# Chess Clock by Chess.com vs Chess Duel

The clearest difference is rating: Chess Clock by Chess.com at 4.6 against Chess Duel's 3.3. Chess Clock by Chess.com also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 68%) and ratings volume (338 vs 7). Chess Duel's advantage is iOS requirement (9.3 vs 14.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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.

Chess Clock by Chess.com holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Clock by Chess.com has 338 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Chess Clock by Chess.com's written reviews are positive against 68% of Chess Duel's.

Chess Clock by Chess.com ships an update every 3 months, Chess Duel every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Clock by Chess.com | Chess Duel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (338 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-clock-by-chesscom/id858039162/reviews)** | [3.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-duel/id905259249/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **338** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **90.6% of reviews** | 67.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#154** | — |
| Size | 3 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **9.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chess.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/329218552) | [Lothar Heinrich](https://appshunter.io/developer/905259253) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess Clock by Chess.com

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

**Currently charting:** #154 Top Free · Strategy, #185 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


### Chess Duel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-duel/id905259249)

Engage in a classic game of chess with a friend using only a local WiFi connection. Each player views the board from their perspective on their own device. No internet or external servers are required for gameplay.

**Highlights:** Play chess with nearby friends, Direct peer-to-peer WiFi connection, Automatic WiFi connection, Automatic game resume, Legal move highlighting, Customizable chess clock, Request takebacks

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## 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 Chess Duel free?

Chess Duel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Chess Clock by Chess.com is rated higher. Chess Clock by Chess.com averages 4.6 out of 5 from 338 ratings, while Chess Duel averages 3.3 from 7 ratings.

### Do Chess Clock by Chess.com or Chess Duel have ads?

Neither Chess Clock by Chess.com nor Chess Duel shows ads.

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

Chess Clock by Chess.com ships an update every 3 months, and Chess Duel every 5 months. Most recently, Chess Clock by Chess.com was updated on October 12, 2026 and Chess Duel on October 7, 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.*