# janvo vs Dark Squares

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: janvo at none against Dark Squares's 1. janvo also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). Dark Squares's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.4). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dark Squares sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. janvo asks for nothing beyond the download.

janvo ships an update every 3 days, Dark Squares weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | janvo | Dark Squares |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-squares/id6773081437/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 102 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ARC LAB LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1858767099) | [Avi Kremer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896394329) |

## What reviewers say

### janvo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/janvo/id6756155611)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Dark Squares

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-squares/id6773081437)

Experience chess with a magical twist. Arm your pieces with weapons and spells to outmaneuver opponents. Win by capturing the king in this strategic, fast-paced adaptation.

**Highlights:** Real chess mechanics, Weapon and spell loadouts, King capture victory condition, Play friends online, Play against AI, Ranked online duels, Unlock and upgrade weapons

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dark Squares Pro | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is janvo free?

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

### Is Dark Squares free?

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

### Do janvo or Dark Squares have ads?

janvo shows ads; Dark Squares does not.

### Which is updated more often, janvo or Dark Squares?

janvo ships an update every 3 days, and Dark Squares weekly. Most recently, janvo was updated on September 30, 2026 and Dark Squares on October 15, 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.*