# PlunderChess vs Circles & Dots

The clearest difference is price: Circles & Dots at Free against PlunderChess's $0.99. Circles & Dots also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5). PlunderChess's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 8 months). On in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Circles & Dots is free to download; PlunderChess costs $0.99 up front. PlunderChess sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Circles & Dots sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Circles & Dots holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PlunderChess has 50 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

PlunderChess ships an update every 6 weeks, Circles & Dots every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PlunderChess | Circles & Dots |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plunderchess/id793926995/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles-and-dots-pips-orbit/id1601855852/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **50** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 90.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 169 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [White Horse Games, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/793926998) | [Ermano Nicolas Joseph](https://appshunter.io/developer/1601855854) |

## What reviewers say

### PlunderChess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plunderchess/id793926995)

This chess variant adds an exciting twist: captured pieces grant temporary, enhanced movement abilities to the capturing piece. Strategize to acquire and use these "plundered powers" for a more dynamic and fun chess experience.

**Highlights:** Captured pieces grant temporary enhanced movement, Colored vests indicate plundered powers, Practice and analysis boards, Live play and text chat, Competitive AI with 5 skill levels, Mate in 1 and 2 puzzle packs, Cross-platform online play

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PlunderChess Chess Opponent | $0.99 | one-time |
| PlunderChess Puzzle Pack A | $0.99 | one-time |
| Plunder Chess Puzzle Pack B | $0.99 | one-time |


### Circles & Dots

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circles-and-dots-pips-orbit/id1601855852)

A fast-paced arcade game where players tap to change direction, collect coins, and avoid obstacles. It offers simple controls and two engaging modes for quick fun.

**Highlights:** Tap to change direction, Capture coins, Avoid obstacles, Two game modes, Fast-paced gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pouch of Shards | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hull Refit | $2.99 | one-time |
| Crate of Shards | $4.99 | one-time |
| Cargo Hold of Shards | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PlunderChess free?

PlunderChess costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Circles & Dots free?

Circles & Dots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PlunderChess or Circles & Dots?

Circles & Dots is rated higher. PlunderChess averages 4.5 out of 5 from 50 ratings, while Circles & Dots averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do PlunderChess or Circles & Dots have ads?

Circles & Dots shows ads; PlunderChess does not.

### Which is updated more often, PlunderChess or Circles & Dots?

PlunderChess ships an update every 6 weeks, and Circles & Dots every 8 months. Most recently, PlunderChess was updated on October 6, 2026 and Circles & Dots on October 14, 2026.

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