# PGN Trainer vs PatternForge

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | PGN Trainer | PatternForge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pgn-trainer-chess-openings/id6757391707/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patternforge-chess-tactics/id6760562677/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 121 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Smart World Innovations LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1866576406) | [ZYAGA LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1860895535) |

## What reviewers say

### PGN Trainer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pgn-trainer-chess-openings/id6757391707)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| QueenBeak | $7.99 | per year |
| KnightBeak | $5.99 | one-time |
| KingBeak | $19.99 | one-time |


### PatternForge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patternforge-chess-tactics/id6760562677)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Pro Yearly | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*