# Pulsar Chess Engine vs Chessimo 2.0

The clearest difference is price: Chessimo 2.0 at Free against Pulsar Chess Engine's $1.99. Chessimo 2.0 also leads on ratings volume (57 vs 12) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). Pulsar Chess Engine's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and review sentiment (70% vs 44%). On rating, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Chessimo 2.0 is free to download; Pulsar Chess Engine costs $1.99 up front. Chessimo 2.0 sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Pulsar Chess Engine asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Pulsar Chess Engine against 4.2 for Chessimo 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 57 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of Pulsar Chess Engine's written reviews are positive against 44% of Chessimo 2.0's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pulsar Chess Engine | Chessimo 2.0 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.3 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsar-chess-engine/id839640447/reviews)** | [4.2 (57 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessimo-20/id960842536/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **57** |
| Positive reviews | **70.0% of reviews** | 43.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#200** | — |
| Size | 11 MB | 122 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Michael Adams](https://appshunter.io/developer/743520896) | [8 x 8 Media AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/480983127) |

## What reviewers say

### Pulsar Chess Engine

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

**Currently charting:** #200 Top Paid · Board (US App Store)

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


### Chessimo 2.0

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessimo-20/id960842536)

Master the game of chess with unlimited free games, over 150,000 tactics puzzles, interactive lessons, and a strong computer opponent. This app offers a unique end-to-end training experience, allowing you to practice puzzles and then immediately apply your skills against AI. Improve your rating and unlock your potential as a chess player.

**Highlights:** 150,000+ tactics puzzles, Interactive lessons and videos, Play against computer opponent, Game analysis, Opening explorer, Performance stats

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Activation of all Tactics Units | $2.99 | one-time |
| Activation of all Strategy Units | $2.99 | one-time |
| Activation of all Endgame Units | $2.99 | one-time |
| Activation of all opening variations | $2.99 | one-time |
| Activation of all Commented Engame-Units | $2.99 | one-time |
| Activate all Train exercises | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pulsar Chess Engine free?

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

### Is Chessimo 2.0 free?

Chessimo 2.0 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Pulsar Chess Engine or Chessimo 2.0?

Pulsar Chess Engine is rated higher. Pulsar Chess Engine averages 4.3 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Chessimo 2.0 averages 4.2 from 57 ratings.

### Do Pulsar Chess Engine or Chessimo 2.0 have ads?

Neither Pulsar Chess Engine nor Chessimo 2.0 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pulsar Chess Engine or Chessimo 2.0?

Pulsar Chess Engine ships an update every 2 months, and Chessimo 2.0 every 2 months. Most recently, Pulsar Chess Engine was updated on October 10, 2026 and Chessimo 2.0 on September 28, 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.*