Chess Tactics and Lessons vs Chess Timer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chess Tactics and Lessons
Master chess strategy and openings with this app. Practice unlimited tactics, follow detailed lessons, and save your favorite openings. Create your own content and learn from a supportive community.
- Unlimited tactics practice
- Detailed chess lessons
- Opening practice and saving
- Create custom tactics and lessons
- Learn from mistakes with explanations
- Community comments and discussion
- Customizable board design
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“Chess is 99% tactics” (R. Teichmann.) From beginner to expert, practicing tactics is hands-down the best way to master the game. Play 30,000+ tactics, lessons, and openings while the app adjusts to your ability as you play. Join thousands of users who improve their game with daily tactics. Beginner-friendly, even if you don't know the rules of chess yet. "This app is a must have for any chess player - student or master." -Tom Taylor, USA "This is easily the best purchase I've made since owning a smartphone." -Miles C. Samuels, USA "This app has improved my game tremendously!" - anonymous fandom on the App Store FEATURES - Tactics: Play as many tactics as you want, for free. - Lessons: Get deeper into strategy with detailed lessons including positions from Netflix's 'The Queen's Gambit' and the World Championship. - Openings: Practice makes perfect! Save and practice openings from the Grandmasters and more. - Create your own tactics, lessons, and openings for others to try. - Learn from your mistakes with solutions, explanations, and chess engine analysis. - Join the community: comment on tactics and learn from other users. New tactics are added every day, so you'll never run out. ------ Chess Tactics PRO subscriptions will be charged to your iTunes account upon purchase. Subscriptions will automatically renew unless canceled within 24-hours before the end of the current period. You can cancel anytime with your iTunes account settings. See Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for more information. Privacy Policy: https://chesstacticsapp.com/privacy.html Terms of Service: https://chesstacticsapp.com/terms.html Acknowledgements: Chess Pieces by jurgenwesterhof on WikiCommons (adapted from work of Cburnett) Icons by bezier master, Cutiecon, and Shawn Wong from the Noun Project.
Chess Timer
A straightforward chess clock app designed for timing matches. It offers essential functions like pausing and resetting the timer, with customizable time intervals. The app is free and free of ads, in-app purchases, and tracking.
- Countdown timer
- Pause clock function
- Reset timer button
- Customizable time intervals
- Ad-free experience
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Simple chess timer with basic functions. Free. No in-app purchases, no ads, no tracking, just a super simple countdown timer. Tap on your side to start your opponent's timer. The screen will turn red once the timer runs out. Features - Pause the clock - Reset timer with the tap of a button - Choose your own time interval
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chess Timer at none against Chess Tactics and Lessons's 7. Chess Timer also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 weeks) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Chess Tactics and Lessons's advantage is ratings volume (5K vs 8). On price, ads and 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
Both are free to download. Chess Tactics and Lessons sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Chess Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.
Chess Timer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Tactics and Lessons has 5K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Chess Tactics and Lessons's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chess Timer's.
Chess Tactics and Lessons ships an update every 5 weeks, Chess Timer every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chess Tactics and Lessons | Chess Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (5K ratings) | 5.0 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5K — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 14.3 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 114 MB | 0 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lockwood Productions, LLC | Manuel Lopez |
Customer experience
Chess Tactics and Lessons
Chess Timer
Bugs and requests
Chess Tactics and Lessons
Reported bugs
4 issues- Server connection issues
- White screen after updates
- Inability to delete account
- Incorrect move explanations
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to save tactics
- Offline mode
- Difficulty filtering
- Improved user interface
- More comprehensive lessons
Chess Timer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Chess Tactics and Lessons
- Monthly PRO Subscription$3.991 Month
- Annual Pro Subscription$29.991 Year
- Marble Chess Board$0.99
- Orange Chess Board$0.99
- Remove ads$0.99
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- Green Chess Board$0.99
- Enable Saved Puzzles$1.99
Chess Timer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Chess Tactics and Lessons free?
Is Chess Timer free?
Which has better reviews, Chess Tactics and Lessons or Chess Timer?
Do Chess Tactics and Lessons or Chess Timer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Chess Tactics and Lessons or Chess Timer?
Other comparisons
