Chess Friend vs Gambit/chess
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chess Friend
Read full descriptionHide full description
Welcome to Chess Friend- your ultimate chess app! Chess Friend is not just a chess app; it's a comprehensive experience for all chess enthusiasts. When you dive into the world of Chess Friend, you'll be captivated by the fascination and challenges of chess. Here are some reasons why Chess Friend is the clear choice for chess aficionados: Intellectual Challenge: With Chess Friend, you can take your brain to the next level. Our challenging chess game requires critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning to win. Ambient Music: Let our soothing background music during the game transport you into the world of chess. It helps you concentrate and sets the right mood. Mathematical Skills: Chess is more than just a game. It promotes mathematical concepts like coordinate systems, numbers, and spatial thinking to strengthen your mathematical skills. Step into the fascinating world of Chess Friend now and experience chess at its best. Download our app and become a true master of this royal game. Get Chess Friend today and discover why chess is not just a game but a passion!"
Gambit/chess
A moody, noir-styled chess game designed for quick play without account creation. Easily invite friends with a code and enjoy a streamlined experience with helpful beginner features. Practice against AI or play with others, with unlimited games available via subscription.
- Account-free play
- Private invite codes
- AI practice modes
- Legal move indicators
- Full chess rules support
- Auto-save and resume games
- Subscription for unlimited play
Read full descriptionHide full description
a moody, noir-styled chess game built for two people who just want to play — not create accounts, remember passwords, or manage a clock. Start a game and send a short private invite code through Messages or any share sheet. Your friend taps it and you're both at the board in seconds. No email, no password, no friction. Want a handle instead? Claim a personal @handle with a live free-or-taken check as you type — still no sign-in form, ever. Beginners are genuinely welcome here. Tap any piece to see every legal move, captures marked differently, and the king glows the moment it's in check. Illegal moves are refused gently, never with a lecture. No friend online right now? Run a quick match against anyone, or practice against the app at one of three strengths that genuinely differ. Gentle wanders and leaves pieces hanging. Steady punishes obvious mistakes but misses deeper tricks. Sharp plays the strongest move it can find — and hides the legal-move dots entirely, so you read the board yourself. There are no hints anywhere in Gambit. Every game is won on your own judgment. Every rule is here: castling, en passant, promotion, check, checkmate, stalemate, repetition, and insufficient material. Follow the action in a live move list with classic notation and step-back review. Offer a draw, resign, or start a rematch with colours flipped. Left mid-game? Gambit remembers exactly where you were, even after losing signal, so you can pick the position back up whenever you're ready. Your first three games are free — no card and no sign-up. Spend them however you like, practice or against a friend. After that, Gambit Club unlocks unlimited games for $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year. A board you have already started always stays playable. Gambit Club is an auto-renewing subscription that continues until you cancel it in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ No clocks. No puzzles. No ratings. No spectators. Just an atmospheric, confident board and the people you choose to sit down at it with. Download Gambit and send your first invite code tonight.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Gambit/chess at Free against Chess Friend's $1.99. Gambit/chess also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). Chess Friend's advantage is device support (5 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On ads and in-app purchases 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
Gambit/chess is free to download; Chess Friend costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Chess Friend ships an update every 2 weeks, Gambit/chess every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chess Friend | Gambit/chess |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 137 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Thomas Krawietz | heather sherry |
In-app purchases
Chess Friend
No in-app purchases
Gambit/chess
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Chess Friend free?
Is Gambit/chess free?
Do Chess Friend or Gambit/chess have ads?
Which is updated more often, Chess Friend or Gambit/chess?
Other comparisons















