Comparison

Gryphon Chess vs Zenmate

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Gryphon Chess

Features
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Gryphon Chess is a new take on the board game classic. Novel mechanics and tactics await for you to collect and explore! Three factions vie for power: the industrious and methodical Empire, the elusive creatures of the Woodland, and the tough and stubborn Saurians. Each faction has unique pieces, play styles, and strategies to learn. [Special Features] COLLECT AND UPGRADE PIECES Collect and upgrade unique pieces as you play and progress. (Yes, even gryphons - or griffons - or griffins... any way you spell it, make sure you know where they're at!) As you upgrade pieces, they'll gain additional movement patterns and abilities. CUSTOM SETS Create custom faction-specific sets. Mix and match pieces from the standard set and each faction to suit your strategy, but beware! Your opponent will have their own custom set and pieces. [Strategic Gameplay] SHARPER MATCHES With three additional win conditions, Gryphon Chess matches are typically quicker and more pointed. With custom sets, each match becomes a real-time puzzle.

About

Zenmate

Features
Read full description

Zenmate is a calm, beautifully designed chess app built for focused play. Play a quiet game against the AI, start a match with friends through Game Center, or pass-and-play on one device. Zenmate keeps the interface simple and refined so the board stays central and every move has room to breathe. Features: - Play vs AI with multiple difficulty levels - Play with friends using Game Center - Local 2-player pass-and-play - Light and dark mode - Optional board coordinates - Flip board support - Clean timers and move-focused gameplay A quiet game of kings. Designed to slow you down, one move at a time.

Screenshots

Gryphon Chess4 screens
Zenmate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Zenmate at none against Gryphon Chess's 4. Gryphon Chess's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Gryphon Chess sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Zenmate asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gryphon Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, Zenmate every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
Gryphon Chess versus Zenmate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGryphon ChessZenmate
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks โ€” betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo โ€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.4 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size69 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnimeeples LLCTimothy Nice

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Gryphon Chess

One-time4
  • Handful of Gems$0.99
  • Pile of Gems$4.99
  • Crate of Gems$9.99
Show 1 more
  • Barrel of Gems$19.99
None

Zenmate

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Gryphon Chess free?
Gryphon Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Zenmate free?
Zenmate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Gryphon Chess or Zenmate have ads?
Neither Gryphon Chess nor Zenmate shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Gryphon Chess or Zenmate?
Gryphon Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, and Zenmate every 6 weeks. Most recently, Gryphon Chess was updated on October 14, 2026 and Zenmate on October 17, 2026.

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