Comparison

Chess Pro Trainer™ 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

Chess Pro Trainer™

This app enhances tactical vision and calculation in chess through realistic in-game simulations. It teaches players when and how to spot tactical opportunities, unlike traditional puzzle apps. Features include an advanced move evaluation system and various training modules for different aspects of tactical play.

Highlights
  • Realistic in-game tactical simulation
  • Advanced Alternate Acceptable Move system
  • Tactics Recognition Training
  • Genius Training for aggressive play
  • Checks and Coordinated Squares Training
  • Unprotected Pieces Training
  • Stockfish-powered Analysis Board
Features
Read full description

Are you able to solve chess puzzles but struggle to find those same tactics in your own games? Or are you simply looking to improve your tactical awareness? Then Chess Pro Trainer is for you. Chess Pro Trainer is unlike any chess training app available today. It is designed to improve your tactical vision, calculation, pattern recognition, and overall chess strength through realistic in-game simulation training. Most puzzle apps teach you HOW to solve tactics. Chess Pro Trainer teaches you HOW and WHEN to look for them. In traditional puzzle apps, you know a tactic exists before you make your first move. In real games, nobody tells you a tactic is there. Chess Pro Trainer recreates that experience by presenting positions from real games where tactical opportunities may appear immediately or several moves later. This creates a realistic training environment that directly improves practical over-the-board and online play. The app also features an advanced Alternate Acceptable Move system. Rather than simply marking moves right or wrong, users can earn credit for finding Valid, Equal, or even Better moves than those played in the original game. This rewards creativity, strong decision-making, and deeper calculation. CORE TRAINING MODULES • Tactics Recognition Training Train both tactical awareness and tactical calculation through a unique two-phase training system. • Genius Training Develop attacking instincts through aggressive sacrifice positions and high-level tactical play. • Checks Training Master the ability to identify every possible check in a position. • Coordinated Squares Training Learn to recognize key action squares that often serve as the foundation of powerful tactics. • Unprotected Pieces Training Develop the ability to identify vulnerable pieces using a deeper definition of what "unprotected" truly means. ADDITIONAL FEATURES • Stockfish-powered Analysis Board • Global Leaderboards • Detailed Statistics Tracking • Multiple Difficulty Levels • Board Themes and Sound Customization • Learning Coordinates Module • Random Position Generator • Regular Content Updates Whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, Chess Pro Trainer provides a focused and efficient way to improve your chess skills through realistic tactical training. This is not just another puzzle app. This is a complete tactical training system. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Chessnut Next

Enhance your chess experience by connecting a smart board to digitally record, analyze, and practice your games. Play against AI, review your moves with detailed reports, and train your skills with puzzles and human-like engines.

Highlights
  • Smart board connection
  • Play against chess engines
  • Online chess support
  • Automatic game recording
  • Local Stockfish analysis
  • Tactical training
  • Game review reports
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

Chess Pro Trainer™4 screens
Chessnut Next4 screens

Verdict

The call

Chess Pro Trainer™ and Chessnut Next both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Chess Pro Trainer™'s written reviews are positive against 0% of Chessnut Next's. Chess Pro Trainer™ also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). Chessnut Next's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Chess Pro Trainer™ sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Chessnut Next asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Chess Pro Trainer™ against 5.0 for Chessnut Next. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 28 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Chess Pro Trainer™'s written reviews are positive against 0% of Chessnut Next's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chess Pro Trainer™ ships an update every 3 days, Chessnut Next every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Chess Pro Trainer™ versus Chessnut Next: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChess Pro Trainer™Chessnut Next
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (15 ratings) — better5.0 (28 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1528 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size474 MB369 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChess With Coach Mark, LLC.Xenx Technology Limited

Customer experience

Chess Pro Trainer™

All ratings14 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Chessnut Next

All ratings27 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Chess Pro Trainer™

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Pro Annual$29.991 Year
One-time3
  • Pro Lifetime1$99.99
  • Pro Lifetime 2 Licenses$149.99
  • Pro Lifetime4$199.99
None

Chessnut Next

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chess Pro Trainer™ free?
Chess Pro Trainer™ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chessnut Next free?
Chessnut Next is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chess Pro Trainer™ or Chessnut Next?
Chess Pro Trainer™ is rated higher. Chess Pro Trainer™ averages 5.0 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Chessnut Next averages 5.0 from 28 ratings.
Do Chess Pro Trainer™ or Chessnut Next have ads?
Neither Chess Pro Trainer™ nor Chessnut Next shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chess Pro Trainer™ or Chessnut Next?
Chess Pro Trainer™ ships an update every 3 days, and Chessnut Next every 3 weeks. Most recently, Chess Pro Trainer™ was updated on October 31, 2026 and Chessnut Next on October 31, 2026.

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