Comparison

Chess vs Chess Tablebase for Stockfish

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

Head to head
About

Chess

Manage and study chess databases and games in PGN format with advanced analysis tools. Supports game creation, modification, and import from various sources. Includes engine analysis, opening book management, and puzzle training.

Highlights
  • PGN database and game management
  • Create, modify, and import games
  • Advanced engine analysis with Stockfish
  • Opening book and ChessBase support
  • Chess 960 (Fischer Random) support
  • Diagram recognition for PGN conversion
  • Puzzle training and online play
Features
Read full description

Chess Studio is the first and only application for iPhone and iPad able to manage chess databases and games in PGN format in a complete and efficient way. Chess Studio is an application designed and built for those players who really want to deepen their knowledge in the field of chess, studying chess regularly and participate in tournaments. Chess Studio allows you to: • Read database and games in PGN format (also with extended notation of moves). • Create, delete and modify folders and databases. • View games with annotations and textual comments and keep track of the displayed games. • Use a double chessboard on the same screen for better game analysis. • Visualize moves and variants in compact mode or indented mode. • Modify existing games with move annotation and textual comments. • Insert new games and positions. • Insert, replay and analyze games in Chess 960 mode. • Insert moves with annotations and textual comments. • Insert variation, subvariations etc. • Insert and visualize graphical annotation (colored arrows and highlighted squares). • Share Databases and Games through Airdrop. • Download chess database from internet. • Download chess database directly from PGN Mentor site. • Import games, database and Opening Books from other applications. • Merge two or more databases. • Copy/Paste games and positions. • Analyze games with Stockfish 19 Engine with the support of the Neural Networks (up to 5 lines of analysis simultaneously) with the support of the Engine Evaluation Bar. • Replay games automatically. • Visualize Pawn structure. • Manage Variations and sub-variatons: delete and promote variations. • Read the weekly Magazine The New In Chess (TWIC) and download the games. • Uploading and Downloading PGN Database to/from Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive. • Three different modes for moving pieces. • Analyze endgames with Endgame Tablebases. • Analyze and study Chess Openings in the Chess Openings Section. • Create and manage Opening Books in Polyglot format. • Import and manage ChessBase Opening Books (ctg format). • Automatically classify a database according to ECO code. • Replay, enter and analyze Chess 960 games (Fischer Random Chess). • Play against the engine both in standard mode and in Chess 960 mode. • Play online through the LiChess platform • Train by solving Puzzles • ChessBase Database support. • Diagram Recognition: this feature allows the user to take and/or upload photos of chess diagrams and convert them into PGN format positions. Other features and technical details: • Modify the board size. • Professional chess fonts and figurines for moves notation and annotation. • Preview of the game in the board tapping the Info button. • Quick search feature. • Advanced search feature. • Complete management of Null Moves with Tutorial. • Visualization of ECO code and Opening during game replay or game insertion. • Visualization of Book Openings during game replay or game insertion. • Portrait/Landscape mode for all devices. • Support of Slide Over and Split View mode. • Function to move up within variants and subvariants. • iOS 26 compatible and optimized for all the devices. • Sharing of databases across devices via iCloud Drive (also with Chess Studio for Mac OS). • Sound option. • Support for iPad Pro Keyboard or bluetooth keyboard. • VoiceOver/Accessibility support. • Direct contact via email with the developer to report problems, ask for explanation and suggestions (very quick answer!). • Languages: English, Italian, Spanish and German. Complete description at: https://chessstudio.wordpress.com/chess-studio/ To view the privacy policy and Terms of Use (EULA) visit https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ The application is continuously updated with new features and improvements. No registration! No advertising! No sharing of personal data!

About

Chess Tablebase for Stockfish

Manage chess endgame tablebase files for enhanced Stockfish AI analysis. Import pre-installed or custom files, and query positions for win/draw outcomes. Ideal for serious chess players seeking to improve engine performance.

