Comparison

SmallFish Chess for Stockfish vs ChessMatch2

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SmallFish Chess for Stockfish

This chess application leverages the powerful Stockfish engine to help you analyze your games, study strategic thinking, and track your progress. It offers detailed game reviews, graphical evaluations, and access to opening books and endgame tablebases.

Highlights
  • Blunder checking
  • Multiple line analysis
  • Graphical game evaluation
  • Endgame tablebase
  • Opening books
  • Import from Chess.com and Lichess
  • Dark mode support
Features
Read full description

SmallFish is a project based on the Stockfish chess engine. It uses the latest Stockfish chess engine (Stockfish 19), rated about Elo 3600+ and is the strongest chess app on the App Store. SmallFish offers you three distinct ways to improve your game. You can review your game with comments, or study how Stockfish thinks, or track your progress. No in-app purchase, no ads, no data tracking. SmallFish is simply amazing. It's small but powerful, you'll be surprised. Features --------- - Blunder checking - Multiple line analysis - Graphical evaluation of your game - Game previews - Dark mode support - Endgame tablebase - Opening books - Import from Chess.com and Lichess Why not just download and try it yourself?

About

ChessMatch2

Engage in real-time or correspondence chess matches remotely. Replay games with variable speed and interactive annotation, or practice speed chess with adjustable time delays. Features over 230 annotated matches and openings.

Highlights
  • Remote real-time chess via FaceTime screen sharing
  • Correspondence chess via text or email
  • Variable speed annotated match replay
  • Fully interactive chessboard with Z-Override
  • Over 230 annotated matches and openings
  • Adjustable time delay for speed chess practice
Features
Read full description

>>>Welcome to ChessMatch2++ -> Chess Club of Champions!!~ ->Featuring VARIABLE SPEED Annotated Match REPLAY & Fully INTERACTIVE Chessboard w/ Z-Override -Play Chess REMOTELY in Real-Time via FaceTime Screen Sharing from ANYWHERE in the Entire WORLD!~ FaceTime Chess!! -> to Play Chess via FaceTime Screen Sharing: [Connect via FaceTime] -> [Select "SHARE MY SCREEN" Option] -> [Press NEW Button] -> [Create New Annotated MOVES LIST Match] or [Tap Chess Pieces to MOVE] >>> it's so EASY!~ -Play CORRESPONDENCE Chess via TextMessage or Email -> w/ Algebraic Notation Match Moves Lists or by using GALLERY of Chessboards ->With Over 230+ Annotated Matches & Chess Openings Included, there is Plenty of Room to Grow [Press GAMES -> Select a Match -> Press REPLAY to Move the Chess Pieces Automatically!~ ] 1) GAMES -> ALGEBRAIC NOTATION Play:......COPY & PASTE Entire Chess Matches into the "MATCH MOVES LIST" ****Tap "LOAD" button to Update MOVES List Changes ****Use "Qa1c3Z" notation style to OVERRIDE Normal Play......add or remove ANY Chess pieces.....Intended for Use by PROMOTED PAWNS....add a "Z" ***Navigate Match MOVES using Forwards & Backwards --> ARROW Buttons......Tap "GALLERY" Button to EXIT REPLAY Mode ******Go FAST, Go Slow or even Go Backwards!~ 2) GALLERY of Chessboards......just like a REAL Chess Set........just TAP "FROM" Square & "TO" Square ***to SAVE Progress -> Press COPY....*GALLERY Chessboards RETURN to ORIGINAL Mint Condition on Exit ***Navigate Stored CHESS GAMES using ARROW Buttons ......Add Pieces by Tapping Mountain for MENU -> MOUNTAIN Menu (Icon) -> REPLAY Variable Speed Adjust (ex. 0.089) / SILENT Option / Purple & Red Pieces for Manual Chessboard Demonstrations -ChessMatch2 is Designed to use Standard FIDE Formatting....[*Z-Override for PAWNs which have been PROMOTED] **Q = Queen, K = King, B = Bishop, R = Rook, N = Knight & (P = Pawn for Z-Override Moves) **Promoted Pawn Pieces use the simple “Qa1c3Z” format -> [Chess Piece + SquareOne + SquareTwo + Z] -MATCH NOTES TextField is Provided for COMMENTARY Purposes ONLY & Plays NO ROLE in Actually Moving the Chess Pieces  -Practice Speed Chess Decision Making & Convenience with ADJUSTABLE Time Delay REPLAY (located in Mountain Menu) **If a Chess Piece is NOT Moving…or is Coming Back to Life…..check for NOTATION Formatting Error or Match Rule Breaking issue ***Common Notation MIstakes: 1) not including “x” in Qxd3 -> when Capturing a Piece, 2) Illegal Move without Using Z-Override -> Pawn Moving too many Squares / Knight moving to illegal Square / Row Numbering 1 - 8 / etc ***Common Wrong Piece Moved Issue: Two Knights & Two Rooks OVERLAP -> If Both Knights or Both Rooks can Legally Move to the Square, just Add Initial ROW or COLUMN Designator to Specify Desired ACTIVE Chess Piece -> ex. Rxdb3 or Rx4b3   ->To Force an illegal Chess Move, use the Qb3d5Z style OVERRIDE method provided….ChessMatch2 is great for Special Demonstrations & Student Instruction -> for iPads: ADVANCE Chess Pieces by Tapping the Left & Right Edges of the Screen when Enjoying an Annotated ChessMatch in LANDSCAPE Mode! **Playing via MOVES LIST MATCH is Recommended -> [Modify MOVES LIST] -> [Press LOAD Button] -> [Press REPLAY Button] -> [Enjoy!] -> [Repeat] **to Adjust Annotated Match REPLAY Speed: [Press GAMES] -> [Press OPTIONS] -> [Scroll Down & Press "Mountain MENU"] -> [Modify Decimal Number -> Smaller is Faster!] -> [Press REPLAY] ***During a Moves List Match, ALL of the Chess Pieces can be Moved or Modified without Interfering with the Match -> this makes ChessMatch2 Perfect for Demonstrations / Departures / Practice / & LEARNING -> or even Do-Over's!~ -> Chess CLOCK -> Fischer Increment / Bronstein Delay / Sudden Chess / & US Delay! -> [GAMES] -> [OPTIONS] -> [Chess CLOCK] -> the Chessboard dates back to the 1600s & the Oldest Match is from 1475 ----------> ChessMatch2 is your BEST MOVE!++

