# SyncTasks vs Chess Shield

The clearest difference is rating: SyncTasks at 4.6 against Chess Shield's 3.7. SyncTasks also leads on ratings volume (355 vs 3) and review sentiment (69% vs 50%). Chess Shield's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SyncTasks sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Chess Shield sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SyncTasks holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SyncTasks has 355 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of SyncTasks's written reviews are positive against 50% of Chess Shield's.

SyncTasks ships an update every 10 days, Chess Shield weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SyncTasks | Chess Shield |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (355 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synctasks/id6575384261/reviews)** | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-shield/id6772290132/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **355** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **69.2% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 79 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Toh Kar Le](https://appshunter.io/developer/1688513019) | [Alejandro Trevino Saldana](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772290134) |

## What reviewers say

### SyncTasks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synctasks/id6575384261)

This app offers a streamlined task management experience, syncing with Notion and Apple Reminders. It features a minimalist widget for distraction-free focus and a folder system for organization. It can also be used as a standalone to-do list.

**Highlights:** Two-way Notion sync, Apple Reminders integration, Minimalist home screen widgets, Folder-based task organization, Standalone to-do list mode, No ads or tracking

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SyncTasks Pro (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| SyncTasks Pro (Annually) | $12.99 | per year |
| 7-day Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| SyncTasks Pro | $9.99 | one-time |
| SyncTasks Pro (Lifetime) | $34.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and efficient
- 🚀 Seamless Notion integration
- 💡 Useful widget functionality
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 🎨 Clean and minimalist design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Syncing issues with Notion and Reminders
- 🔒 Paywall for widget access
- 🤔 Lack of advanced features
- 🔧 Bugs and crashes reported

**Reported bugs**

- Tasks not syncing properly
- Widget not displaying tasks correctly
- App crashing after updates
- Notification issues with repeat tasks

**Requested features**

- Add support for Notion calendar sync
- Improve widget customization options
- Introduce more view and filter options
- Develop a desktop or web app version


### Chess Shield

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-shield/id6772290132)

This app helps chess players improve by blocking distracting apps and replacing them with chess puzzles. Solve puzzles to advance your ELO and identify tactical weaknesses. It offers a free tier with basic features and a Pro version for advanced tactics and unlimited app blocking.

**Highlights:** Blocks distracting apps, Replaces app opens with chess puzzles, Puzzles matched to ELO, Tracks ELO in real-time, Tactical insights, Unlimited puzzles (Free), Block multiple apps (Pro)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chess Shield Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Chess Shield Pro | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SyncTasks free?

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

### Is Chess Shield free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SyncTasks or Chess Shield?

SyncTasks is rated higher. SyncTasks averages 4.6 out of 5 from 355 ratings, while Chess Shield averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do SyncTasks or Chess Shield have ads?

Neither SyncTasks nor Chess Shield shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SyncTasks or Chess Shield?

SyncTasks ships an update every 10 days, and Chess Shield weekly. Most recently, SyncTasks was updated on October 11, 2026 and Chess Shield on October 7, 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.*