# Solitaire vs Tessel

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Solitaire at none against Tessel's 4. Solitaire also leads on ads (none vs shown). Tessel's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 9 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tessel sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Solitaire asks for nothing beyond the download.

Solitaire ships an update every 9 months, Tessel every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Solitaire | Tessel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tessel-strategy-duel/id6778083586/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 16 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Kuo-Tsun Huang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1800107243) | [MELANIE SHEILA CADET](https://appshunter.io/developer/6778083588) |

## What reviewers say

### Solitaire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solitaire-chess-game/id6742809581)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Tessel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tessel-strategy-duel/id6778083586)

A relaxing yet strategic hex-based board game where players place uniquely shaped pieces. Compete against AI, friends locally, or players online. Utilize power tokens and unlock cosmetic customizations for a unique experience.

**Highlights:** Hex-based strategy gameplay, AI opponents with multiple difficulties, Online turn-based multiplayer, Local Pass and Play mode, Optional power tokens, Unlockable cosmetic themes, Save and resume games

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kintsugi Skin | $1.99 | one-time |
| Aurora Glass Cosmetic Skin | $1.99 | one-time |
| Rose Quartz Cosmetic Skin | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Solitaire free?

Solitaire is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Tessel free?

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

### Do Solitaire or Tessel have ads?

Tessel shows ads; Solitaire does not.

### Which is updated more often, Solitaire or Tessel?

Solitaire ships an update every 9 months, and Tessel every 2 days. Most recently, Solitaire was updated on October 25, 2026 and Tessel on October 13, 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.*