Comparison

OpenChess vs Chess Jester

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

Head to head
About

OpenChess

Master chess openings by playing against a specialized AI. Explore specific defenses or move sequences, and gain insights into positional advantages and piece values. Improve your game from the very first moves.

Highlights
  • Learn specific chess openings
  • Play against AI focused on opening lines
  • Analyze positional advantages
  • Evaluate piece values and mobility
  • Understand pawn structure
  • Track defended and attacked pieces
Read full description

Learn chess openings with OpenChess: An Opening Explorer. Play against the computer, or play as both sides, and be shown the lines that are within any opening that you are interested in learning. Want to learn the Sicilian Defense or the Queen’s Gambit? Choose that category and play against that a computer that only follows lines within that opening category. Wany to focus on learning all of the openings that start with a specific move, such as pawn to “e4”? This category can also be selected, and you can play against a computer that only plays lines that start with “e4”. The chess engine in this app is not Stockfish, and it does not look very far ahead. It is meant to provide a decent base evaluation and allow the majority of the reason behind the evaluation of the current position to be shown to the user. The following information can be shown to the user: • Positional advantages for each piece type (pawn, knight, bishop, rook, queen and king) • Piece value advantages for each color • Mobility scores for each piece where mobility plays a big role (bishop, rook, queen, king) • Pawn advantages and disadvantages (passed pawns, isolated pawns, backwards pawns, doubled pawns) • Total value of pieces attacked by each color as well as total value of pieces defended by each color A lot of chess games are won and lost within the opening moves, this app was designed to help players learn solid openings that either help them gain a winning advantage out of the opening, or at the very least help them not lose due to the opening moves played. Terms of Service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Chess Jester

Engage in serious chess matches with a humorous twist. Features a witty AI commentator, multiple difficulty levels, and both local and online multiplayer options. Customize your game's appearance and share your matches.

Highlights
  • Hilarious AI commentary
  • Play against powerful AI
  • Local and online multiplayer
  • Game import and export (PGN/FEN)
  • Real-time browser monitoring
  • External display support
  • Full customization options
Features
Read full description

Chess Jester (Chester) - Serious chess. Silly commentary. Stunning design. Step into the royal court of chess with Chess Jester, a beautifully crafted chess app for iPhone and iPad that mixes serious gameplay with a touch of humor. Whether you're a casual player, a chess enthusiast, or just someone looking to hear a jester mock your moves, Chester delivers a fun and engaging experience. Privacy First: - No data collection, No Tracking, No Accounts, No Ads Features: Hilarious AI Commentary: - Turn your chess games into a comedy act with funny, context-aware narration from Chester the Jester. The commentary can be toggled on or off at any time. Play vs. Powerful AI: - Challenge a robust chess engine with multiple difficulty levels. Whether you're learning the ropes or looking for a tough opponent, Chester adjusts to your skill level. Local Multiplayer (Same Device): - Play over the board with a friend right on your iPhone or iPad, no need for a physical board. Online Multiplayer: - Play online with a friend or a random opponent. Join a game instantly or host one with a unique code.  * Hosting requires a one-time in-app purchase. Game Import & Export: - Load a game using a PGN or FEN string, and export completed games in PGN format to share or analyze later. Real-Time Game Monitoring in a Browser: - Spectators can watch your games live in any browser, perfect for events, parties, or classrooms.  * Requires a one-time in-app purchase. External Display Support: - Mirror the game on a TV or projector using AirPlay or an HDMI dongle. Perfect for live viewing or teaching sessions. Full Customization: - Change the look and feel of your game with customizable board themes, piece styles, and background options. Supports both light and dark mode. - Choose your color (play as white or black), and fine-tune your experience with adjustable sound, haptic feedback, and AI commentary settings. Chester blends powerful gameplay with a unique personality. It’s elegant when it needs to be, silly when you want it to be, and always ready for a good match. Whether you're learning, competing, or just having fun, Chester makes every move memorable. Terms of Use: - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy:  - https://chester.justshare.me/privacy.html

Screenshots

OpenChess4 screens
Chess Jester4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: OpenChess at 5.0 against Chess Jester's 3.7. OpenChess also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. OpenChess sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Chess Jester sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OpenChess holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OpenChess ships an update fortnightly, Chess Jester every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
OpenChess versus Chess Jester: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenChessChess Jester
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better3.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings23 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB87 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperDavid BryantErfan Reed

Customer experience

OpenChess

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Chess Jester

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

OpenChess

One-time10
  • Tarrasch Defense Opening$0.99
  • Trompowsky Attack Opening$0.99
  • Scandinavian Defense Opening$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Three Knights Opening$0.99
  • Zukertort Opening$0.99
  • Van't Kruijs Opening$0.99
  • Vienna Game Opening$0.99
  • Ware Opening$0.99
  • Opening Explorer$4.99
  • OpenChess Premium$19.99
2 purchases

Chess Jester

One-time2
  • Online Game Play$0.99
  • Monitor Game on Web$0.99

Questions

Is OpenChess free?
OpenChess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chess Jester free?
Chess Jester is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, OpenChess or Chess Jester?
OpenChess is rated higher. OpenChess averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Chess Jester averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do OpenChess or Chess Jester have ads?
Neither OpenChess nor Chess Jester shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OpenChess or Chess Jester?
OpenChess ships an update fortnightly, and Chess Jester every 3 months. Most recently, OpenChess was updated on October 30, 2026 and Chess Jester on November 8, 2026.

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