Comparison

Shogi vs Shogi Vault

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

Head to head
About

Shogi

Features
Read full description

A simple, easy-to-use shogi clock. Set the main time and byoyomi, then enjoy your game with a large, clear clock display. • Main time from 0 to 180 minutes • Byoyomi from 0 to 60 seconds, in 5-second increments • Spoken byoyomi countdown • Tap your clock after each move to switch turns • Touch and hold the pause button to return to settings • Supports Japanese, English, French, Simplified Chinese, and German • Available for iPhone and iPad Set the main time to 0 to start directly in byoyomi. Set byoyomi to 0 to play without overtime: running out of main time ends the game. How to play Choose the main time and byoyomi, then tap Set. Tap either clock to start the opposite clock. After making your move, tap your own clock to pass the turn to your opponent. On-screen text and spoken announcements follow the app’s language setting.

About

Shogi Vault

This app provides AI-powered analysis for your Shogi games, helping you review moves, build opening research, and solve tactical problems. It features an on-device engine for privacy and offline use, with options to sync data across devices.

Highlights
  • AI game analysis
  • On-device AI engine
  • Variation tree with comments
  • Import/export game formats
  • Tsume shogi and endgame study
  • Optional account sync
Features
Read full description

Shogi Vault is a shogi (Japanese chess) study app for reviewing your games and building opening research with an on-device AI engine. Note: the app's interface is in Japanese. - AI game analysis Import your games and analyze every move. Good moves, dubious moves and blunders are marked automatically on the move tree and the evaluation graph. - Fully on-device AI The YaneuraOu engine with the Suisho5 evaluation runs on your device. No network connection is needed, and positions and games are never sent out for analysis. Pro users can switch to stronger evaluation functions. - Variation tree Record unlimited variations from any position, compare them, add comments and pick up your research where you left off. - Import and export Supports KIF, KI2, CSA and SFEN, including games with variations. Imported games are sorted into folders by opening automatically. - Tsume shogi and endgame study Analyze tsume and hisshi problems with the on-device engine. - Optional account sync Sign in with Apple or email to sync settings, research and games across devices. Without signing in, all data stays on your device. - Privacy Only when you sign in, your email address and research/game data are stored on the server for syncing. The ad network may collect data for the rewarded ads in the AI battle screen. Usage and crash information is sent to improve the app (game and research contents are not sent; you can turn this off in Settings). - Open-source engine The bundled shogi engines are licensed under GPLv3. The corresponding source code of the engine integration is available at: https://github.com/irep-takeshi-maya/shogi-vault-gpl-source - Pro plan (auto-renewable subscription) Monthly and yearly auto-renewable subscriptions and a one-time purchase are available. Prices are shown in the app. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and are charged to your Apple ID account. You can cancel from your Apple ID subscription settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://irep-takeshi-maya.github.io/shogi-vault-gpl-source/privacy.html

Screenshots

Shogi4 screens
Shogi Vault4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shogi at none against Shogi Vault's 1. Shogi also leads on ads (none vs shown). Shogi Vault's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Shogi Vault sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Shogi asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shogi ships an update every 4 months, Shogi Vault every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 4 level
Shogi versus Shogi Vault: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShogiShogi Vault
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews—66.7% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB129 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYuta Tairatakeshi maya

In-app purchases

None

Shogi

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Shogi Vault

One-time1
  • 将棋Vault Pro(買い切り)$24.99

Questions

Is Shogi free?
Shogi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shogi Vault free?
Shogi Vault is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Shogi or Shogi Vault have ads?
Shogi Vault shows ads; Shogi does not.
Which is updated more often, Shogi or Shogi Vault?
Shogi ships an update every 4 months, and Shogi Vault every 4 days. Most recently, Shogi was updated on October 31, 2026 and Shogi Vault on November 10, 2026.

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