# MainLine vs Chess Openings

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Chess Openings at 24 against MainLine's 6. MainLine's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MainLine sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Chess Openings sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for MainLine against 4.8 for Chess Openings. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 24 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MainLine | Chess Openings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mainline-chess-trainer/id6761091619/reviews)** | [4.8 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-openings-chessmate/id6780793638/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **24** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 52 MB | 150 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Benjamin Boucher](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887753878) | [wyverselabs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895432648) |

## What reviewers say

### MainLine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mainline-chess-trainer/id6761091619)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MainLine Pro (Monthly) | $7.99 | per month |
| MainLine Pro (Yearly) | $69.99 | per year |


### Chess Openings

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-openings-chessmate/id6780793638)

Master chess openings with interactive practice and clear explanations. Turn opening theory into board memory by studying curated lines and challenging your recall until moves become instinctive. Ideal for online players seeking to solidify their early game strategy.

**Highlights:** Study curated opening lines, Practice from board positions, Review learned lines, Challenge recall, Track repertoire progress, Clear move explanations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chessmate Premium Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Chessmate Premium Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly Offer | $24.49 | per year |
| Chessmate Premium Yearly | $34.99 | per year |
| Chessmate Premium Yearly | $34.99 | per year |
| Chessmate Premium Lifetime | $79.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MainLine free?

MainLine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Chess Openings free?

Chess Openings is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MainLine or Chess Openings?

MainLine is rated higher. MainLine averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Chess Openings averages 4.8 from 24 ratings.

### Do MainLine or Chess Openings have ads?

Both MainLine and Chess Openings show ads.

### Which is updated more often, MainLine or Chess Openings?

MainLine ships an update weekly, and Chess Openings weekly. Most recently, MainLine was updated on November 9, 2026 and Chess Openings on November 10, 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.*