# OpenChess vs ChessBased

The clearest difference is rating: OpenChess at 5.0 against ChessBased's 4.0. OpenChess also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OpenChess sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and ChessBased sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

OpenChess holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

OpenChess ships an update fortnightly, ChessBased every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenChess | ChessBased |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openchess-an-opening-explorer/id6504700904/reviews)** | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessbased-stockfish-19/id6773557320/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 57 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [David Bryant](https://appshunter.io/developer/1559648957) | [ENVISIONAIRY LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1605281065) |

## 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 |


### ChessBased

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessbased-stockfish-19/id6773557320)

Analyze chess openings with millions of games and advanced engine evaluations. Prepare like a grandmaster with a seamless interface, win-loss statistics, and move-by-move exploration. Save your favorite lines for later study on your iPhone or iPad.

**Highlights:** Millions of games database, Stockfish 18 engine evaluations, Win-loss statistics, Move-by-move exploration, Save favorite lines, Seamless UI

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ChessBased: Stockfish 18 | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenChess free?

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

### Is ChessBased free?

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

### Which has better reviews, OpenChess or ChessBased?

OpenChess is rated higher. OpenChess averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while ChessBased averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do OpenChess or ChessBased have ads?

Neither OpenChess nor ChessBased shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OpenChess or ChessBased?

OpenChess ships an update fortnightly, and ChessBased every 2 weeks. Most recently, OpenChess was updated on October 15, 2026 and ChessBased on October 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.*