Comparison

PatternForge vs MainLine

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

Head to head
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

About

MainLine

This app helps improve your chess skills by focusing on pattern recognition. It uses spaced repetition to reinforce tactical motifs and endgame ideas, allowing you to create interactive drills from your own games to remember what matters most.

Highlights
  • Spaced repetition for pattern recall
  • Interactive drills from own games
  • Import Chess.com & Lichess games
  • Tactics, endgame, and puzzle training
  • Daily reminders and progress tracking
  • Daily puzzle challenges
Features
Read full description

MainLine is a chess trainer built for pattern recognition. Use spaced repetition to remember tactical motifs, endgame ideas, and positions from your own games instead of rereading them and forgetting them. Import your Chess.com or Lichess games, find the mistakes and recurring themes that cost you points, and turn them into short interactive drills you can review in minutes. Why players use MainLine: - Spaced repetition that surfaces the patterns you're most likely to forget - Interactive drills that build fast recall on the board - Game import from Chess.com and Lichess for targeted review - Training for tactics, endgames, puzzle themes, and critical lines - Daily reminders, streaks, and progress tracking - Challenge yourself with daily puzzles Whether you're sharpening tactical awareness, improving pattern recognition, or making game review more useful, MainLine helps you remember what matters. Download MainLine and turn review into stronger chess instincts. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

PatternForge4 screens
MainLine4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: PatternForge at none against MainLine's shown. PatternForge also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). MainLine's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. PatternForge sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and MainLine sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PatternForge holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PatternForge ships an update every 2 days, MainLine weekly. Both last shipped on October 2, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PatternForge versus MainLine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPatternForgeMainLine
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings13 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterWeekly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZYAGA LLCBenjamin Boucher

Customer experience

PatternForge

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

MainLine

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

PatternForge

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

MainLine

Subscriptions2
  • MainLine Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • MainLine Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$69.991 Year

Questions

Is PatternForge free?
PatternForge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MainLine free?
MainLine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PatternForge or MainLine?
PatternForge is rated higher. PatternForge averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while MainLine averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.
Do PatternForge or MainLine have ads?
MainLine shows ads; PatternForge does not.
Which is updated more often, PatternForge or MainLine?
PatternForge ships an update every 2 days, and MainLine weekly. Most recently, PatternForge was updated on October 2, 2026 and MainLine on October 2, 2026.

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