# Kodable Basics vs Chess Max Academy

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Chess Max Academy at 100% against Kodable Basics's 55%. Chess Max Academy also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Kodable Basics's advantage is ratings volume (21K vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kodable Basics sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. Chess Max Academy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess Max Academy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kodable Basics has 21K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Kodable Basics's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chess Max Academy's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kodable Basics | Chess Max Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kodable-basics/id577673067/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-max-academy/id1621009770/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 54.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 422 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SurfScore, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/577654768) | [Chess Max Nexus Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1621009772) |

## What reviewers say

### Kodable Basics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kodable-basics/id577673067)

This app teaches children aged 4-10 foundational computer science concepts through engaging, game-based activities. It helps kids develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills by guiding them through mazes and allowing them to create their own games. The curriculum is designed to transition from basic logic to writing real code.

**Highlights:** Game-based learning approach, Develops critical thinking, Teaches coding concepts, Builds foundational computer science skills, Creative activities, Seasonal events

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kodable Monthly Plan | $24.99 | per month |
| Kodable Yearly Plan | $119.99 | per year |
| 3-day Parent Trial | Free | one-time |
| Fuzzes to Support Computer Science | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pre-Trial Parent Plan | $19.99 | one-time |
| Parent Plan | $29.99 | one-time |
| Kodable Lifetime Plan | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Fun and educational coding game
- 👍 Helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- 🚀 Engaging for kids of various ages
- 🎨 Ability to create custom characters and games

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription-based model with high costs
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Misleading trial period and automatic subscription
- 📉 Declining quality and value over time

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to access app after subscription cancellation
- Persistent crashes at certain levels or stages
- Syncing and progress issues across devices
- Unresponsive controls and UI elements

**Requested features**

- More free content and levels
- Improved stability and performance
- Customization options for parents/teachers
- Better customer support and communication


### Chess Max Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-max-academy/id1621009770)

Learn chess through interactive courses and activities. Engage with explanations, puzzles, and practice games to improve your skills. Designed for various learning levels, it makes understanding chess concepts easy and fun.

**Highlights:** Interactive chess courses, Activity-based learning, Explanation activities, Capture activities, Puzzle and tactics solving, Multiple-choice quizzes, Play against computer

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kodable Basics free?

Kodable Basics is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Chess Max Academy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Kodable Basics or Chess Max Academy?

Chess Max Academy is rated higher. Kodable Basics averages 4.7 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Chess Max Academy averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Kodable Basics or Chess Max Academy have ads?

Neither Kodable Basics nor Chess Max Academy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kodable Basics or Chess Max Academy?

Kodable Basics ships an update every 3 weeks, and Chess Max Academy every 3 weeks. Most recently, Kodable Basics was updated on September 29, 2026 and Chess Max Academy on September 15, 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.*