# Hex Chess vs Chess by Staple Games

The clearest difference is update cadence: Hex Chess at every 3 weeks against Chess by Staple Games's every 5 months. Hex Chess also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Chess by Staple Games's advantage is device support (6 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Hex Chess holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Hex Chess's written reviews are positive against 73% of Chess by Staple Games's.

Hex Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, Chess by Staple Games every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hex Chess | Chess by Staple Games |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hex-chess/id6743667749/reviews)** | [4.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-by-staple-games/id6756031740/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 73.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 32 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sawyer Christensen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1803902058) | [Staple Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454538415) |

## What reviewers say

### Hex Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hex-chess/id6743667749)

Experience a fresh take on chess with a hexagonal board and familiar pieces. Challenge yourself against AI or friends online. This game introduces new strategies and movement patterns for a modern chess experience.

**Highlights:** Hexagonal board gameplay, Familiar chess pieces, New strategies and movement, CPU practice mode, Online multiplayer against friends

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Chess by Staple Games

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-by-staple-games/id6756031740)

Experience classic chess with a beautifully crafted app designed for all Apple devices. Enjoy solo practice against AI, local multiplayer, or online matches. Features include all official rules, accessibility options, and progress tracking.

**Highlights:** AI challenges with 6 difficulty levels, Pass & Play for local face-to-face games, Online multiplayer via Game Center, Local wireless play over Bluetooth/Wi-Fi, Full implementation of all chess rules, Cross-device compatibility (iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc.), Accessibility features (VoiceOver, high contrast)

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hex Chess free?

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

### Is Chess by Staple Games free?

Chess by Staple Games is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hex Chess or Chess by Staple Games?

Hex Chess is rated higher. Hex Chess averages 5.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Chess by Staple Games averages 4.7 from 6 ratings.

### Do Hex Chess or Chess by Staple Games have ads?

Neither Hex Chess nor Chess by Staple Games shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hex Chess or Chess by Staple Games?

Hex Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, and Chess by Staple Games every 5 months. Most recently, Hex Chess was updated on November 12, 2026 and Chess by Staple Games on November 9, 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.*