Next Chess Move vs Score Keeper (Scrabble)
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
Score Keeper (Scrabble)
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Score Keeper is the easiest way to track scores when playing Scrabble in real life. No more scribbling on paper or doing math or losing track of the score - just tap to add points and keep playing. Features: - Add players to your roster and select who's playing each game - Track running totals for each player - Easy score entry with large, clear display - Edit or delete turns if you make a mistake - Turn history grouped by round - Built-in word checker with 170,000+ words - Optional turn timer (30 seconds to 5 minutes) - End-game scoring with tile deduction rules - Reorder players to match seating arrangement - Game survives if you close the app - All data stored locally on your device - Works offline - no account required How it works: Add players to your roster once, then check who's playing before each game. Tap to enter scores as you play - the app tracks whose turn it is and keeps running totals. Need to check if a word is valid? Use the built-in word checker with over 170,000 words. When the game ends, the app helps you calculate final scores including tile deductions for remaining letters. Focus on the game instead of the math!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Score Keeper (Scrabble) at none against Next Chess Move's 1. Score Keeper (Scrabble) also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly) and price ($0.99 vs $2.99). Next Chess Move's advantage is chart position (#34 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Next Chess Move costs $2.99 and Score Keeper (Scrabble) $0.99 up front. Next Chess Move sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Score Keeper (Scrabble) asks for nothing beyond the download.
Next Chess Move ships an update monthly, Score Keeper (Scrabble) every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Next Chess Move | Score Keeper (Scrabble) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.5 (133 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 76.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 133 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | #34 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 143 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Next Chess Move LLC | FiveIron Software, LLC |
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
Score Keeper (Scrabble)
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Next Chess Move
- NCM Pro$18.99
Score Keeper (Scrabble)
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Next Chess Move free?
Is Score Keeper (Scrabble) free?
Do Next Chess Move or Score Keeper (Scrabble) have ads?
Which is updated more often, Next Chess Move or Score Keeper (Scrabble)?
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