# Spy Chess vs Chinese Chess

The clearest difference is update cadence: Spy Chess at fortnightly against Chinese Chess's every 6 months. Spy Chess also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Spy Chess ships an update fortnightly, Chinese Chess every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spy Chess | Chinese Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 105 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [骐显 梁](https://appshunter.io/developer/1314814852) | [东平 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1802634708) |

## What reviewers say

### Spy Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spy-chess/id6446029675)

Experience a unique twist on chess with a 9x9 board and undercover agents. Strategize with special units, fortresses, and the ability to infiltrate enemy ranks. Advance your pieces for new abilities and tactical advantages.

**Highlights:** 9x9 Chessboard, Undercover Agents, Fortress Mechanics, Unit Advancement, Infiltration and Betrayal, Unique Piece Abilities

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Chinese Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chinese-chess-simple/id6743630983)

Engage in classic Xiangqi gameplay with adjustable AI difficulty. Enjoy instant matches and local two-player battles on a single device. Optimized for a seamless experience on iPhones and iPads.

**Highlights:** 3 AI difficulty levels, Instant new game, Two-player local mode, Optimized for iPhone and iPad

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spy Chess free?

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

### Is Chinese Chess free?

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

### Do Spy Chess or Chinese Chess have ads?

Neither Spy Chess nor Chinese Chess shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Spy Chess or Chinese Chess?

Spy Chess ships an update fortnightly, and Chinese Chess every 6 months. Most recently, Spy Chess was updated on October 18, 2026 and Chinese Chess on October 20, 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.*