# Chess vs Chess Opener Lite

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Chess at 92% against Chess Opener Lite's 43%. Chess also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). Chess Opener Lite's advantage is price (Free vs $3.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess has 118 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Chess's written reviews are positive against 43% of Chess Opener Lite's.

Chess ships an update fortnightly, Chess Opener Lite every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess | Chess Opener Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (118 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-studio/id684224545/reviews)** | [4.1 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-opener-lite/id1489281014/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **118** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | **92.0% of reviews** | 42.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 237 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Giordano Vicoli](https://appshunter.io/developer/460922805) | [Stanislav Basovnik](https://appshunter.io/developer/1469334974) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-studio/id684224545)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium Subscription | $8.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Powerful chess database features
- 👍 Comprehensive analysis tools
- 👍 Excellent PGN management
- 👍 Great value for price
- 👍 Frequent updates and improvements

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Steep learning curve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 🐛 Unintuitive interface
- 🐛 Some users find it confusing
- 🐛 Missing dark mode

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Chess Opener Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-opener-lite/id1489281014)

Master chess openings with an interactive trainer and comprehensive database. Build and memorize your own repertoire, compare variations, and track your progress. Works offline and offers extensive opening exploration.

**Highlights:** Chess opening tree with game statistics, Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO), Build and edit opening repertoire, Interactive opening trainer, Offline functionality, PGN export, Progress tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess free?

Chess costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Chess Opener Lite free?

Chess Opener Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chess or Chess Opener Lite?

Chess is rated higher. Chess averages 4.7 out of 5 from 118 ratings, while Chess Opener Lite averages 4.1 from 17 ratings.

### Do Chess or Chess Opener Lite have ads?

Neither Chess nor Chess Opener Lite shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chess or Chess Opener Lite?

Chess ships an update fortnightly, and Chess Opener Lite every 5 weeks. Most recently, Chess was updated on October 18, 2026 and Chess Opener Lite on October 7, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*