Chess Clock by Chess.com vs Chess Universe
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chess Clock by Chess.com
This free app functions as a digital chess clock, offering customizable time controls for any game. It supports various increment and delay types, multiple stages, and handicapping, making it ideal for casual play and tournaments. Adjust time on the fly and enjoy clear displays and audio alerts.
- Customizable time controls
- Fischer and Bronstein increments
- Multiple-stage time controls
- Handicapping support
- On-the-fly time adjustments
- Pause and interruption support
- Audio alerts
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Replace your chess clock with this free game timer! It's easy to use, yet fully featured to handle any time control. 100% free: no in-app purchases, no ads! Choose your time control and you're ready to play. The 2nd player presses her button to start the 1st player's clock - and the game is on! FEATURES - Large, easy-to-read buttons - Works in landscape and portrait on all devices - Quickly customize the app for one-tap access to all your favorite time controls - Time controls include base minutes per player and optional per-move delays or bonus time. The app supports both Fischer and Bronstein increments, as well as simple delays. The duration is up to you! - Supports multiple-stage time controls commonly seen in tournaments, such as "40 moves in 2 hours + game in 60 minutes." A glance at the clock shows your current stage! - Support for handicapping lets you set different time controls for each player! - You can adjust the time remaining on the fly, in the middle of your game, for either or both players! - Clock pauses automatically if the app is interrupted; manually pause the clock at any time - Pleasant sounds for buttons and "time's up" alert At Chess.com, we really do love chess, and *sometimes* we even play it offline! For times like that, we created this clock - and we hope you love it as much as we do.
Chess Universe
Embark on a chess adventure with unique island challenges and rewards. Learn from over 1,000 lessons, play against friends or players worldwide, and master strategies with helpful tools. Unlock new content and customize your experience.
- Play online chess games
- Multiple game modes (Blitz, Bullet, Rapid)
- Play vs Computer Islands with daily challenges
- Over 1,000 chess lessons
- Play chess with friends
- Custom game creation
- Hints, Undo, Game Review, Analysis tools
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NEW MAJOR UPDATE – ISLAND ADVENTURES IN PLAY VS COMPUTER! Your chess adventure just got a massive upgrade! Play vs Computer now takes you beyond standard matches into a world of exploration and rewards. Travel across mysterious islands, face unique Computer challenges, and claim treasure as you master each level. The journey begins on the Starting Positions island: You start every match with the classic chess setup and your full set of 16 pieces. - Defeat opponents to choose rewards from a fresh prize list. - New challengers appear every 24 hours, each bringing new rewards. - Beat all 3 opponents in a cycle for bonus treasure. - Computer difficulty adapts after each respawn to match your skill. From here, more islands await — each with its own twist, challenges, and rewards. Will you unlock them all? MAIN FEATURES PLAY UNLIMITED ONLINE CHESS GAMES Battle players from around the world and climb your country’s leaderboard. MULTIPLE GAME MODES Choose Blitz, Bullet, Rapid, Easy Mode, or explore Play vs Computer Islands at your own pace. PLAY VS COMPUTER ISLANDS – DAILY CHALLENGES Explore themed islands with unique chess challenges. CHESS LESSONS FOR ALL LEVELS From basics to master-level strategies — over 1,000 lessons by top coaches. PLAY CHESS WITH FRIENDS Invite friends and enjoy fun, competitive matches online. CREATE YOUR GAME Use the Create Your Game mode in Play vs Computer to set up custom matches and practice your favorite positions in 9 different difficulty levels. Chess transcends languages — xadrez, ajedrez, satranç, schach, şahmat — but it’s always the ultimate game of strategy. Chess Universe combines beautiful design, fun progression, and powerful learning tools: Hints, Undo, Game Review, Replay, and Analysis. Earn rewards, unlock boards, and level up your style while mastering your skills. It’s your move. Download Chess Universe now and begin your island adventure. VIP Membership Subscription: - Unlock all islands in Play vs Computer Islands, exclusive boards and sets, special effects, VIP avatars and pets, unlimited hints, ad-free play, and 40 gems weekly. - Terms of Use: (standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA)): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ ABOUT CHESS UNIVERSE: Created by chess Grandmasters and gaming experts to blend world-class chess with game-like adventure. Rated IGRS 13+ under Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS) for content suitability in Indonesia. Stay updated: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChessUniverseApp X: https://x.com/chess_universe
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chess Clock by Chess.com at none against Chess Universe's 20. Chess Clock by Chess.com also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (91% vs 64%). Chess Universe's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (6K vs 338). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Chess Universe sells 20 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Chess Clock by Chess.com asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Chess Clock by Chess.com against 4.7 for Chess Universe. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Universe has 6K ratings behind it against 338, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Chess Clock by Chess.com's written reviews are positive against 64% of Chess Universe's.
