# Chess Lab vs ChessMate

The clearest difference is ads: ChessMate at none against Chess Lab's shown. ChessMate also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). Chess Lab's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess Lab sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and ChessMate sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chess Lab ships an update every 4 days, ChessMate every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Lab | ChessMate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 64 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [koji ozono](https://appshunter.io/developer/1826482515) | [Wolf Technologies Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893245521) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess Lab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-lab-arasan-ai-engine/id6757245101)

Analyze chess games with a powerful AI engine, practice against 30 difficulty levels, or watch live top-tier matches. Save and replay games, import PGNs, and customize your board view for a premium experience.

**Highlights:** AI-powered game analysis, 30 difficulty levels for CPU play, Local 2-player mode, Lichess spectating with channel selection, Save and replay games, PGN import, Customizable 2D/2.5D board views

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chess Lab Pro | $2.99 | one-time |


### ChessMate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessmate-master-chess/id6762457428)

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gold Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Platinum Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Diamond Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Gold Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Platinum Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Diamond Yearly | $99.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Lab free?

Chess Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ChessMate free?

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

### Do Chess Lab or ChessMate have ads?

Chess Lab shows ads; ChessMate does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess Lab or ChessMate?

Chess Lab ships an update every 4 days, and ChessMate every 2 weeks. Most recently, Chess Lab was updated on November 8, 2026 and ChessMate on October 31, 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.*