# Chess Clock by Chess.com vs Colonist.io

Chess Clock by Chess.com and Colonist.io both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 91% of Chess Clock by Chess.com's written reviews are positive against 22% of Colonist.io's. Chess Clock by Chess.com also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Colonist.io's advantage is ratings volume (4.3K vs 342). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Chess Clock by Chess.com against 4.5 for Colonist.io. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Colonist.io has 4.3K ratings behind it against 342, 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 22% of Colonist.io's.

Chess Clock by Chess.com ships an update every 3 months, Colonist.io every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Clock by Chess.com | Colonist.io |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (342 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-clock-by-chesscom/id858039162/reviews)** | [4.5 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/colonistio-catan-inspired/id6444831129/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 342 | **4.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **90.6% of reviews** | 22.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Best chart rank | **#79** | #156 |
| Size | 3 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552) | [Colonist](https://appshunter.io/developer/1805063930) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess Clock by Chess.com

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-clock-by-chesscom/id858039162)

**Currently charting:** #79 Top Free · Strategy, #123 Top Free · Board (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Customizable time controls, Fischer and Bronstein increments, Multiple-stage time controls, Handicapping support, On-the-fly time adjustments, Pause and interruption support, Audio alerts

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⏱️ Simple and easy to use
- 🔒 No ads or data collection
- 🎨 Intuitive and clean interface
- 🔊 Satisfying click sound effects
- 🕰️ Customizable time controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sound issues (no sound in silent mode, changed sound)
- 🔍 Difficulty reading in bright outdoor settings
- 🤖 Limited functionality (can't set different times for players)

**Reported bugs**

- Time not always reduced when pressing the clock quickly
- Custom time settings not always saved properly

**Requested features**

- 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


### Colonist.io

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/colonistio-catan-inspired/id6444831129)

**Currently charting:** #156 Top Free · Strategy, #202 Top Free · Board (US App Store)

Engage in a competitive multiplayer strategy game where you build settlements and expand your territory. Master simple rules with deep gameplay through strategy, planning, and negotiation. Compete against friends, bots, or climb leaderboards in ranked modes.

**Highlights:** Build settlements, Expand territory, Multiplayer competition, Strategy and negotiation, Ranked leaderboards, Custom maps and expansions, Player customization

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great Catan experience
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🤝 Fun to play with friends
- 💰 Free to play

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Dice rolls are biased and unrealistic
- 🔋 Battery-draining
- 🔒 Questionable algorithm and randomness
- 👎 Frequent crashes and disconnects
- 💸 Expensive subscription model

**Reported bugs**

- Dice rolls are predictable and favor certain players
- Frequent crashes and disconnects during games
- Compatibility issues with older devices
- UI elements not scaling properly on smaller screens
- Inability to rejoin games after disconnects

**Requested features**

- Improve dice algorithm to be more random
- Add offline/single-player mode
- Improve UI and user experience
- Provide more customization options
- Improve stability and reduce crashes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Clock by Chess.com free?

Chess Clock by Chess.com is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Colonist.io free?

Colonist.io is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chess Clock by Chess.com or Colonist.io?

Chess Clock by Chess.com is rated higher. Chess Clock by Chess.com averages 4.6 out of 5 from 342 ratings, while Colonist.io averages 4.5 from 4.3K ratings.

### Do Chess Clock by Chess.com or Colonist.io have ads?

Colonist.io shows ads; Chess Clock by Chess.com does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess Clock by Chess.com or Colonist.io?

Chess Clock by Chess.com ships an update every 3 months, and Colonist.io every 2 months. Most recently, Chess Clock by Chess.com was updated on November 1, 2026 and Colonist.io on November 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Chess Clock by Chess.com or Colonist.io?

Chess Clock by Chess.com currently peaks at #79 in the App Store charts, and Colonist.io at #156. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*