Comparison

ChessKings vs Chessnut Next

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

Head to head
About

ChessKings

Engage in skill-based chess contests with real money on the line. This platform allows you to challenge friends or compete against others in low-stakes matches for a fun and potentially rewarding experience.

Highlights
  • Peer-to-peer wagering
  • Skill-based contests
  • Real money prizes
  • 3D customizable view
  • Free play option
  • Nightly cash prizes
Features
Read full description

Welcome to the ChessKings Beta, the first peer-to-peer-wagering platform for chess players. ChessKings offers skill-based wagering for all levels. ChessKings’ safe, reliable platform is powered by Lucra Sports, the leader in real money gamification. Challenge your friends or test your skill level in low stakes contests designed for a fun and engaging experience, with real cash on the line. The ChessKings beta features the first peer to peer chess wagering platform, which includes a 3D customizable view and a free play option. Future phases will introduce exciting chess innovations for today’s gamers. ChessKings will feature “Happy Hour” with nightly cash prizes on top of your winnings. Download now and win real money playing chess!

About

Chessnut Next

Enhance your chess experience by connecting a smart board to digitally record moves, play against AI, and analyze games. Offers tactical training, custom position creation, and voice input for hands-free play. Review your games with detailed reports and share your progress.

Highlights
  • Smart board connection
  • Play against chess engines
  • Automatic game recording
  • On-device Stockfish analysis
  • Tactical training and puzzles
  • Board editor and position recognition
  • Voice move input
Features
Read full description

Chessnut Next is the companion app for Chessnut smart chessboards, bringing physical chess and digital tools together in one seamless experience. Connect a compatible Chessnut board to play naturally with real pieces while the app synchronizes positions, records moves, and saves your games automatically. Whether you are playing against a computer, practicing tactics, reviewing a finished game, or playing face-to-face, Chessnut Next helps you get more from every move. Key Features • Smart Board Connection Connect a compatible Chessnut electronic chessboard and synchronize physical positions with the app in real time. • Play Against Chess Engines Challenge computer opponents with different strengths and playing styles using either a physical board or the on-screen board. • Online Chess Support Use a compatible physical board with supported online chess platforms for a more natural playing experience. • Automatic Game Recording Create and save complete PGN records, including moves, players, results, and time information. • Local Stockfish Analysis Review games with on-device Stockfish analysis to explore evaluations, recommended moves, and critical mistakes. • Maia and Personalized Practice Train against human-like chess engines designed to provide realistic play across different skill levels. • Game Review Reports Generate easy-to-understand reports that highlight strong moves, mistakes, turning points, and opportunities to improve. • Puzzles and Tactical Training Improve calculation, pattern recognition, and practical decision-making with chess puzzles and focused exercises. • Board Editor and Position Recognition Create custom positions manually or use supported image-recognition features to extract a chess position from a photo. • Voice Moves In supported game modes, speak origin and destination squares to enter moves hands-free. • Chess Clock and Over-the-Board Play Record face-to-face games and manage player time with compatible Chessnut devices. • Game Library and Sharing Browse saved games, filter records by source, refresh game data, and share games or review results. • Multiple Languages Choose from a range of interface and content languages. From your first move to detailed post-game review, Chessnut Next combines smart-board connectivity, game recording, engine analysis, and training tools in one app.

Screenshots

ChessKings3 screens
Chessnut Next4 screens

Verdict

The call

ChessKings and Chessnut Next are too close to call on the numbers: across 9 compared parameters — price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for ChessKings against 5.0 for Chessnut Next. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 12 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ChessKings ships an update every 10 days, Chessnut Next every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
ChessKings versus Chessnut Next: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessKingsChessnut Next
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings)5.0 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings612 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size141 MB338 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperCK Holdings IncXenx Technology Limited

Customer experience

ChessKings

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Chessnut Next

All ratings12 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

ChessKings

No in-app purchases

None

Chessnut Next

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ChessKings free?
ChessKings is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chessnut Next free?
Chessnut Next is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ChessKings or Chessnut Next?
ChessKings and Chessnut Next are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6 and 12 ratings respectively.
Do ChessKings or Chessnut Next have ads?
Neither ChessKings nor Chessnut Next shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ChessKings or Chessnut Next?
ChessKings ships an update every 10 days, and Chessnut Next every 3 weeks. Most recently, ChessKings was updated on October 7, 2026 and Chessnut Next on October 4, 2026.

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