Comparison

FirstMoves vs TacticTorch Chess

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

Head to head
About

FirstMoves

Features
Read full description

============================== Master chess openings and take your game to the next level with FirstMoves โ€” the interactive chess opening trainer designed for players of all skill levels. LEARN OPENINGS THE RIGHT WAY Stop memorizing moves you don't understand. FirstMoves teaches you the "why" behind every move with clear explanations that help you remember and apply what you learn in real games. FEATURES โ€ข 50+ Chess Openings โ€” From beginner-friendly openings like the Italian Game and London System to advanced lines like the Sicilian Najdorf and King's Indian Defense. โ€ข Interactive Lessons โ€” Step through each opening move-by-move on a beautiful, responsive chessboard. See the position develop as you learn. โ€ข Move Explanations โ€” Understand the purpose of every move. Learn the ideas, plans, and tactics behind each opening. โ€ข Progress Tracking โ€” Track which openings you've studied and your mastery level. Pick up right where you left off. โ€ข Offline Mode (Premium) โ€” Download openings and study anywhere, even without an internet connection. โ€ข Difficulty Levels โ€” Openings are categorized as Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced so you can find the right challenge. OPENINGS INCLUDED White Openings: โ€ข Italian Game & Giuoco Piano โ€ข Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening) โ€ข Queen's Gambit โ€ข London System โ€ข King's Indian Attack โ€ข English Opening โ€ข And many more... Black Defenses: โ€ข Sicilian Defense (multiple variations) โ€ข French Defense โ€ข Caro-Kann Defense โ€ข King's Indian Defense โ€ข Nimzo-Indian Defense โ€ข Dutch Defense โ€ข And many more... PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION Upgrade to Premium for unlimited access: โ€ข Unlimited study sessions (no daily limits) โ€ข Access to all 50+ openings โ€ข Offline mode โ€” learn anywhere โ€ข Detailed analytics and progress tracking โ€ข Full move explanations for every line SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS โ€ข Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase โ€ข Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period โ€ข Manage and cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings Whether you're preparing for your first tournament or looking to expand your repertoire, FirstMoves helps you build a solid opening foundation. Download now and make your first moves count.

About

TacticTorch Chess

Features
Read full description

TacticTorch Chess helps you build practical chess skills through guided lessons, daily tactics, offline AI practice, friend matches, and focused review. LEARN STEP BY STEP Follow interactive lessons covering rules, tactics, openings, and endgames. Save useful lessons and revisit completed material. SOLVE CHESS TACTICS Work through daily and recommended puzzles, review mistakes, and maintain your training streak. PLAY OFFLINE AGAINST STOCKFISH Practice on iPhone or iPad with the on-device Stockfish engine. Choose a level, request hints, import FEN positions, and continue without depending on a server connection. PLAY WITH FRIENDS Create live rooms or asynchronous correspondence games, invite friends with a room code, and keep track of recent games. REVIEW YOUR GAMES Inspect key moments, export SAN/PGN records, identify tactical themes, and find lessons related to your mistakes. TacticTorch Chess is designed for beginners and improving players who want structured practice in a clean, focused app. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.chesswise.app/privacy

Screenshots

FirstMoves4 screens
TacticTorch Chess3 screens

Verdict

The call

FirstMoves and TacticTorch Chess are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters โ€” price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them โ€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. FirstMoves sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and TacticTorch Chess sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
FirstMoves versus TacticTorch Chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFirstMovesTacticTorch Chess
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyโ€”Every 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size39 MB132 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJEFFREY ROBERT SANCHEZBeijing XingheBit Science & Technology Development Co., Ltd.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

FirstMoves

Subscriptions2
  • FirstMoves Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
  • FirstMoves Premium Yearly$29.991 Year
2 purchases

TacticTorch Chess

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium$7.991 Month
  • Annual Premium$39.991 Year

Questions

Is FirstMoves free?
FirstMoves is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TacticTorch Chess free?
TacticTorch Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do FirstMoves or TacticTorch Chess have ads?
Neither FirstMoves nor TacticTorch Chess shows ads.

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