# ref vs Chesly

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ref at none against Chesly's 2. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chesly sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. ref asks for nothing beyond the download.

ref ships an update weekly, Chesly every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ref | Chesly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ref-ology/id6747456171/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **9** | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 126 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | +12 |
| Developer | [Ref-ology](https://appshunter.io/developer/1821525658) | [TOMI MARKUS RIKHARD ANSAMAA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1883373016) |

## What reviewers say

### ref

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ref-ology/id6747456171)

This app helps referees master the inner game through reflection, presence, and practice. It offers educational resources, game film breakdowns, and live events to sharpen skills and deepen understanding. Built by officials, for officials, it fosters a community for growth and networking.

**Highlights:** Training videos and game film analysis, Expert breakdowns, Live webinars and mentoring, On-demand sessions, Interactive space for confidence and awareness, Community for questions and feedback

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Chesly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesly/id6760231731)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chesly Plus | $9.99 | per month |
| Chesly Plus | $99.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ref free?

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

### Is Chesly free?

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

### Do ref or Chesly have ads?

Neither ref nor Chesly shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ref or Chesly?

ref ships an update weekly, and Chesly every 4 days. Most recently, ref was updated on October 11, 2026 and Chesly on September 29, 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.*