# Next Chess Move vs ChessM8

The clearest difference is price: ChessM8 at Free against Next Chess Move's $2.99. ChessM8 also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Next Chess Move's advantage is chart position (#61 vs unranked) and ratings volume (124 vs 15). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

ChessM8 is free to download; Next Chess Move costs $2.99 up front. Next Chess Move sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ChessM8 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ChessM8 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Next Chess Move has 124 ratings behind it against 15, 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 100% of ChessM8's.

Next Chess Move ships an update monthly, ChessM8 every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and August 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Next Chess Move | ChessM8 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (124 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-chess-move/id595697977/reviews) | **[5.0 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessm8/id1492951464/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **124** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | 76.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#61** | — |
| Size | 131 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Next Chess Move LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/458768443) | [Corneliu Lupu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1544993814) |

## What reviewers say

### Next Chess Move

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-chess-move/id595697977)

**Currently charting:** #61 Top Paid · Board, #182 Top Paid · Strategy (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NCM Pro | $18.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great tool for analysis
- 👍 Helpful for learning chess
- 👍 Strongest engines available
- 👍 Improves game understanding
- 👍 Convenient mobile access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Neglected and buggy mess
- 🐛 Critical bugs break game
- 🐛 Outdated and poorly maintained UI
- 🐛 Feels abandoned while charging
- 🐛 Waste of money

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Fix critical bugs
- Update UI
- Release a proper update
- Maintain the app properly
- Update to current stockfish 17


### ChessM8

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessm8/id1492951464)

Engage in correspondence chess with players globally. Plan your moves, communicate with opponents, and invite others to spectate your matches. Receive post-game analysis from a computer engine.

**Highlights:** Correspondence chess play, Global player matchmaking, Move planning tools, In-game chat functionality, Spectator mode for games, Post-game computer analysis

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Next Chess Move free?

Next Chess Move costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is ChessM8 free?

ChessM8 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Next Chess Move or ChessM8?

ChessM8 is rated higher. Next Chess Move averages 4.5 out of 5 from 124 ratings, while ChessM8 averages 5.0 from 15 ratings.

### Do Next Chess Move or ChessM8 have ads?

Neither Next Chess Move nor ChessM8 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Next Chess Move or ChessM8?

Next Chess Move ships an update monthly, and ChessM8 every 2 weeks. Most recently, Next Chess Move was updated on September 22, 2026 and ChessM8 on August 18, 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.*