Hoopla vs Chess Studio
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hoopla
Access a vast digital library of books, comics, movies, music, and more, all within a single application. Stream or download content for free with your library card, enjoying an ad-free experience and features like offline listening and dark mode.
- Stream and download content
- Ad-free experience
- Audiobooks and eBooks
- Comics, manga, and graphic novels
- Movies and TV shows
- Music albums
- Offline listening
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Borrow audiobooks, eBooks, movies, TV episodes, comics, and music, all in one app. No subscription. No ads. Just click borrow and press play. Hoopla works with your local public library to bring millions of titles to your phone, tablet, and TV. New titles are added every day, and many are ready to borrow the moment you find them. How it Works 1. Find your library in the Hoopla app 2. Sign in with your library card 3. Start borrowing and enjoy Audiobooks and eBooks - Bestsellers, new releases, indie authors, and classics - Romance, thrillers, fantasy, mystery, nonfiction, kids, teens, and more - Listen on your commute, at the gym, or while you wind down - Stream right away or download to enjoy later Movies and TV - Stream movies, TV shows, documentaries, and anime at home or on the go - Watch on iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV - SeasonPass lets you borrow a full season of a show and watch at your own pace - Family movies and kids' shows for your next movie night Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga - Superheroes, manga, graphic memoirs, and kids' comics - ActionView guides you panel by panel so you can take in every detail of the art Music - Borrow full albums from today's chart-toppers and all-time favorites - Shuffle music across your borrowed albums to build your own unique playlist Made for how you read, listen, and watch - Apple CarPlay for audiobooks and music on the road - Offline downloads, so you can enjoy borrowed titles without using data - Sleep timer for bedtime listening - Dark mode for comfortable late-night reading - Kids Mode for family-friendly browsing - Titles return automatically, so there are never late fees - Hoopla BingePass gives you seven days of access to a collection of premium content with one borrow All you need is a library card from a participating public library. Don't have one yet? Check with your local library about getting a card. Hoopla is offered in thousands of libraries. Available titles, formats, and borrowing limits vary by library. Titles are licensed, not owned, and availability may change at any time due to publisher agreements.
Chess Studio
Read chess books and instantly play through moves on screen. This app allows you to interact with chess e-books, automatically scrolling text and displaying positions on a board. Navigate variations, search content, and customize your reading experience.
- Play over moves on screen
- Automatic text scrolling
- Tap moves to display position
- Navigate complex variations
- Searchable content
- Choice of layout options
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Ever wanted to read your favourite chess books and be able to instantly play over the moves on screen? The revolutionary new Chess Studio, from renowned chess publishers Gambit, enables you to do that, and more. After downloading the free app, purchase your choice of classic chess e-books from the Gambit library and begin. • text laid out in usual clear Gambit style • play over moves and variations on screen • accompanying text scrolls automatically • tap any chess move and the position appears on the board • easily navigate through complex variations • search function for words, phrases, player names • move swiftly between games and chapters • choice of layout options - including flip board • free sample text available to try out the app Chess Studio represents an enjoyable and portable new way of reading chess books, designed by chess players for chess players. Overseeing every aspect of the app design was Grandmaster John Nunn, one of the best-respected figures in the chess world and three-times World Chess Solving Champion.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hoopla at none against Chess Studio's 10. Hoopla also leads on review sentiment (72% vs 58%) and chart position (#5 vs unranked). Chess Studio's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, 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 Studio sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Hoopla asks for nothing beyond the download.
Hoopla ships an update monthly, Chess Studio every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hoopla | Chess Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (1.4M ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 71.8% of reviews — better | 58.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.4M — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #5 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 111 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Midwest Tape, LLC | Gambit Publications |
Customer experience
Hoopla
Chess Studio
Bugs and requests
Hoopla
Reported bugs
4 issues- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Issues with downloading and playing content
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
- Problems with returning borrowed items
Requested features
5 requests- Increase monthly borrow limit
- Add ability to preview audiobooks before borrowing
- Improve page navigation and bookmarking
- Enhance cross-device syncing
- Introduce dark mode and customization options
Chess Studio
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Hoopla
No in-app purchases
Chess Studio
- Gambit Free SamplesFree
- How to Beat Your Dad at Chess$9.99
- Win with the London System$11.99
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- Understanding Chess Endgames$13.99
- Understanding Chess Middlegames$13.99
- Understanding Chess Move by Move$13.99
- Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy$13.99
- Mastering the Chess Openings Volume 1$13.99
- John Nunn's Chess Course$14.99
- Fundamental Chess Openings$14.99
Questions
Is Hoopla free?
Is Chess Studio free?
Do Hoopla or Chess Studio have ads?
Which is updated more often, Hoopla or Chess Studio?
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