Comparison

Chess vs PocketPGN

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
Currently charting
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

PocketPGN

Features
Read full description

PocketPGN is the ultimate minimalist chess companion, designed for pure calculation and focus. Step away from the noise, notifications, and clutter of traditional chess apps, and immerse yourself in a beautifully crafted environment made specifically for studying and organizing your chess games. Whether you are analyzing a complex endgame, reviewing your own tournament games, or studying classic master brilliancies, PocketPGN provides a distraction-free board that lets your mind do the work. CORE FEATURES • Minimalist, Distraction-Free Design: No ads, no social feeds, just you and the board. • Organize Your Repertoire: Create folders to manage your openings, endgames, and master games. • Seamless Integrations: Import your games instantly using just your Lichess or Chess.com username. • Powerful PGN Parsing: Fully supports complex variations, comments, and nested sub-lines. • Beautiful Image Exports: Share any position as a stunning, high-resolution image with your friends or coaches. • Free Customization: Multiple gorgeous board colors (Brown, Blue Grey, Midnight Blue) and premium piece sets included completely free. POCKETPGN PRO Take your study to the next level with a single, one-time purchase. No subscriptions, ever. • Unlimited Storage: Bypass the free tier limits and store thousands of games and folders. • iCloud Sync: Securely backup and restore your entire library across all your iOS devices. • Bulk Match Import: Import up to 50 games at once directly from your online match history. • Clean Image Exports: Remove watermarks from all your exported board images. Elevate your chess study today with PocketPGN.

Screenshots

Chess4 screens
PocketPGN4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PocketPGN at Free against Chess's $3.99. PocketPGN also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2). Chess's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks) and chart position (#160 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chess ships an update fortnightly, PocketPGN every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Chess versus PocketPGN: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessPocketPGN
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (118 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews92.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings118 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#160 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size237 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGiordano VicoliAPPXIDIAN LABS

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

PocketPGN

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

PocketPGN

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chess free?
Chess costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is PocketPGN free?
PocketPGN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Chess or PocketPGN have ads?
Neither Chess nor PocketPGN shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chess or PocketPGN?
Chess ships an update fortnightly, and PocketPGN every 5 weeks. Most recently, Chess was updated on October 26, 2026 and PocketPGN on October 25, 2026.

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