FICSBoard vs Heatmap Chess
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FICSBoard
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FICSBoard is a fast, lightweight chess client for playing live games on the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS), one of the longest-running online chess communities in the world. Play real opponents in real time with a clean, focused interface designed specifically for online chess. FEATURES: • Play live online chess on FICS • Guest and registered account login • Real-time board updates • Players can send and receive text messages through the FICS command console. • Sound effects for moves and game events • Clean, distraction-free interface • Optimized for iPhone and iPad Whether you’re playing casual games or competitive rated matches, FICSBoard gives you a smooth and reliable way to connect and play from anywhere. FICSBoard is an independent client and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS).
Heatmap Chess
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Heatmap.Chess teaches you to read a chess board the way grandmasters do — as a map of control, not a list of pieces. EVERY NUMBER IS A THREAT Each square shows how many pieces want to attack it. A "3" means three pieces are converging on that square. Drop your dock pieces in the right places, and every correct placement cools the heat by one. Get all numbers to zero — puzzle solved. WHAT'S INSIDE • Hand-crafted themed rooms with graduated difficulty • Fresh daily puzzles — keep your streak alive • Heart system + combo bonuses • Cross-device sync — pick up where you left off • Quiet, focused dark UI built for one hand • One-time purchase removes ads + unlocks every room SHARPEN YOUR CHESS VISION No openings to memorize, no notation to decode. You start seeing what grandmasters see when they sit down at a board — the geometry of attacks. A training tool for beginners and experienced players alike. DESIGNED FOR FOCUS No social feeds. No leaderboards screaming at you. Just numbers, pieces, and the small satisfaction of every count dropping to zero.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FICSBoard at none against Heatmap Chess's 1. FICSBoard also leads on ads (none vs shown). Heatmap Chess's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 26.1). On price 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
Both are free to download. Heatmap Chess sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FICSBoard asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | FICSBoard | Heatmap Chess |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 26.1 | 13.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | TONY E CAMPBELL | Utku Kucu |
In-app purchases
FICSBoard
No in-app purchases
Heatmap Chess
- Unlock Everything$4.99
Questions
Is FICSBoard free?
Is Heatmap Chess free?
Do FICSBoard or Heatmap Chess have ads?
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