Screenshots

SmallFish Chess for Stockfish4 screens
ChessMatch24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: SmallFish Chess for Stockfish at 4.5K against ChessMatch2's 1. SmallFish Chess for Stockfish also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days) and chart position (#22 vs unranked). ChessMatch2's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $4.99) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

SmallFish Chess for Stockfish costs $4.99 and ChessMatch2 $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ChessMatch2 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmallFish Chess for Stockfish has 4.5K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SmallFish Chess for Stockfish ships an update every 3 days, ChessMatch2 every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
SmallFish Chess for Stockfish versus ChessMatch2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmallFish Chess for StockfishChessMatch2
Price$4.99$0.99 — better
Rating4.8 (4.5K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews79.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings4.5K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#22 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size195 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTed WongJack McCormack

Customer experience

SmallFish Chess for Stockfish

All ratings4,546 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral2.0%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews608 reviews
Positive79.1%
Neutral7.1%
Negative13.8%

ChessMatch2

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

SmallFish Chess for Stockfish

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when setting up positions
  • Incorrect move suggestions and engine evaluations
  • Freezing and unresponsiveness during gameplay
  • Issues with board and coordinate display alignment

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for variations and multiple analysis lines
  • Implement a two-player mode with piece flipping
  • Add PGN file sorting, searching, and folder support
  • Provide an option to hide the board and show captured pieces
  • Integrate with chess.com and other platforms

ChessMatch2

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

SmallFish Chess for Stockfish

No in-app purchases

None

ChessMatch2

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SmallFish Chess for Stockfish free?
SmallFish Chess for Stockfish costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ChessMatch2 free?
ChessMatch2 costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SmallFish Chess for Stockfish or ChessMatch2?
ChessMatch2 is rated higher. SmallFish Chess for Stockfish averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4.5K ratings, while ChessMatch2 averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do SmallFish Chess for Stockfish or ChessMatch2 have ads?
Neither SmallFish Chess for Stockfish nor ChessMatch2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SmallFish Chess for Stockfish or ChessMatch2?
SmallFish Chess for Stockfish ships an update every 3 days, and ChessMatch2 every 9 days. Most recently, SmallFish Chess for Stockfish was updated on November 9, 2026 and ChessMatch2 on November 7, 2026.

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