Active Chess vs Smart Chess 3D
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Active Chess
Experience a unique chess variant with randomized starting positions and modified rules for dynamic gameplay. Develop your strategic thinking and planning skills in this engaging board game.
- Randomized starting positions
- Modified chess rules
- Strategic gameplay
- Cognitive skill development
- Choice of board sizes
- Play against a chess bot
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Playing chess regularly develops human cognitive abilities, such as: logical thinking, attentiveness, memory, ability to analyse and plan. However, in classical chess there is one drawback that does not contribute to the interest in the game on the part of millions of potential players. For thousands of years of the existence of chess, all combinations, the so-called openings, that can appear on the chessboard at the beginning of the game, have been developed and well studied. A professional player who knows several of these openings will certainly gain an advantage over an ordinary player, even if his cognitive abilities are obviously lower. Active Chess got its name because it excludes the use of different preliminary preparations in different game situations, especially at the beginning of the game. In active chess, there is no well-known traditional arrangement of pieces, and this precludes the use of a library of openings. From the first moves of the game, an active game begins, the result of which depends on the player's cognitive abilities, his ability to think and a bit of luck. The luck factor is associated with the formation of the starting position randomly for each player. But in order not to depend on capricious luck, the player can independently form his position on the board. At the same time he does not know what position his opponent will have. This gives a special sharpness of the game. In Active Chess, almost all the rules of classical chess are followed with a few exceptions: • Rule for castling of kings is absent since a player, when creating an initial position, can place his king in that part of the board and among other pieces, where he will be in the greatest safety. • Chess pieces can be placed on the first three ranks of each side in the order that suits the player. • A special mark is applied to the image of the pawns of the first move, which disappears after the first move. • Bishops can be of the same color field or different color fields at the choice of the player. Active Chess has to a choice of two options for boards 8x8 and 8x10. In the current version of the application, only a game with a chess bot is available. The application has ads are shown after the end of the game. The winner does not see ads! You can remove all Ads and limit of preset positions by subscription. Enjoy Game! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: http://books.virenter.com/policy.php
Smart Chess 3D
Experience chess in a visually stunning and customizable environment. Play against AI or friends with adjustable difficulty levels and track your progress with real-time feedback. Save your game and resume anytime.
- Multiple 2D and 3D board visuals
- AI, Player vs. Player, and AI vs. AI modes
- Adjustable difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, Hard)
- Customizable table designs and backgrounds
- Optional game clocks
- Real-time text output for game insights
- Automatic game state saving
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Smart Chess: The Ultimate Chess Experience Welcome to Smart Chess, where strategy meets art, and every move brings a new challenge. Experience chess like never before in a stunning, fully customizable environment that breathes life into the classic game. Features: Versatile Playing Fields: Choose from a variety of visual styles. Opt for the traditional feel with our classic 2D chessboard, or immerse yourself in the modern twist of our two distinct 3D chessboards. Match Modes for Every Player: Whether you're a seasoned grandmaster or a budding novice, Smart Chess offers a match for you. Engage in thoughtful play against our sophisticated AI, challenge a friend in Player vs. Player mode, or watch and learn from AI vs. AI simulations. Tailored Difficulty Levels: Choose your challenge. From Easy for beginners, through Medium for intermediate players, to Hard for chess veterans, Smart Chess provides a balanced experience for all skill levels. Customisation at Your Fingertips: Express your style with a large choice of table designs and skybox backgrounds. Transform each game into a unique and personal experience, setting not just the board but the entire playing environment to match your aesthetic. Time Your Tactics: Enhance your games with optional clocks. Perfect for those who love the thrill of timed battles or for players looking to improve their speed and agility. Keep Track During Your Game: Experience real-time detailed text outputs during each game, providing you with immediate feedback and insights to help you make strategic decisions. Seamless Gameplay Experience: Never worry about interruptions. Smart Chess saves its state automatically, allowing you to resume your game exactly where you left off at any time. Smart Chess is not just a game, but a celebration of intelligence, creativity, and the timeless appeal of chess. Ready to make your move? Privacy and Ownership: Smart Chess respects your privacy. It has no trackers, does not collect any data from you, and does not contain any advertising or in-app purchases. It's yours forever. Download Smart Chess now and join the community of thinkers and strategists! Join us in the grand tradition of chess with Smart Chess. Your next move could be your greatest.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Active Chess at Free against Smart Chess 3D's $1.99. Smart Chess 3D's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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
Active Chess is free to download; Smart Chess 3D costs $1.99 up front. Active Chess sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Smart Chess 3D asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Active Chess against 5.0 for Smart Chess 3D. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.
Active Chess ships an update every 39 months, Smart Chess 3D every 23 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Active Chess | Smart Chess 3D |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 39 months | Every 23 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 396 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alexey Polunin | Philippe Zay |
Customer experience
Active Chess
Smart Chess 3D
In-app purchases
Active Chess
- Unlimited Positions 1 Week$0.997 Days
- Unlimited Positions 1 Month$1.991 Month
- Unlimited Positions 3 Month$4.993 Months
Smart Chess 3D
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Active Chess free?
Is Smart Chess 3D free?
Which has better reviews, Active Chess or Smart Chess 3D?
Do Active Chess or Smart Chess 3D have ads?
Which is updated more often, Active Chess or Smart Chess 3D?
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