# Chess Notation Trainer vs Board Brain

The clearest difference is rating: Board Brain at 5.0 against Chess Notation Trainer's 4.5. Board Brain also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). Chess Notation Trainer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 days) and ratings volume (16 vs 3). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Board Brain holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Notation Trainer has 16 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Chess Notation Trainer ships an update every 2 days, Board Brain every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Notation Trainer | Board Brain |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-notation-trainer/id6476576060/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/board-brain/id6482852806/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 6 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 26 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nishat Majid](https://appshunter.io/developer/1727207034) | [Selvarajan Thangavel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1482739883) |

## What reviewers say

### 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

**In-app purchases (1)**

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


### Board Brain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/board-brain/id6482852806)

This app helps chess players of all levels enhance their skills through interactive games and exercises. It focuses on mastering chessboard coordinates, understanding piece movements, and recognizing square colors to improve overall game vision.

**Highlights:** Interactive games, Skill-building exercises, Chessboard coordinate mastery, Piece movement understanding, Square color recognition

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Notation Trainer free?

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

### Is Board Brain free?

Board Brain is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chess Notation Trainer or Board Brain?

Board Brain is rated higher. Chess Notation Trainer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Board Brain averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Chess Notation Trainer or Board Brain have ads?

Neither Chess Notation Trainer nor Board Brain shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chess Notation Trainer or Board Brain?

Chess Notation Trainer ships an update every 2 days, and Board Brain every 6 days. Most recently, Chess Notation Trainer was updated on September 7, 2026 and Board Brain on September 12, 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.*