# Stupid Hard Chess vs Chess Variants Studio

The clearest difference is ads: Chess Variants Studio at none against Stupid Hard Chess's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stupid Hard Chess sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Chess Variants Studio sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stupid Hard Chess | Chess Variants Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stupid-hard-chess/id6787299286/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7** | — |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 140 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yazid Masri](https://appshunter.io/developer/6787299288) | [Michael Adams](https://appshunter.io/developer/743520896) |

## What reviewers say

### Stupid Hard Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stupid-hard-chess/id6787299286)

Experience chess with a unique twist where some of your pieces are hidden, forcing you to rely on memory and visualization. Test your skills across various difficulty levels and blindfold modes, with stakes determined before each game.

**Highlights:** Hidden piece gameplay, Multiple blindfold modes, Real chess engine, Adjustable difficulty tiers, Stakes-based scoring, Daily streak challenges, Limited board reveals

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stupid Hard Chess Pro - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Stupid Hard Chess Pro - Annual | $39.99 | per year |


### Chess Variants Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-variants-studio/id6789392443)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Plays and Views | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stupid Hard Chess free?

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

### Is Chess Variants Studio free?

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

### Do Stupid Hard Chess or Chess Variants Studio have ads?

Stupid Hard Chess shows ads; Chess Variants Studio does not.

### Which is updated more often, Stupid Hard Chess or Chess Variants Studio?

Stupid Hard Chess ships an update every 9 days, and Chess Variants Studio every 9 days. Most recently, Stupid Hard Chess was updated on October 31, 2026 and Chess Variants Studio on October 31, 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.*