# StageStar vs Chess Music

The clearest difference is price: StageStar at Free against Chess Music's $1.99. StageStar also leads on ratings volume (133 vs 3) and chart position (#37 vs #131). Chess Music's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.9) and review sentiment (100% vs 58%). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

StageStar is free to download; Chess Music costs $1.99 up front. StageStar sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Chess Music asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess Music holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StageStar has 133 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of StageStar's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chess Music's.

StageStar ships an update every 2 weeks, Chess Music every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | StageStar | Chess Music |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [3.9 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stagestar/id6745702548/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-music/id6764608024/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **133** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 58.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#37** | #131 |
| Size | 161 MB | 99 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Edmond Szabo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813399088) | [Yvz Digital Lab](https://appshunter.io/developer/921581603) |

## What reviewers say

### StageStar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stagestar/id6745702548)

**Currently charting:** #37 Top Grossing · Music, #178 Top Free · Music (US App Store)

Become a music superstar in this immersive artist simulator. Create your artist, write hit songs, interact with fans and rivals, and embark on world tours to achieve global fame. Experience the drama and excitement of the music industry.

**Highlights:** Create your dream artist, Automated Albums system, AI-generated social media posts, Interact with other artists, Build and manage fanbase, Compete and collaborate with rivals, Go on world tours

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| StageStar+ (Monthly) | $6.99 | per month |
| StageStar+ (Annual) | $49.99 | per year |
| Demo Fund | $0.99 | one-time |
| Studio Fund | $2.49 | one-time |
| Campaign Fund | $4.99 | one-time |
| Gift StageStar+ (Annual) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Tour Fund | $9.99 | one-time |
| Era Fund | $19.99 | one-time |
| Gift StageStar+ (Monthly) | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Beautiful UI
- 🚀 Smooth animations
- 🚀 Fast loading times
- 👍 Easy to navigate
- 👍 Love StarTok

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 It takes forever to load
- 🐛 StarTok has too much influence on song performance

**Reported bugs**

- StarTube doesn't seem to be working
- Buggy

**Requested features**

- Add more genres like folk, punk, metal
- Make it harder to gain traction and get big success quickly
- Add flop eras
- Add more streaming platforms
- Improve tour options and make them last more than 1 year


### Chess Music

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-music/id6764608024)

**Currently charting:** #131 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

Control a lone Queen in a turn-based survival game against endless enemy pieces. Each move creates a unique musical melody. Survive as long as possible, chain captures for combos, and collect special tiles for advantages. Watch your runs replay as music and share your creations.

**Highlights:** Endless turn-based survival, Musical gameplay with every move, Chain capture combos, Special power-up tiles, Run replays as music, Shareable video soundtracks

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StageStar free?

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

### Is Chess Music free?

Chess Music costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, StageStar or Chess Music?

Chess Music is rated higher. StageStar averages 3.9 out of 5 from 133 ratings, while Chess Music averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do StageStar or Chess Music have ads?

StageStar shows ads; Chess Music does not.

### Which is updated more often, StageStar or Chess Music?

StageStar ships an update every 2 weeks, and Chess Music every 4 days. Most recently, StageStar was updated on October 24, 2026 and Chess Music on October 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, StageStar or Chess Music?

StageStar currently peaks at #37 in the App Store charts, and Chess Music at #131. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*