Comparison

Simple chess board vs check

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Simple chess board

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
Read full description

A simple chess board and a chess clock without movement restrictions. Free movement as a real board. Current features are: • Move pieces freely, add or remove them. • Undo/Redo last movement. • Rotate board and/or pieces. • Use checkers game pieces. • Save/load positions for later use, or delete them when you don't need them anymore (swipe over them). Starting positions for chess and checkers are available. • Use a chess clock where you can configure initial time, move time increment, increment after a number of movement, hourglass time, ... • Set time independent for black and white if required. • Save/load time settings for later use. Already available some common times. • Tweet your current position.

About

check

A streamlined chess application for playing live games, practicing tactics, and reviewing matches. Offers customizable clocks and board themes for a focused experience.

Highlights
  • Live online games
  • Computer challenges
  • Local multiplayer
  • Tactical puzzles
  • Game review
  • Customizable chess clock
  • Board themes
Features
Read full description

chess, without the clutter. check is a focused place to play, practice, and review chess. start a live game, challenge the computer, share one device, solve a quick tactic, or use the built-in clock at the board. PLAY YOUR WAY • Find players, send invites, and play live online games with real-time moves. • Take on Stockfish with four strength choices, from beginner to expert. • Play local chess with another person on the same device. • Leave a computer, local, or online game and resume it from the main screen. SHARPEN YOUR TACTICS • Solve 600 tactical positions across mate, best-move, material, and defense challenges. • Choose a difficulty from beginner through expert. • Ask for a hint when you need a nudge. REVIEW THE GAME • Turn on move ratings during computer games for immediate feedback. • Replay computer and local games move by move with concise notes. • Revisit the board position behind every move. BRING YOUR OWN CLOCK • Use a dedicated digital or analog chess clock for over-the-board games. • Start with bullet, blitz, and rapid presets, or create your own. • Choose sudden death, Fischer increment, Bronstein delay, or US delay. MAKE IT YOURS • Choose from monochrome and color board themes. • Use light or dark mode while keeping the board front and center. No ads. No clutter. Just chess.

Screenshots

Simple chess board4 screens
check4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Simple chess board at Free against check's $2.99. Simple chess board also leads on ratings volume (68 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.0). check's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Simple chess board is free to download; check costs $2.99 up front. Simple chess board sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. check asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

check holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple chess board has 68 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Simple chess board's written reviews are positive against 100% of check's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simple chess board ships an update every 10 months, check every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Simple chess board versus check: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple chess boardcheck
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.5 (68 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews88.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings68 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB88 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLuis LopezArjun Mahanti

Customer experience

Simple chess board

All ratings68 ratings
Positive88.2%
Neutral2.9%
Negative8.8%
Written reviews51 reviews
Positive88.2%
Neutral3.9%
Negative7.8%

check

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Simple chess board

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • 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
Show 2 more
  • App froze mid-game
  • Write a review tab has trouble

Requested features

20 requests
  • Add scoresheet functionality
  • Export game for analysis
  • Move counter
  • Portrait view on iPad
  • Board expansion to fill screen
Show 15 more
  • Ability to turn board around
  • More board color options
  • Option to hide timers
  • PGN save and import facility
  • PGN export
  • Chess notation feature
  • Larger board size (optional timers)
  • Change chess set for better viewing
  • Fix 'write a review' tab issue
  • Delete saved games/setups easily
  • Better graphics
  • More realistic piece movement enforcement
  • Improve piece dragging and selection
  • Make piece representations larger
  • Add variations

check

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Simple chess board

One-time1
  • Remove ads$0.99
None

check

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Simple chess board free?
Simple chess board is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is check free?
check costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Simple chess board or check?
check is rated higher. Simple chess board averages 4.5 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while check averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Simple chess board or check have ads?
Simple chess board shows ads; check does not.
Which is updated more often, Simple chess board or check?
Simple chess board ships an update every 10 months, and check every 2 weeks. Most recently, Simple chess board was updated on October 16, 2026 and check on October 12, 2026.

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