Comparison

portablechess vs Koch

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

Head to head
About

portablechess

Features
Read full description

PortableChess is a clean, touch-first chess app built for real play on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Designed for small and large screens alike, the board stays front and center so moves are easy, fast, and accurate. Key features: • Full chess rules, including castling, en passant, promotion, checkmate, stalemate, threefold repetition, and 50-move draw rule. • Large, readable board layout optimized for direct touch control. • Smart legal-move highlighting and capture indicators. • Hint Mode powered by built-in analysis for practical move suggestions. • Play against AI with 4 difficulty levels, or play locally in pass-and-play style. • Undo support and SAN move history for easy review. • Multiple board themes and board orientation options. • Apple Watch focused controls, including long-press quick menu access. • Built-in opening lessons on Apple Watch based on classic game lines. PortableChess is made for fast daily games, focused practice, and comfortable chess play anywhere. No account required.

About

Koch

Features
Read full description

Koch-Chess is a feature-rich chess app built for players of all levels. Play Your Way Challenge the built-in engine at 5 difficulty levels (D8 to D20), play online against friends, or sit back and watch engine vs engine battles unfold. Learn & Improve Explore 9 chess openings with guided lessons, including the Sicilian Defense, Italian Game, King's Indian, and more. Train & Practice Sharpen your skills with dedicated practice and training modes designed to build pattern recognition and tactical awareness. Clean, Fast Interface A distraction-free board with smooth controls, multiple themes, and a layout designed for mobile play. Features Solo play vs AI engine (5 depth levels) Online multiplayer with invite links Engine vs Engine watch mode 9 opening lessons with move guides Practice and training modes Multiple board themes Geo and Animal themed piece sets

Screenshots

portablechess4 screens
Koch3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Koch at 15.1 against portablechess's 26.2. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 4 level
portablechess versus Koch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterportablechessKoch
PriceFreeFree
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS26.215.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB43 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperINKWANG KIMitch koch

In-app purchases

None

portablechess

No in-app purchases

None

Koch

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is portablechess free?
portablechess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Koch free?
Koch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do portablechess or Koch have ads?
Neither portablechess nor Koch shows ads.

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