Chess Clock by Chess.com ships an update every 3 months, Chess Universe every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chess Clock by Chess.com | Chess Universe |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (338 ratings) | 4.7 (6K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 90.6% of reviews — better | 64.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 338 | 6K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #185 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 292 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Chess.com | Kings of Games, d.o.o. |
Customer experience
Chess Clock by Chess.com
Chess Universe
User reviews
Chess Clock by Chess.com
From 338 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- ⏱️ Simple and easy to use
- 🔒 No ads or data collection
- 🎨 Intuitive and clean interface
- 🔊 Satisfying click sound effects
- 🕰️ Customizable time controls
Room to improve
- 🐛 Sound issues (no sound in silent mode, changed sound)
- 🔍 Difficulty reading in bright outdoor settings
- 🤖 Limited functionality (can't set different times for players)
Chess Universe
From 6K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Fun and interactive gameplay
- 💡 Variety of game modes and challenges
- 🚀 Smooth performance and quick matchmaking
- 🎨 Customizable characters and chess boards
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional connection issues and game freezes
- 💰 Excessive in-app purchases and ads
- 🤖 Concerns about AI opponents using engines
- ⏱️ Limited time control options
Bugs and requests
Chess Clock by Chess.com
Reported bugs
2 issues- Time not always reduced when pressing the clock quickly
- Custom time settings not always saved properly
Requested features
4 requests- Add warning/countdown alerts for time running out
- Allow setting different times for each player
- Provide more theme/color options
- Add vibration feedback when pressing the clock
Chess Universe
Reported bugs
4 issues- Incorrect move recognition in some puzzles
- Rating system not accurately reflecting player skill
- Account recovery and password reset issues
- Unexpected app crashes and freezes
Requested features
4 requests- Add more time control options (e.g., 30/60 minutes)
- Implement a report system for suspected cheaters
- Improve the chess academy and puzzle design
- Allow players to save and share game histories
In-app purchases
Chess Clock by Chess.com
No in-app purchases
Chess Universe
- Weekly VIP Membership$5.997 Days
- Monthly VIP Membership$11.991 Month
- Yearly VIP Membership$59.991 Year
- Change Nickname$0.99
- 10 gems$1.49
- Starter Pack$2.99
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- All Emoji + Ammo$3.99
- Free hints for 20 days$3.99
- Chess Kit 2020$3.99
- Chess Kit 2022$3.99
- 40 gems$3.99
- Remove Ads$4.99
- Unlimited Hints for 20 days$4.99
- Starter Pack$4.99
- Value Pack$5.99
- Chess Kit 2021$5.99
- Survival Kit$6.99
- Remove Ads Forever$8.99
- 135 gems$9.99
- Champion Pack$11.99
Questions
Is Chess Clock by Chess.com free?
Is Chess Universe free?
Which has better reviews, Chess Clock by Chess.com or Chess Universe?
Do Chess Clock by Chess.com or Chess Universe have ads?
Which is updated more often, Chess Clock by Chess.com or Chess Universe?
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