# Simple chess board vs check

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple chess board | check |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [4.5 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-chess-board/id531158560/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/check-minimal-chess/id6753896421/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **68** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 88.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 9 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Luis Lopez](https://appshunter.io/developer/453216096) | [Arjun Mahanti](https://appshunter.io/developer/1028057606) |

## 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


### check

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/check-minimal-chess/id6753896421)

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