Comparison

Lifeline Chess vs Kishmat

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

Head to head
About

Lifeline Chess

This app offers a fresh take on chess with unique power-ups called Lifelines. It features real-time multiplayer, custom game creation, bot building, and a tournament system. Sharpen your skills with AI analysis and community-shared puzzles.

Highlights
  • 8 Unique Lifelines
  • Real-Time Multiplayer
  • Create Bots
  • Custom Games & Challenges
  • Tournament System
  • Stockfish 17.1 Analysis
  • Community Puzzles
Features
Read full description

Lifeline Chess brings Chess gameplay to a new level with innovative strategic power-ups called Lifelines while providing a multitude of gameplay creation and community sharing tools. KEY FEATURES: • 8 Unique Lifelines: One time use • Real-Time Multiplayer: Compete against friends • Create Bots: Play against our themed bots or create your own with unique mechanics • Custom Games: Create challenges with your bots to share or play community made games • Tournament System: Compete in Knockout or Swiss-format tournaments • Stockfish 17.1 Analysis: Review your games with full breakdowns • Community Puzzles: Sharpen your skills or make your own to share! • Rematch Clause: Enjoy more series matches • Light, Dark and 80's Modes LIFELINE POWER-UPS: • Pawn Uprising: Move two separate pawns • Best Move: Get computer recommendation • Shield: Protect a piece from capture for 1 turn • Freeze: Opponent piece cannot move for 1 turn • Teleport: Randomly teleport your king to safety • Second Chance: Undo your last move • Revive: Bring back a captured piece as a pawn • Add Time: Plus 30 seconds to your clock GAME MODES: • Matching: Jump into games vs human players • Custom Challenges: Play or design games • Community Made Puzzles: make and share • Sit N Go Tournaments: Swiss-style or Knockout Whether you're looking to improve your chess skills or just have fun with friends, Lifeline Chess offers a fresh take on the classic game while implementing a community style sharing and creation system for all chess aspects. Download now and join the Lifeline Chess Family!

About

Kishmat

Features
Read full description

Kishmat is a chess app for playing on the same iPhone or iPad. Play against another person locally, or switch to Solo mode and play against the built-in computer opponent. The Solo engine searches legal chess moves on the device and shows a live visual of the search while it thinks. You can choose Eco, Mid, or Max power depending on how much time you want the engine to spend per move. No accounts, no tracking, no ads, and no in-app purchases. Features: - Local two-player chess - Single-player Solo mode - Adjustable engine power - Live search visualization - Legal move highlighting - Undo, reset, and board flip - Check, checkmate, and stalemate detection - Castling, en passant, and pawn promotion

Screenshots

Lifeline Chess4 screens
Kishmat1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Kishmat at none against Lifeline Chess's 1. Lifeline Chess's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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. Lifeline Chess sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Kishmat asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Lifeline Chess versus Kishmat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLifeline ChessKishmat
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB2 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperMichael TillmanArash Parnia

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Lifeline Chess

One-time1
  • Lifeline Chess Full Game$3.99
None

Kishmat

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lifeline Chess free?
Lifeline Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Kishmat free?
Kishmat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lifeline Chess or Kishmat have ads?
Neither Lifeline Chess nor Kishmat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lifeline Chess or Kishmat?
Lifeline Chess ships an update every 4 days, and Kishmat every 4 days. Most recently, Lifeline Chess was updated on October 24, 2026 and Kishmat on October 8, 2026.

Other comparisons