Comparison

Chess Studio Lite vs Chess Prep Pro Openings

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

Head to head
About

Chess Studio Lite

Manage and analyze chess games and databases in PGN format. Study openings, practice against engines, and solve puzzles with advanced analysis tools. Supports multiple devices and cloud storage integration.

Highlights
  • PGN database management
  • Game analysis with Stockfish 18
  • Opening book creation and import
  • Diagram recognition
  • Cloud storage integration
  • Play against engine (standard & Chess 960)
Features
Read full description

Chess Studio is the first and only application for iPhone and iPad able to completely manage chess database and games in PGN format. 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 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 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) and see the results also through the Engine Evaluation Bar. • See graphic visualization of moves suggested by Stockfish 19 engine. • See Win-Draw-Loss (WDL) probabilities during engine analysis. • Replay games automatically. • Visualize Pawn structure. • Manage Variations and sub-variatons: delete and promote variations. • Read the weekly Magazine The Week In Chess and download the games. • Uploading and Downloading PGN database to/from Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive. • Three different modes for moving pieces. • Analyse endgames with Endgame Tablebases. • Analyse and study Chess Openings. • Creation and management of Opening Books in Polyglot format. • Import and management of ChessBase Opening Books (ctg, cto, ctb 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. • Solving Puzzles. • 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 tapping on the board or through the Settings menu. • Professional chess fonts and figurines for moves notation and annotation. • Preview of the game in the board tapping the Info button. • Advanced search feature. • Visualization of ECO code and Opening during game replay or game insertion. • Visualization of Book Openings during game replay or game insertion. • Complete management of Null Moves with Tutorial. • Portrait/Landscape mode for all devices. • Support of Slide Over and Split View mode. • Function to move up within variants and subvariants. • Online manual frequently updated. • iOS 26 compatible and optimized for all the devices. • Sharing of databases across devices via iCloud Drive. • Sound option. • Support for iPad Pro Keyboard or bluetooth keyboard. • VoiceOver/Accessibility support. • Direct contact via email with the developer. • Languages: English, Italian, Spanish and German. Complete description at the following address: https://chessstudio.wordpress.com/chess-studio/ The application is continuously updated with new features and improvements. Chess Studio Lite is a smaller version of Chess Studio where some features are limited. To view the terms of service visit https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ No registration! No advertising! No sharing of personal data! If you own an iMac or a MacBook try the new Chess Lab!

About

Chess Prep Pro Openings

Master chess openings by building custom repertoires and training your memory. Analyze opponent moves, discover blind spots, and utilize an advanced engine for in-depth preparation. Expand your knowledge with downloadable repertoires and import/export PGNs.

Highlights
  • Custom chess opening repertoires
  • Repertoire training and memory sharpening
  • Blind spot finder against player games
  • Chess openings player database
  • Advanced StockFish engine analysis
  • Downloadable and importable repertoires
Features
Read full description

Master chess openings: Build chess opening repertoires & memorise your openings.Chess Prep Pro is the ultimate chess openings app, designed to perfect your openings and elevate your game through custom chess opening repertoire creation and training. How does it work? Chess Prep Pro allows you to create your own custom chess openings repertoires, and prepare for any opponent move. A chess opening repertoire is an opening plan that contains player responses for opponent moves in the opening phase of the game. With a chess opening repertoire, you will not be left scrambling to find the best move during a real game, as you will already remember the best move from studying and practicing your repertoire. Discover Chess Prep Pro's Features: - Custom Chess Opening Repertoires: Build unlimited custom repertoires for any chess opening. Add as many moves and variations as you need to be prepared for every game. - Repertoire Training: Sharpen your memory with chess opening repertoire training. The app challenges your memory with random positions from your opening repertoire, tracking your progress and helping you master every move. - Blind Spot Finder: Stay ahead of your opponents with our blind spot finder feature that analyses your chess openings repertoire against billions of player games, identifying the most likely opponent moves that you did not prepare for. - Chess openings player database: You can use a player openings database that contains billions of moves to find out the most likely opponent move to prepare for. - Advanced Engine: Utilize the latest StockFish engine for in-depth analysis and uncover the best responses to any situation on the board. - Downloadable opening repertoires: Expand your opening knowledge with an ever-growing library of specially created and sourced opening repertoires, curated for your success. - Import / Export: Easily import and export PGNs to and from the app. You can even import liches studies. Master your chess openings now !

Screenshots

Chess Studio Lite4 screens
Chess Prep Pro Openings4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chess Studio Lite at none against Chess Prep Pro Openings's 3. Chess Studio Lite also leads on ads (none vs shown). Chess Prep Pro Openings's advantage is review sentiment (75% vs 64%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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 Prep Pro Openings sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Chess Studio Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Chess Studio Lite against 4.5 for Chess Prep Pro Openings. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 22 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of Chess Studio Lite's written reviews are positive against 75% of Chess Prep Pro Openings's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Chess Studio Lite versus Chess Prep Pro Openings: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChess Studio LiteChess Prep Pro Openings
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (11 ratings)4.5 (22 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.6% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1122 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size237 MB214 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGiordano VicoliTomasz Bogun

Customer experience

Chess Studio Lite

All ratings11 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive63.6%
Neutral18.2%
Negative18.2%

Chess Prep Pro Openings

All ratings22 ratings
Positive86.4%
Neutral4.5%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral4.2%
Negative20.8%

In-app purchases

None

Chess Studio Lite

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Chess Prep Pro Openings

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly premium subscription$3.991 Month
  • Yearly premium$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$59.99

Questions

Is Chess Studio Lite free?
Chess Studio Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chess Prep Pro Openings free?
Chess Prep Pro Openings is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Chess Studio Lite or Chess Prep Pro Openings?
Chess Prep Pro Openings is rated higher. Chess Studio Lite averages 4.4 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Chess Prep Pro Openings averages 4.5 from 22 ratings.
Do Chess Studio Lite or Chess Prep Pro Openings have ads?
Chess Prep Pro Openings shows ads; Chess Studio Lite does not.
Which is updated more often, Chess Studio Lite or Chess Prep Pro Openings?
Chess Studio Lite ships an update fortnightly, and Chess Prep Pro Openings fortnightly. Most recently, Chess Studio Lite was updated on October 7, 2026 and Chess Prep Pro Openings on October 15, 2026.

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