Highlights
  • Manage chess endgame tablebase files
  • Integrates with SmallFish iOS app
  • Import pre-installed 5-men tablebases
  • Import custom tablebase files
  • Query endgame positions for win/draw
  • Enhances Stockfish engine performance
Features
Read full description

Chess Tablebase for Stockfish is a file management app for managing chess endgame tablebases. Seamlessly integrating with the SmallFish iOS chess app for Stockfish, it enables you to import your tablebase files into the SmallFish app, which operates on the latest Stockfish AI. Additionally, you can query specific endgame positions to determine if they result in a win or a draw. This app provides the answers you need. Download this app to import the pre-installed 5-men tablebase files, you may also import your own tablebase files. The app has the instructions that you can follow. --------------------- TABLEBASE BUNDLE --------------------- This app bundles all 5-men chess tablebase piece configurations. You may also want to download 6-men tablebase files . ----------------- REQUIREMENTS ----------------- This app is a 1GB download. You will need the following if you want to run tablebase with Stockfish on your iOS device: - 1GB disk space for this app - The SmallFish chess app - running the Stockfish engine - Another 1GB disk space to process the tablebase files -------------- DESCRIPTION -------------- Chess endgame tablebase is a vast database containing pre-calculated, exhaustive analyses of chess endgame positions. It can instantly determine whether your position is a win, loss, or draw without the need for lengthy analysis. This app is ideal for enhancing your Stockfish engine's analytical performance. The tablebase included with this app can provide an approximate 50 ELO improvement to the Stockfish engine, making it highly recommended for all serious chess players.

Screenshots

Chess4 screens
Chess Tablebase for Stockfish4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Chess Tablebase for Stockfish at Free against Chess's $3.99. Chess Tablebase for Stockfish also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2). Chess's advantage is ratings volume (116 vs 21) and review sentiment (92% vs 83%). On rating, update cadence, ads 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

Chess Tablebase for Stockfish is free to download; Chess costs $3.99 up front. Chess sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Chess Tablebase for Stockfish asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Chess against 4.8 for Chess Tablebase for Stockfish. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess has 116 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of Chess's written reviews are positive against 83% of Chess Tablebase for Stockfish's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Chess versus Chess Tablebase for Stockfish: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessChess Tablebase for Stockfish
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (116 ratings)4.8 (21 ratings) — better
Positive reviews92.0% of reviews — better83.3% of reviews
Number of ratings116 — better21
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size237 MB944 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperGiordano VicoliTed Wong

Customer experience

Chess

All ratings116 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral2.6%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews174 reviews
Positive92.0%
Neutral2.9%
Negative5.2%

Chess Tablebase for Stockfish

All ratings21 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

Bugs and requests

Chess

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Problem saving updated game data
  • Engine stopped working after 30 seconds
  • App crashes when adding annotations without hitting 'edit mode' first
  • Crash opening .pgn in landscape mode
  • Crashes when selecting a cell with 0 games associated
Show 7 more
  • App freezes sometimes
  • Download stuck on 'downloading'
  • Dropbox issues on earlier iOS versions
  • Program not bulletproof upon saving work
  • Can't download cbv files
  • Graphical annotations drawing unwanted arrows
  • App doesn't work after iOS update

Requested features

20 requests
  • Add dark mode
  • Add board flip button
  • Improve interface for screen reader users
  • Add private game feature with code
  • Add computer whole game analysis with annotations
Show 15 more
  • Add coloring moves based on annotation
  • Add drawing arrows that are saved
  • Add bookmark feature
  • Add buttons/swipe to go forward/backwards to next/previous game
  • Add select all function for copying games
  • Add autoplay games
  • Remember last position/game opened in a database
  • Support Millennium boards
  • Support UCI engine compatibility
  • Optimize database game view
  • Make edit mode arrows slimmer and add more colors
  • Allow direct iCloud access to databases without export
  • Make graphical annotations optional/disableable
  • Improve font size adjustment for moves and annotations
  • Add search with multiple criteria

Chess Tablebase for Stockfish

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Chess

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium Subscription3 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Yearly Premium Subscription3 Days trial$8.991 Year
None

Chess Tablebase for Stockfish

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chess free?
Chess costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Chess Tablebase for Stockfish free?
Chess Tablebase for Stockfish is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chess or Chess Tablebase for Stockfish?
Chess Tablebase for Stockfish is rated higher. Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 116 ratings, while Chess Tablebase for Stockfish averages 4.8 from 21 ratings.
Do Chess or Chess Tablebase for Stockfish have ads?
Neither Chess nor Chess Tablebase for Stockfish shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chess or Chess Tablebase for Stockfish?
Chess ships an update fortnightly, and Chess Tablebase for Stockfish fortnightly. Most recently, Chess was updated on September 22, 2026 and Chess Tablebase for Stockfish on September 9, 2026.

Other comparisons