Comparison

Chessanova vs Chess Trainer

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

Head to head
About

Chessanova

Experience a minimalist, 2D chess game designed for face-to-face play. Enjoy intuitive controls, symmetrical pieces, and unrestricted moves for a pure, distraction-free chess experience. Discover hidden variants that alter gameplay and board configurations.

Highlights
  • Minimalist 2D chessboard
  • Symmetrical piece design
  • Intuitive multi-touch controls
  • Unrestricted moves and unlimited undo/redo
  • Hidden move-based game variants
  • No bots, settings, or in-app purchases
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Chessanova! This app offers a minimalist, 2D chessboard made for a face-to-face gameplay between two players. It is designed to create an intuitive chess experience that feels like a true game with pieces, free from the distractions of settings, buttons, or typical app controls. Key Features: - Symmetrical Piece Design: The chess pieces are designed with point symmetry, making them identical from both players' perspectives. No need to rotate pieces or adjust viewing angles – focus purely on the game without distractions. - Intuitive Multi-Touch Control: Move pieces naturally across the board with simple touch gestures. You can drag and drop or tap-select and place pieces precisely where you want. This freedom allows players to replicate a true over-the-board chess experience. - Unrestricted Moves: Unlike typical digital chess games, this app doesn’t restrict moves to legal ones. You can experiment freely – throw pieces off the board, try out unique starting positions, or quickly set up positions to explain tactics to your opponent. With a double-tap, you have unlimited undo and redo at your fingertips (redo by holding an additional finger on the display). - Hidden Move-Based Variants: Chessanova introduces a unique twist to classic chess, allowing you to alter the game through hidden moves. Adjust the board size or add extra pieces seamlessly—no menus or buttons needed. Simply place specific pieces in distinct ways to unlock modifications that bring fresh challenges and force even experienced players to rethink their strategies. Add a whole new layer of variety with one of the following moves: White Pawn to White Rook: Doubles the rooks and expands the board by two columns White Pawn to White Knight: Doubles the knights and expands the board by two columns White Pawn to White Bishop: Doubles the bishops and expands the board by two columns White Rook to White Rook: Removes all rooks and reduces the board by two rows and two columns White Knight to White Knight: Removes all knights and reduces the board by two rows and two columns White Bishop to White Bishop: Removes all bishops and reduces the board by two rows and two columns White Pawn to White Queen: Randomly changes the color scheme King to King: Resets the game A Pure Chess Experience: No bots, settings, in-app purchases, or unnecessary sounds. Just you, your opponent, and the chessboard. Discover a fresh approach to chess with endless possibilities. Enjoy playing together!

About

Chess Trainer

Master chess openings with an adaptive engine that trains you against real-world opponent moves. Understand the consequences of blunders with visual demonstrations and build a bulletproof repertoire for any skill level.

Highlights
  • Weighted real-world data for practice
  • Adaptive engine targets weak points
  • Visual proof of blunder consequences
  • Tiered mastery levels
  • Deep opening library
  • Focused training modes
Features
Read full description

Master Practical Theory. Crush the Competition. Most chess players study 20 moves of Grandmaster theory, only to lose on move 6 because their opponent played a "bad" move they weren't prepared for. Chess Trainer changes the game. We focus on the lines you actually see in your games, using an adaptive engine that punishes mistakes and rewards deep understanding. TRAIN FOR THE REAL WORLD Don’t just memorize engine-perfect lines. Our engine is weighted by Real Player Data, meaning you’ll practice against the most common responses found in Blitz, Bullet, and Rapid games at your specific skill level. Prepare for the traps and sidelines your opponents are actually using. THE "PREDATORY" ENGINE Stop practicing what you already know. Our Predatory Engine analyzes your performance to identify your blind spots. It deliberately steers training toward the positions where you struggle most, forcing you to turn your weaknesses into your greatest strengths. SEE THE WHY, NOT JUST THE MOVE When you make a mistake, we don't just give you a red "X." Chess Trainer plays out the next several moves to show you the tactical consequence. See the fork, the pin, or the lost center before it happens in a real game. It’s the ultimate "What if?" tool for building a bulletproof repertoire. KEY FEATURES: - Weighted Real-World Data: Practice against moves humans actually play, not just "book" moves. - Adaptive Learning: The engine targets your specific weak points for faster improvement. - Visual Proof: Every blunder is met with a multi-move demonstration of why the move failed. - Tiered Mastery: From Beginner to Master, the engine’s mistake threshold tightens as you level up. - Deep Opening Library: Explore complex variations of the Sicilian, Ruy Lopez, and more. - Focused Training: Our free life-based mode keeps your sessions intentional, or go unlimited to grind your repertoire. Whether you're a beginner trying to survive the first 5 moves or a Master perfecting a sharp sideline, Chess Trainer prepares you for the opponent sitting across the board—not just the computer. Download Chess Trainer today and start playing with total confidence! By using this app, you agree to our Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Chessanova4 screens
Chess Trainer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Chessanova at 100% against Chess Trainer's 50%. Chessanova also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). On price, ads and device support 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. Chess Trainer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Chessanova asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Chessanova versus Chess Trainer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessanovaChess Trainer
PriceFreeFree
Rating—3.7 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequency—Every 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB91 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJonas FehrenbergJoel DeVenzke

Customer experience

Chessanova

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Chess Trainer

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Chessanova

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Chess Trainer

Subscriptions4
  • Gold Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly7 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • Gold Yearly7 Days trial$34.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Chessanova free?
Chessanova is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chess Trainer free?
Chess Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Chessanova or Chess Trainer have ads?
Neither Chessanova nor Chess Trainer shows ads.

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