# ChessLock vs CHESS/BLOCK

The clearest difference is monetization model: ChessLock at freemium against CHESS/BLOCK's subscription. ChessLock also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). CHESS/BLOCK's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ChessLock sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and CHESS/BLOCK sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CHESS/BLOCK holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.

ChessLock ships an update fortnightly, CHESS/BLOCK every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ChessLock | CHESS/BLOCK |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesslock-screen-time-control/id6744930081/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessblock-screen-time/id6811248457/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Size | 51 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Patricio Guzman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1707843725) | [Ankur Gupta LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6779024951) |

## What reviewers say

### ChessLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesslock-screen-time-control/id6744930081)

This app helps you control screen time by blocking distracting applications. Users must solve chess puzzles to earn breaks, combining focus techniques with brain-training challenges for enhanced productivity. It prioritizes user privacy with local data storage and anonymous analytics.

**Highlights:** App blocking during focus sessions, Solve chess puzzles to pause, Brain-training challenges, Unlimited focus sessions (Pro), Customizable puzzle difficulty (Pro), Private by design, no data collection

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chesslock Pro | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Chesslock Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Chesslock Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Chesslock Pro | $17.49 | one-time |
| Chesslock Pro | $34.99 | one-time |


### CHESS/BLOCK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessblock-screen-time/id6811248457)

Block distracting apps and earn back screen time by playing chess puzzles. Personalized lessons and puzzles adapt to your skill level, helping you focus on what matters. Manage your app usage and improve your chess game simultaneously.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps, Earn screen time with chess puzzles, Personalized chess lessons, Adaptive puzzle difficulty, Integrates with Apple Screen Time, No account required

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CHESS/BLOCK Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| CHESS/BLOCK Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual Launch Offer | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ChessLock free?

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

### Is CHESS/BLOCK free?

CHESS/BLOCK is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ChessLock or CHESS/BLOCK?

CHESS/BLOCK is rated higher. ChessLock averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while CHESS/BLOCK averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do ChessLock or CHESS/BLOCK have ads?

Neither ChessLock nor CHESS/BLOCK shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ChessLock or CHESS/BLOCK?

ChessLock ships an update fortnightly, and CHESS/BLOCK every 5 weeks. Most recently, ChessLock was updated on November 13, 2026 and CHESS/BLOCK on November 6, 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.*