Comparison

Heatmap Chess vs ZenAIya Chess

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

Head to head
About

Heatmap Chess

Features
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Heatmap.Chess teaches you to read a chess board the way grandmasters do — as a map of control, not a list of pieces. EVERY NUMBER IS A THREAT Each square shows how many pieces want to attack it. A "3" means three pieces are converging on that square. Drop your dock pieces in the right places, and every correct placement cools the heat by one. Get all numbers to zero — puzzle solved. WHAT'S INSIDE • Hand-crafted themed rooms with graduated difficulty • Fresh daily puzzles — keep your streak alive • Heart system + combo bonuses • Cross-device sync — pick up where you left off • Quiet, focused dark UI built for one hand • One-time purchase removes ads + unlocks every room SHARPEN YOUR CHESS VISION No openings to memorize, no notation to decode. You start seeing what grandmasters see when they sit down at a board — the geometry of attacks. A training tool for beginners and experienced players alike. DESIGNED FOR FOCUS No social feeds. No leaderboards screaming at you. Just numbers, pieces, and the small satisfaction of every count dropping to zero.

About

ZenAIya Chess

Master chess with an AI coach that provides real-time tactical advice and in-depth post-game analysis. Learn from your mistakes with interactive replays and explore alternative strategies. Play at five difficulty levels, from beginner to master.

Highlights
  • Real-time AI coaching
  • Post-game analysis
  • Interactive replay with feedback
  • Five difficulty levels
  • Strategy assessments (Pro)
  • Competitive clock modes (Pro)
Features
Read full description

Master chess with Zenaiya, the revolutionary AI coach that guides you in real-time. Whether you are learning how the pieces move or practicing advanced middle-game tactics, Zenaiya is right there beside you, analyzing every move and explaining the "why" behind the game. REAL-TIME AI COACHING: Chat directly with Zenaiya during the game for tactical advice. Ask why a move is bad, or how to escape a pin! POST-GAME ANALYSIS: Don't just see your blunders - understand them. Zenaiya breaks down your game into an interactive replay, highlighting key turning points. Chat with your AI coach at any move to get dynamic, personalized feedback and explore alternative strategies! PLAY AT YOUR LEVEL: Play against a fully adaptive opponent. Select your exact desired Elo rating (from 400 to 2800) and watch Zenaiya organically adjust her playstyle to match your skill level. UPGRADE TO ZENAIYA PRO: Take your training to the next level with our premium subscription: • Strategy Assessments: Our AI analyzes patterns across your recent games to uncover your unique weaknesses and playing style, giving you a personalized roadmap to improvement. • Competitive Clocks: Practice for real-world tournaments with professional FIDE time controls, including Bullet, Blitz, and Rapid increments. • Unlimited Ad-Free Play: Never see another ad. • Infinite Analysis: Unlock unlimited post-game AI reviews. • Premium Aesthetics: Access exclusive board themes like Obsidian Glass and Walnut Wood. Terms of Use: https://zenaiya.com/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://zenaiya.com/privacy.html

Screenshots

Heatmap Chess4 screens
ZenAIya Chess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: ZenAIya Chess at every 5 days against Heatmap Chess's every 2 months. Heatmap Chess's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Heatmap Chess sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and ZenAIya Chess sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Heatmap Chess ships an update every 2 months, ZenAIya Chess every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Heatmap Chess versus ZenAIya Chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHeatmap ChessZenAIya Chess
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.4 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB130 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperUtku KucuSHAMIK NARENDRA DESAI

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Heatmap Chess

One-time1
  • Unlock Everything$4.99
2 purchases

ZenAIya Chess

Subscriptions2
  • ZenAIya Chess Pro$1.991 Month
  • ZenAIya Chess Pro$14.991 Year

Questions

Is Heatmap Chess free?
Heatmap Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ZenAIya Chess free?
ZenAIya Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Heatmap Chess or ZenAIya Chess have ads?
Both Heatmap Chess and ZenAIya Chess show ads.
Which is updated more often, Heatmap Chess or ZenAIya Chess?
Heatmap Chess ships an update every 2 months, and ZenAIya Chess every 5 days. Most recently, Heatmap Chess was updated on October 25, 2026 and ZenAIya Chess on October 24, 2026.

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