Comparison

Chess vs ChessLink App

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

Head to head
About

Chess

Engage in chess with a comprehensive suite of tools for analysis, annotation, and online play. Explore game trees with side-lines, add detailed comments, and enjoy a stable FICS server connection. Features include a robust database, opening/endgame browsers, and training videos.

Highlights
  • Game tree representation with side-lines
  • Detailed game annotation
  • Stable FICS server communication
  • Enhanced FICS interface
  • Improved database and setup screen
  • Opening and endgame browser
  • Links to training videos
Features
Read full description

With Chess-wise 3 you can play chess, analyse games, annotate game notations, play online, solve exercises, watch training videos and much more. - Games are represented as trees, so they can have side-lines. This means when analysing moves, this will not anymore overwrite the moves of the main game - On the new annotation screen, you can add comments and !! - or ?? to the moves - The communication with the FICS server has been complete rewritten and is now much more stable - The FICS interface has more features (support for multiple accounts, iMessage-like chatting, friend list) - Improved database (re-order games in a PGN file) and setup screen (move pieces on the board) - Landscape views for the opening and endgame browser, showing the possible moves next to the board - Over 250 links to free training videos - Separate screen to select the pieces orientation, when playing with 2 players - Help file with tutorial for each major use case Each screen has been re-designed to give a better user experience, focussing on the main actions that people want to do on that screen. Any suggestions for further improvements (as well as bug reports) are welcome at info@chess-wise.com

About

ChessLink App

Connect your electronic chessboard to play chess games on Lichess or against a local partner or engine. LEDs on the board display opponent moves, providing an authentic over-the-board experience. Setup is quick and easy.

Highlights
  • Play on your physical chessboard
  • Connects to electronic boards
  • LEDs indicate opponent moves
  • Play on Lichess
  • Local playing partner option
  • Chess engine integration
Features
Read full description

Online chess that feels like real chess. Connect your electronic chessboard and play on Lichess, against a local friend, or the built-in engine — on your real board. Your opponent's moves light up on the board via LEDs, so your eyes stay on the game. WHAT'S NEW: A LOCAL CHESS ENGINE • Get hints in 2-player mode • Play against the engine — works fully OFFLINE, no internet needed • Free Analysis: set up any position, the engine shows best lines and gives a full evaluation — the spirit of the classic TASC R30/40 chess computer FEATURES • Free online play on Lichess — millions of opponents worldwide • 2-player mode with hints on one board • Free analysis with evaluation and best-move lines • Authentic over-the-board experience: real pieces, no screen-watching SET UP IN MINUTES Pair your board, launch the app, start playing. COMPATIBLE BOARDS Supreme T2, Supreme Boards, Exclusive Boards, Performance Boards, eONE. MORE INFO • Supreme T2 – computerchess.com/Supreme-T2/M880 • eONE – computerchess.com/eone/M841 • ChessClassics Exclusive – computerchess.com/en/chessgenius-exclusive-2/ • The King Performance – computerchess.com/the-king-performance/M830

Screenshots

Chess3 screens
ChessLink App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ChessLink App at 4.4 against Chess's 3.6. ChessLink App also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Chess's advantage is review sentiment (41% vs 0%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, 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

Both are free to download. Chess sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ChessLink App asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ChessLink App holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 9 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 41% of Chess's written reviews are positive against 0% of ChessLink App's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chess ships an update fortnightly, ChessLink App every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Chess versus ChessLink App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessChessLink App
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (16 ratings)4.4 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.7% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings16 — better9
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarcel NijmanJuergen Precour

Customer experience

Chess

All ratings16 ratings
Positive68.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive40.7%
Neutral18.6%
Negative40.7%

ChessLink App

All ratings9 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral22.2%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Chess

One-time1
  • Unlock PRO$5.99
None

ChessLink App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chess free?
Chess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ChessLink App free?
ChessLink App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chess or ChessLink App?
ChessLink App is rated higher. Chess averages 3.6 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while ChessLink App averages 4.4 from 9 ratings.
Do Chess or ChessLink App have ads?
Neither Chess nor ChessLink App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chess or ChessLink App?
Chess ships an update fortnightly, and ChessLink App every 3 months. Most recently, Chess was updated on November 3, 2026 and ChessLink App on November 3, 2026.

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