Comparison

Checkmate IRL vs Manifest Lock

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

Head to head
About

Checkmate IRL

Connect with local chess players and venues to play in person. Track your games with a digital clock, build your rating, and organize tournaments. Enjoy daily puzzles and a trophy case for your achievements.

Highlights
  • Find nearby chess venues and players
  • Digital chess clock with customizable time controls
  • Glicko-based rating system
  • Organize tournaments and events
  • Daily chess puzzles
  • Track friend head-to-head records
  • Create and manage clubs
Features
Read full description

chess in real life is better. across a real board, against someone sitting opposite you. checkmate irl is where that chess lives. find the cafés, clubs and parks near you, see who is down to play, then let the chess clock save every game and turn it into a rating that's yours. built for the board, not the screen. nearby: places and people a map-first view of the chess around you. 2,500+ venues in 60+ countries, from cafés and clubs to parks and play spots, with photos, ratings and comments, and the players nearby. down to play flag that you want a game at a venue right now, and see who else is up for it near you. message, then play direct messages between players, with a request-a-game action built into the chat. see someone down to play, then lock it in. the clock a full chess clock: bullet, blitz, rapid, classical, or your own time control. one-tap quick start, automatic move counting, and your opponent confirms the result so your record stays honest. works fully offline. your rating a real, algorithm-backed rating from every game you play, built on the glicko system, with your full rating history laid out in detail. show your online and fide ratings on your profile too. every rival, remembered add friends and keep a head-to-head record against each one. see their games in your feed, and settle it next time you sit down. clubs create venue clubs tied to your local spot, or social clubs for your friends and city crew. public or private, with announcements, leaderboards and member roles. tournaments and events run real events from your phone: swiss-style tournaments with automatic pairings, or casual open-play meetups. live standings, and results that count toward your rating like any other game. daily puzzle a fresh mate-in-2 or mate-in-3 every day, with hints, a full solution and your own puzzle rating. works offline too. streaks and trophy case a streak that counts the weeks you actually play at the board, plus a trophy case for the badges you earn along the way. share post shareable result cards for your games and tournaments to instagram, whatsapp and more. checkmate irl is where your real chess lives: every place, every rival, every game. terms of use: https://checkmateirl.com/terms-of-service privacy policy: https://checkmateirl.com/privacy-policy

About

Manifest Lock

Features
Read full description

manifest lock helps you interrupt mindless scrolling with a short manifestation ritual before opening distracting apps. choose the apps you want to protect, complete personalized affirmations, and unlock earned screen time with intention. use manifest lock to: - protect social apps with screen time controls - build a daily affirmation habit - reconnect with your future self before you scroll - track earned app time and stay consistent manifest lock uses apple screen time and family controls permissions only for the apps you choose to protect. Subscriptions are auto-renewable. By subscribing, you agree to the Apple Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://manifest-lock.vercel.app/privacy

Screenshots

Checkmate IRL4 screens
Manifest Lock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Manifest Lock at every 2 days against Checkmate IRL's every 8 days. Checkmate IRL's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Checkmate IRL sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Manifest Lock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Checkmate IRL ships an update every 8 days, Manifest Lock every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Checkmate IRL versus Manifest Lock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCheckmate IRLManifest Lock
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (8 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings8 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB30 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperLucas SchaubelEmanuele Ludovico Ungaro

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Checkmate IRL

Subscriptions2
  • CheckmateIRL Pro$4.991 Month
  • CheckmateIRL Pro$39.991 Year
3 purchases

Manifest Lock

Subscriptions3
  • Manifest Lock Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Manifest Lock Monthly$7.991 Month
  • Manifest Lock Yearly$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Checkmate IRL free?
Checkmate IRL is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Manifest Lock free?
Manifest Lock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Checkmate IRL or Manifest Lock have ads?
Neither Checkmate IRL nor Manifest Lock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Checkmate IRL or Manifest Lock?
Checkmate IRL ships an update every 8 days, and Manifest Lock every 2 days. Most recently, Checkmate IRL was updated on October 30, 2026 and Manifest Lock on October 24, 2026.

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