Comparison

PGN Trainer vs PatternForge

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PGN Trainer

Master chess openings with a personalized repertoire builder. Organize, search, and train your lines using spaced repetition and engine analysis. Syncs across devices for on-the-go learning.

Highlights
  • Build and organize custom chess opening repertoires
  • Import PGN files or use built-in libraries
  • Advanced search by move sequence, ECO name, or number
  • Study, train, and analyze with engine integration
  • Spaced repetition for memory training
  • Cloud sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Features
Read full description

As an adult improver who reached a 2100+ rating in my 50s, I founded PGN Trainer to solve my own problem: I needed a better way to truly master my openings without relying on expensive, proprietary courses. By building and training my custom repertoire with these exact tools, I shattered my plateau and raised my rating by over 300 points. Whether you are a young club player crafting your first set of openings or a veteran organizing deep theoretical preparation, this is the all-in-one tool designed to help you do the exact same thing. BUILD & ORGANIZE YOUR LIBRARY • Create Your Way: Import your own PGN files, analyze and build a repertoire from the ground up, or download from our rich built-in library of effective, popular openings. • Tailored to You: Find downloadable studies that perfectly match your playing level (Intermediate, Advanced, or Master) and your personal style (whether you prefer Dominating attacks or Solid/Defensive setups). • Total Control: Reorganize your library effortlessly. Separate files, merge repertoires together, or edit and expand your lines directly using deep engine analysis. ADVANCED SEARCH & DISCOVERY • Find Any Line: Search your entire library by specific move sequences, official ECO names (e.g., "Sicilian"), or ECO numbers (e.g., "B90"). • Spotty Search: Use wildcard "spotty" moves to skip moves in your search and easily find transpositions. • Position Matching: Instantly search your custom repertoire for matching positions while you are analyzing your actual, real-world games. STUDY, TRAIN, AND ANALYZE • Three Seamless Modes: Effortlessly surf between Studying the theory, Training your memory, and Analyzing with the engine—all in one fluid experience to enhance your learning. • Spaced Repetition: Train your customized lines using smart spaced repetitions, ensuring you focus your time exactly on the variations you struggle to remember. • Active Learning: Play your prepared responses directly against the engine so you are fully prepared when you sit down at the board. GENEROUS FREE TIER & CLOUD SYNC • Truly Free for Most Players: Enjoy access to intermediate libraries, full study modes, and active training completely for free. We only require a premium upgrade for massive, master-level studies containing more than 2,000 total moves. • iCloud Sync: Your complete opening library syncs automatically across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Build a study on your Mac, and train it on your iPhone during your commute! Stop renting your chess knowledge. Build your ultimate repertoire, train your exact lines, and step up to the board with total confidence. Download PGN Trainer today! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://chesspgntrainer.smartworldinnovations.com/privacy-policy

About

PatternForge

This app uses spaced repetition to help you master chess tactics. Solve puzzles adapted to your skill level, review them on a schedule, and import your own games to turn mistakes into training opportunities. Create custom puzzle sets to focus on specific patterns and improve your game.

Highlights
  • Spaced repetition training
  • Adaptive puzzle difficulty
  • Game import from Chess.com/Lichess
  • Custom puzzle sets
  • Theme-based training
  • Progress tracking
Read full description

PatternForge is a chess tactics trainer built around spaced repetition — so patterns actually stick instead of fading after one session. HOW IT WORKS 1. Train — Solve puzzles adapted to your level. Missed puzzles come back until you learn them. 2. Review — Patterns repeat on a schedule so you build automatic recognition. 3. Import — Pull your games from Chess.com or Lichess and turn your real mistakes into training. 4. Build — Create custom puzzle sets from PGNs, studies, or the full puzzle pool. FEATURES · Spaced repetition training · Adaptive puzzle difficulty (Glicko rating) · Game import from Chess.com and Lichess · Custom puzzle sets from PGNs and studies · Woodpecker method cycling · Theme-based training (forks, pins, skewers, and more) · Progress tracking and stats · Lichess puzzle database TRAINING MODES · Standard — Daily training with new and review puzzles · Woodpecker — Cycle through a set with increasing speed Stop grinding random puzzles. Start building real pattern recognition. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://patternforge.app/privacy

Screenshots

PGN Trainer4 screens
PatternForge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: PatternForge at 16.4 against PGN Trainer's 18.0. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PGN Trainer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per year and PatternForge sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for PGN Trainer against 5.0 for PatternForge. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PGN Trainer ships an update every 4 days, PatternForge every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
PGN Trainer versus PatternForge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPGN TrainerPatternForge
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size121 MB58 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmart World Innovations LLCZYAGA LLC

Customer experience

PGN Trainer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

PatternForge

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

PGN Trainer

Subscriptions1
  • QueenBeak$7.991 Year
One-time2
  • KnightBeak$5.99
  • KingBeak$19.99
2 purchases

PatternForge

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly$29.991 Year

Questions

Is PGN Trainer free?
PGN Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PatternForge free?
PatternForge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PGN Trainer or PatternForge?
PGN Trainer and PatternForge are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do PGN Trainer or PatternForge have ads?
Neither PGN Trainer nor PatternForge shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PGN Trainer or PatternForge?
PGN Trainer ships an update every 4 days, and PatternForge every 2 days. Most recently, PGN Trainer was updated on October 12, 2026 and PatternForge on October 2, 2026.

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