Comparison

Chess Tactics and Lessons vs Chess Light

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

“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.

About

Chess Light

A puzzle game inspired by chess, suitable for all skill levels. Solve over 180 unique puzzles by strategically placing pieces to illuminate every square on the board. Features adjustable difficulty and a helpful hint system.

Highlights
  • 180+ puzzles
  • 6 difficulty levels
  • Hint system
  • Place pieces to light up squares
  • Suitable for all skill levels
Features
Read full description

Chess Light is a puzzle game inspired by chess for everyone: from Beginner to Grandmaster. + 180 puzzles + 6 difficulty levels + Hint system Place the pieces on the board and light up all the squares!

Screenshots

Chess Tactics and Lessons4 screens
Chess Light4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Chess Tactics and Lessons at every 5 weeks against Chess Light's every 18 months. Chess Tactics and Lessons also leads on ratings volume (5.1K vs 6). Chess Light's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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

Both are free to download. Chess Tactics and Lessons sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Chess Light sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Chess Tactics and Lessons against 4.7 for Chess Light. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Tactics and Lessons has 5.1K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Chess Tactics and Lessons's written reviews are positive against 79% of Chess Light's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chess Tactics and Lessons ships an update every 5 weeks, Chess Light every 18 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Chess Tactics and Lessons versus Chess Light: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChess Tactics and LessonsChess Light
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (5.1K ratings) — better4.7 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews85.2% of reviews — better78.6% of reviews
Number of ratings5.1K — better6
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 18 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size114 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLockwood Productions, LLCPyrosphere, Lda

Customer experience

Chess Tactics and Lessons

All ratings4,985 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral3.0%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews283 reviews
Positive85.2%
Neutral4.6%
Negative10.2%

Chess Light

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive78.6%
Neutral7.1%
Negative14.3%

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 Light

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Chess Tactics and Lessons

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly PRO Subscription$3.991 Month
  • Annual Pro Subscription$29.991 Year
One-time5
  • Marble Chess Board$0.99
  • Orange Chess Board$0.99
  • Remove ads$0.99
Show 2 more
  • Green Chess Board$0.99
  • Enable Saved Puzzles$1.99
1 purchases

Chess Light

One-time1
  • 20 Hints$0.99

Questions

Is Chess Tactics and Lessons free?
Chess Tactics and Lessons is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chess Light free?
Chess Light is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Chess Tactics and Lessons or Chess Light?
Chess Tactics and Lessons is rated higher. Chess Tactics and Lessons averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5.1K ratings, while Chess Light averages 4.7 from 6 ratings.
Do Chess Tactics and Lessons or Chess Light have ads?
Neither Chess Tactics and Lessons nor Chess Light shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chess Tactics and Lessons or Chess Light?
Chess Tactics and Lessons ships an update every 5 weeks, and Chess Light every 18 months. Most recently, Chess Tactics and Lessons was updated on November 1, 2026 and Chess Light on November 1, 2026.

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