# Chess vs Gaia Project

The clearest difference is price: Chess at Free against Gaia Project's $9.99. Chess also leads on iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 14.0). Gaia Project's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.2) and ads (none vs shown). On ratings volume, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Chess is free to download; Gaia Project costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Gaia Project holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 75 and 38 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of Chess's written reviews are positive against 59% of Gaia Project's.

Chess ships an update every 21 months, Gaia Project monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess | Gaia Project |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | [3.2 (75 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-free/id541067628/reviews) | **[4.0 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gaia-project/id1572302140/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **75** | 38 |
| Positive reviews | 48.6% of reviews | **59.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 21 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#132** |
| Size | 8 MB | 371 MB |
| Requires iOS | **5.1.1** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [况 郭](https://appshunter.io/developer/499174210) | [DIGIDICED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1044671795) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-free/id541067628)

Engage in classic chess with a feature-rich application. Play against AI across ten difficulty levels, challenge friends locally or online, and hone your skills with thousands of puzzles. Customize your experience with various board and piece styles.

**Highlights:** Play against AI or friends, 10 difficulty levels, Online and LAN multiplayer, 38,000+ chess puzzles, Customizable boards and pieces, Load/save games (PGN), Thousands of classic games

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Gaia Project

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gaia-project/id1572302140)

**Currently charting:** #132 Top Paid · Board (US App Store)

Embark on a strategic journey to colonize the galaxy by mastering terraforming. Each of the 14 unique factions has distinct environmental needs, driving the need to adapt planets for survival. This is the official digital adaptation of the acclaimed board game.

**Highlights:** 14 unique factions, Peaceful galactic colonization, Terraforming mechanics, Adaptable environmental needs, Official digital board game adaptation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess free?

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

### Is Gaia Project free?

Gaia Project costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chess or Gaia Project?

Gaia Project is rated higher. Chess averages 3.2 out of 5 from 75 ratings, while Gaia Project averages 4.0 from 38 ratings.

### Do Chess or Gaia Project have ads?

Chess shows ads; Gaia Project does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess or Gaia Project?

Chess ships an update every 21 months, and Gaia Project monthly. Most recently, Chess was updated on November 6, 2026 and Gaia Project on November 7, 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.*