# OpenChess vs Knightly Chess

The clearest difference is monetization model: OpenChess at free with in-app purchases against Knightly Chess's subscription. OpenChess also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OpenChess sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Knightly Chess sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for OpenChess against 5.0 for Knightly Chess. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenChess | Knightly Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openchess-an-opening-explorer/id6504700904/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knightly-chess/id6752311282/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 57 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [David Bryant](https://appshunter.io/developer/1559648957) | [Encompass Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838808336) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenChess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openchess-an-opening-explorer/id6504700904)

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tarrasch Defense Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Trompowsky Attack Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Scandinavian Defense Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Three Knights Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Zukertort Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Van't Kruijs Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Vienna Game Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ware Opening | $0.99 | one-time |
| Opening Explorer | $4.99 | one-time |
| OpenChess Premium | $19.99 | one-time |


### Knightly Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knightly-chess/id6752311282)

This app analyzes your chess games to identify weaknesses and provides personalized training sessions. It connects to Lichess and Chess.com accounts to track your progress and adapt your learning.

**Highlights:** Personalized training sessions, Mistake pattern detection, Opening weakness analysis, AI coach for move explanations, Progress tracking and visualization, Adaptive learning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Knightly Premium Tier Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Knightly AI Tier Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Knightly Premium Tier Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| Knightly AI Tier Yearly | $89.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenChess free?

OpenChess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Knightly Chess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, OpenChess or Knightly Chess?

OpenChess and Knightly Chess are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do OpenChess or Knightly Chess have ads?

Neither OpenChess nor Knightly Chess shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OpenChess or Knightly Chess?

OpenChess ships an update fortnightly, and Knightly Chess fortnightly. Most recently, OpenChess was updated on October 30, 2026 and Knightly Chess on November 5, 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.*