Chess Lab vs FirstMove
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chess Lab
Engage in chess matches with a powerful AI engine and a user-friendly interface. Offers various game modes including online multiplayer, local play, and AI training. Analyze your games with detailed insights and replay past matches.
- Arasan AI engine for analysis
- Online multiplayer and web invite play
- Offline CPU battles with adjustable strength
- Real-time evaluation and game replays
- Interactive history and PGN import
- 2.5D and 2D board views
- Assistive move highlights
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Chess Lab: Arasan Engine combines a world-class chess engine with a beautiful, intuitive interface. Whether you are a beginner looking to improve or an advanced player seeking serious analysis and competitive matches, this app brings everything together in one place. ▪ Play Instantly with “Web Invite” • No need to ask friends to download the app or create an account. • Generate an invite link, send it, and they can join instantly from any smartphone or PC browser. ▪ Versatile Game Modes • Online Multiplayer: Compete against players worldwide and climb the global leaderboards. • Web Invite Play: Seamless private matches via URL. • Offline CPU Battles: Train against the powerful Arasan with 30 adjustable strength levels. • Local 2-Player: Play face-to-face on a single device. ▪ In-Depth Analysis & Replays • Powered by Arasan: Built-in robust UCI engine delivers highly accurate evaluations and best-move calculations. • Real-Time Evaluation: Monitor the advantage bar and centipawn score/graph during your game. • Interactive History: Replay matches with step-by-step playback, fast-forward, and instant position jumping. • Visualized Insights: Automatically highlights significant evaluation drops (blunders) and color-codes long-thinking moves (Red/Yellow). • PGN Import: Import external game data (PGN). ▪ Premium Board Experience • 2.5D & 2D Views: Switch between an immersive 2.5D perspective and a classic flat board. • Assistive Highlights: Clearly displays legal moves, captures, and checks to help prevent mistakes. • Full Promotion Support: Choose Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight when your pawn reaches the final rank. • Suspend & Resume: Automatically saves unfinished games so you can continue later. • Tactile Feedback: Smooth animations paired with high-quality haptics for a satisfying feel.
FirstMove
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FirstMove : Maîtrisez les ouvertures d'échecs L'application essentielle pour apprendre et perfectionner les ouvertures d'échecs ! FirstMove transforme l'apprentissage en une expérience visuelle et interactive. POUR TOUS LES NIVEAUX Débutant ou expert, FirstMove propose des ouvertures adaptées à votre niveau avec trois catégories : Débutant, Intermédiaire et Maître. FONCTIONNALITÉS - Échiquier interactif avec animations Visualisez chaque coup sur un échiquier élégant avec des animations qui montrent clairement les mouvements. - Navigation intuitive Parcourez les ouvertures coup par coup. Contrôlez la progression avec des boutons simples : précédent, suivant, premier coup, dernier coup. - Catalogue complet d'ouvertures Accédez à des dizaines d'ouvertures classiques, toutes avec leurs codes ECO (Encyclopédie des ouvertures d'échecs). - Descriptions détaillées Chaque ouverture inclut une explication complète de sa stratégie, de son histoire et de ses principes. - Interface moderne Profitez d'une interface élégante et épurée, optimisée pour l'apprentissage. POURQUOI CHOISIR FIRSTMOVE ? Les ouvertures déterminent souvent l'issue d'une partie d'échecs. FirstMove rend cet apprentissage accessible et visuel, que vous prépariez un tournoi ou que vous souhaitiez simplement améliorer votre jeu. Téléchargez FirstMove et donnez-vous les meilleures chances de gagner dès le premier coup !
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FirstMove at none against Chess Lab's 1. FirstMove also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence 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. Chess Lab sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FirstMove asks for nothing beyond the download.
Chess Lab ships an update every 5 days, FirstMove every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chess Lab | FirstMove |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | koji ozono | RedInnov |
In-app purchases
Chess Lab
- Chess Lab Pro$1.99
FirstMove
No in-app purchases









