# Chess by Staple Games vs Decoder Terminal

The clearest difference is ads: Chess by Staple Games at none against Decoder Terminal's shown. Chess by Staple Games also leads on device support (6 vs 1). Decoder Terminal's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 5 months). On price, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Chess by Staple Games ships an update every 5 months, Decoder Terminal daily. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess by Staple Games | Decoder Terminal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-by-staple-games/id6756031740/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 8 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Staple Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454538415) | [Twinning Trails LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1853666666) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess by Staple Games

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-by-staple-games/id6756031740)

Experience classic chess with a beautifully crafted app designed for all Apple devices. Enjoy solo practice against AI, local multiplayer, or online matches. Features include all official rules, accessibility options, and progress tracking.

**Highlights:** AI challenges with 6 difficulty levels, Pass & Play for local face-to-face games, Online multiplayer via Game Center, Local wireless play over Bluetooth/Wi-Fi, Full implementation of all chess rules, Cross-device compatibility (iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc.), Accessibility features (VoiceOver, high contrast)

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases:** none


### Decoder Terminal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decoder-terminal/id6777221949)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess by Staple Games free?

Chess by Staple Games is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Decoder Terminal free?

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

### Do Chess by Staple Games or Decoder Terminal have ads?

Decoder Terminal shows ads; Chess by Staple Games does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess by Staple Games or Decoder Terminal?

Chess by Staple Games ships an update every 5 months, and Decoder Terminal daily. Most recently, Chess by Staple Games was updated on October 13, 2026 and Decoder Terminal on September 22, 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.*