# Pulsar Chess Engine vs Chess Middlegame I

The clearest difference is price: Chess Middlegame I at Free against Pulsar Chess Engine's $1.99. Chess Middlegame I also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 70%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.3). Pulsar Chess Engine's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Chess Middlegame I is free to download; Pulsar Chess Engine costs $1.99 up front. Chess Middlegame I sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pulsar Chess Engine asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chess Middlegame I holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Middlegame I has 68 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Pulsar Chess Engine's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chess Middlegame I's.

Pulsar Chess Engine ships an update every 2 months, Chess Middlegame I every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pulsar Chess Engine | Chess Middlegame I |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.3 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsar-chess-engine/id839640447/reviews) | **[4.7 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-middlegame-i/id1140427198/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **68** |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 11 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **8.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Michael Adams](https://appshunter.io/developer/743520896) | [Chess King](https://appshunter.io/developer/1096660597) |

## What reviewers say

### Pulsar Chess Engine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsar-chess-engine/id839640447)

Play chess and six popular variants with adjustable AI difficulty levels. Review logged games, access master game collections, and utilize Crafty engine analysis for standard chess and Chess960. Offers accessibility features for blind users.

**Highlights:** Plays 7 chess variants, Adjustable AI difficulty levels, Game logging and review, Master game collections, Crafty engine analysis, VoiceOver accessibility

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Chess Middlegame I

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-middlegame-i/id1140427198)

Master chess middlegame strategies with this comprehensive course. Learn popular opening plans, pawn structures, and tactical intricacies through interactive lessons and practice problems. Improve your game with personalized coaching and track your progress.

**Highlights:** Middlegame strategies and intricacies, Theoretical section with interactive lessons, Practice problems with hints and refutations, Analysis of popular openings and pawn structures, Progress monitoring and rating changes, Offline play capability, Tablet optimization

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full course | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pulsar Chess Engine free?

Pulsar Chess Engine costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Chess Middlegame I free?

Chess Middlegame I is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Pulsar Chess Engine or Chess Middlegame I?

Chess Middlegame I is rated higher. Pulsar Chess Engine averages 4.3 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Chess Middlegame I averages 4.7 from 68 ratings.

### Do Pulsar Chess Engine or Chess Middlegame I have ads?

Neither Pulsar Chess Engine nor Chess Middlegame I shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pulsar Chess Engine or Chess Middlegame I?

Pulsar Chess Engine ships an update every 2 months, and Chess Middlegame I every 4 months. Most recently, Pulsar Chess Engine was updated on October 29, 2026 and Chess Middlegame I on October 24, 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.*