# Openings Mastermind vs Chess Notation Trainer

Openings Mastermind and Chess Notation Trainer both sit at 4.3 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Chess Notation Trainer's written reviews are positive against 50% of Openings Mastermind's. Chess Notation Trainer also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly) and ratings volume (18 vs 6). Openings Mastermind's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess Notation Trainer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Openings Mastermind asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Openings Mastermind against 4.4 for Chess Notation Trainer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 18 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of Openings Mastermind's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chess Notation Trainer's.

Openings Mastermind ships an update fortnightly, Chess Notation Trainer every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Openings Mastermind | Chess Notation Trainer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openings-mastermind/id6448386251/reviews) | **[4.4 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-notation-trainer/id6476576060/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **18** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 88 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christian Heise](https://appshunter.io/developer/1632898424) | [Nishat Majid](https://appshunter.io/developer/1727207034) |

## What reviewers say

### Openings Mastermind

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openings-mastermind/id6448386251)

Master chess openings with this app. Import studies, explore with advanced engines, and practice specific lines through repetition. Track your progress and improve your game.

**Highlights:** Import Lichess Studies or PGNs, Explore openings with Stockfish 15, Practice openings by repetition, Smart practice queue, Track learning progress

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Chess Notation Trainer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-notation-trainer/id6476576060)

Master chess squares and notation with this training app. Improve your ability to identify coordinates, translate moves, and visualize the board, even without one. Ideal for serious players looking to enhance calculation speed and chess understanding.

**Highlights:** Identify squares by coordinate, Translate move sequences to notation, Determine square color instantly, Stay oriented on the board, Follow chess tutorials without a board, Speed up calculation, Practice blind chess

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Openings Mastermind free?

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

### Is Chess Notation Trainer free?

Chess Notation Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Openings Mastermind or Chess Notation Trainer?

Chess Notation Trainer is rated higher. Openings Mastermind averages 4.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Chess Notation Trainer averages 4.4 from 18 ratings.

### Do Openings Mastermind or Chess Notation Trainer have ads?

Neither Openings Mastermind nor Chess Notation Trainer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Openings Mastermind or Chess Notation Trainer?

Openings Mastermind ships an update fortnightly, and Chess Notation Trainer every 2 days. Most recently, Openings Mastermind was updated on October 7, 2026 and Chess Notation Trainer on September 23, 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.*