess Opener Lite

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Simple chess board at 88% against Chess Opener Lite's 43%. Simple chess board also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (68 vs 17). Chess Opener Lite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simple chess board sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chess Opener Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

Simple chess board holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 68 and 17 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Simple chess board's written reviews are positive against 43% of Chess Opener Lite's.

Simple chess board ships an update every 10 months, Chess Opener Lite every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple chess board | Chess Opener Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-chess-board/id531158560/reviews)** | [4.1 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-opener-lite/id1489281014/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **68** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | **88.2% of reviews** | 42.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 9 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Luis Lopez](https://appshunter.io/developer/453216096) | [Stanislav Basovnik](https://appshunter.io/developer/1469334974) |

## What reviewers say

### Simple chess board

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-chess-board/id531158560)

This app provides a digital chessboard with unrestricted piece movement and a configurable chess clock. Save and load board positions, undo/redo moves, and even use checker pieces. It's ideal for analyzing games or setting up custom scenarios.

**Highlights:** Free piece movement, Undo/Redo functionality, Board rotation, Checker piece option, Save/load positions, Configurable chess clock, Tweet current position

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and straightforward
- 👍 Great for study and practice
- 👍 No restrictions or 'help' functions
- 👍 Allows setting up custom positions
- 👍 Useful for playing through games

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Pieces not bound by rules
- 🤔 Graphics can be distracting/ugly
- 🤔 Aggressive board colors
- 🤔 Clocks take up screen space
- 🤔 Pieces can shift unexpectedly

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard not appearing to enter text/save
- Cannot figure out how to save position
- Pieces shift on their own
- Kings and queens on wrong squares initially
- Save position fails with 'You must insert text' error

**Requested features**

- Add scoresheet functionality
- Export game for analysis
- Move counter
- Portrait view on iPad
- Board expansion to fill screen


### Chess Opener Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-opener-lite/id1489281014)

Master chess openings with an interactive trainer and comprehensive database. Build and memorize your own repertoire, compare variations, and track your progress. Works offline and offers extensive opening exploration.

**Highlights:** Chess opening tree with game statistics, Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO), Build and edit opening repertoire, Interactive opening trainer, Offline functionality, PGN export, Progress tracking

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple chess board free?

Simple chess board is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Chess Opener Lite free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Simple chess board or Chess Opener Lite?

Simple chess board is rated higher. Simple chess board averages 4.5 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while Chess Opener Lite averages 4.1 from 17 ratings.

### Do Simple chess board or Chess Opener Lite have ads?

Simple chess board shows ads; Chess Opener Lite does not.

### Which is updated more often, Simple chess board or Chess Opener Lite?

Simple chess board ships an update every 10 months, and Chess Opener Lite every 5 weeks. Most recently, Simple chess board was updated on November 1, 2026 and Chess Opener Lite on November 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*