Next Chess Move vs Chess Tablebase for Stockfish
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Next Chess Move
This application provides a powerful chess move calculator utilizing advanced engines like Stockfish 17.1 directly on your device. It also offers free access to numerous other engines running on remote hardware, with an optional upgrade for enhanced calculation strength and access to powerful servers and GPUs.
- On-device Stockfish 17.1
- Free remote engine access
- Large selection of chess engines
- Optional Pro upgrade
- Access to powerful cloud hardware
- GPU acceleration for LcZero
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NCM is a powerful chess calculator that runs Stockfish 19 directly on your device. The app also includes free access to a growing list of engines running on NCM's remote single core CPU hardware: • Stockfish latest official releases and development builds • Lc0 (all official networks and several contrib networks) • Akimbo • Alexandria • Altair • Arasan • Astra • asmFish • Avalanche • Berserk • Black Marlin • Booot • Caissa • Cinder • Cfish • Clover • Coda • Combusken • CorChess • Counter • Defenchess • Demolito • Devre • Ethereal • Fire • Frozenight • GNU Chess • Halogen • Hobbes • Horsie • Igel • Integral • Koivisto • Laser • Lc0 • Mantissa • Marvin • Minic • Motor • Nalwald • Nemorino • Obsidian • OpenTal • Patricia • Pawn • Pawnocchio • Peacekeeper • PlentyChess • Quanticade • Raphael • Reckless • Rice • RubiChess • Seer • ShashChess • Smallbrain • Starzix • Stash • Stockfish • Stormphrax • Sunfish • Tarnished • Titan • Triumviratus • Tucano • Vajolet2 • Velvet • Viridithas • Wasp • Weiss • Winter • Xiphos • Zahak The optional NCM Pro in-app purchase provides one year access to powerful hardware and features that significantly enhance the strength of calculations: • Ryzen 7950X 16 CPU-core servers • RTX 2080 GPUs for LcZero • 6-man syzygy tablebases on SSD drives
Chess Tablebase for Stockfish
Manage chess endgame tablebase files for enhanced Stockfish AI analysis. Import pre-installed or custom files, and query positions for win/draw outcomes. Ideal for serious chess players seeking to improve engine performance.
- Manage chess endgame tablebase files
- Integrates with SmallFish iOS app
- Import pre-installed 5-men tablebases
- Import custom tablebase files
- Query endgame positions for win/draw
- Enhances Stockfish engine performance
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Chess Tablebase for Stockfish is a file management app for managing chess endgame tablebases. Seamlessly integrating with the SmallFish iOS chess app for Stockfish, it enables you to import your tablebase files into the SmallFish app, which operates on the latest Stockfish AI. Additionally, you can query specific endgame positions to determine if they result in a win or a draw. This app provides the answers you need. Download this app to import the pre-installed 5-men tablebase files, you may also import your own tablebase files. The app has the instructions that you can follow. --------------------- TABLEBASE BUNDLE --------------------- This app bundles all 5-men chess tablebase piece configurations. You may also want to download 6-men tablebase files . ----------------- REQUIREMENTS ----------------- This app is a 1GB download. You will need the following if you want to run tablebase with Stockfish on your iOS device: - 1GB disk space for this app - The SmallFish chess app - running the Stockfish engine - Another 1GB disk space to process the tablebase files -------------- DESCRIPTION -------------- Chess endgame tablebase is a vast database containing pre-calculated, exhaustive analyses of chess endgame positions. It can instantly determine whether your position is a win, loss, or draw without the need for lengthy analysis. This app is ideal for enhancing your Stockfish engine's analytical performance. The tablebase included with this app can provide an approximate 50 ELO improvement to the Stockfish engine, making it highly recommended for all serious chess players.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Chess Tablebase for Stockfish at Free against Next Chess Move's $2.99. Chess Tablebase for Stockfish also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Next Chess Move's advantage is chart position (#97 vs unranked) and ratings volume (133 vs 21). On review sentiment, 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
Chess Tablebase for Stockfish is free to download; Next Chess Move costs $2.99 up front. Next Chess Move sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chess Tablebase for Stockfish asks for nothing beyond the download.
Chess Tablebase for Stockfish holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Next Chess Move has 133 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Next Chess Move's written reviews are positive against 83% of Chess Tablebase for Stockfish's.
Next Chess Move ships an update monthly, Chess Tablebase for Stockfish fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Next Chess Move | Chess Tablebase for Stockfish |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.5 (133 ratings) | 4.8 (21 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 76.3% of reviews | 83.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 133 — better | 21 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #97 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 143 MB | 944 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Next Chess Move LLC | Ted Wong |
Customer experience
Next Chess Move
Chess Tablebase for Stockfish
Bugs and requests
Next Chess Move
Reported bugs
18 issues- Critical bugs that break the game (e.g., same color pieces moving consecutively)
- App doesn't turn on
- Update has challenges
- Cannot play anything
- LC0 version 0.30 with Networks Family T81 causes 'engine disconnected' error
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- App is pretty buggy
- App decides to delete a piece randomly
- Subscription is gone after payment
- No option to restore purchase
- Every move suggested is a blunder
- Error response most of the time
- App crushes when copying or pasting PGN
- Illegal move issues with PGN/FEN
- Castling not handled correctly in PGN
- Algorithm inconsistency (doesn't play the same move for the exact same play)
- Login doesn't work for extra servers
- UI could be better
- Cannot find an option to delete saved games
Requested features
34 requests- Fix critical bugs
- Update UI
- Release a proper update
- Maintain the app properly
- Update to current stockfish 17
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- Add self-play mode with different engines
- Add Komodo latest version
- Fix LC0 issues with T81 network family
- Show a few candidate options
- Add feature to use screenshot/photo of board
- Add arrow or directional lines for best move
- Make it more didactic
- Add premium features for paid users
- Add option to play engine vs engine
- Add some themes
- Add analysis arrows
- Copy full PGN when playing engine vs engine
- Add database for openings for free
- Add iPad version
- Allow landscape format on iPad
- Increase analysis time beyond 30 seconds
- Add option to switch turns after calculating a move
- Improve ergonomics
- Name boards and show names
- Add instructions on how to use
- Option to delete saved games
- Improve UI
- Handle illegal moves and castling correctly in PGN/FEN
- Allow castling
- Add feedback and suggestions
- Cut and paste FEN
- Automatic play of calculated move
- Print positions after moves or games
- Flip board only for current board
Chess Tablebase for Stockfish
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Next Chess Move
- NCM Pro$18.99
Chess Tablebase for Stockfish
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Next Chess Move free?
Is Chess Tablebase for Stockfish free?
Which has better reviews, Next Chess Move or Chess Tablebase for Stockfish?
Do Next Chess Move or Chess Tablebase for Stockfish have ads?
Which is updated more often, Next Chess Move or Chess Tablebase for Stockfish?
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