Chess Hotel vs Chessanova
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chess Hotel
Engage in live chess matches with players globally. Track your progress with a personal account, rating, and game statistics. Features include timed games, a chat function, and league play for competitive engagement.
- Live games with time controls
- Personal account with rating and statistics
- In-game chat function
- Fast opponent matching
- League games
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Play chess online with players around the world. Join a live game, take your time with daily chess, or sharpen your skills with puzzles. PLAY YOUR WAY • Play live chess with your preferred time control. • Make moves at your own pace in daily games. • Challenge a friend or share an invite. • Join Chess Hotel league games. LEARN AND IMPROVE • Solve chess puzzles and the daily puzzle. • Review your games and track your rating and results. • Choose your favorite board and chess pieces. STAY CONNECTED • Use your existing ChessHotel account on iPhone, iPad, and the web. • Get notifications for daily moves and challenges. • Chat with your opponents during games. Optional memberships unlock more league games, game reviews, and game history. Subscription details and prices are shown in the app before purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.chesshotel.com/termsofservice Privacy Policy: https://www.chesshotel.com/privacypolicy
Chessanova
Experience a minimalist, 2D chess game designed for face-to-face play. Enjoy intuitive controls, symmetrical pieces, and unrestricted moves for a pure, distraction-free chess experience. Discover hidden variants that alter gameplay and board configurations.
- Minimalist 2D chessboard
- Symmetrical piece design
- Intuitive multi-touch controls
- Unrestricted moves and unlimited undo/redo
- Hidden move-based game variants
- No bots, settings, or in-app purchases
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Welcome to Chessanova! This app offers a minimalist, 2D chessboard made for a face-to-face gameplay between two players. It is designed to create an intuitive chess experience that feels like a true game with pieces, free from the distractions of settings, buttons, or typical app controls. Key Features: - Symmetrical Piece Design: The chess pieces are designed with point symmetry, making them identical from both players' perspectives. No need to rotate pieces or adjust viewing angles – focus purely on the game without distractions. - Intuitive Multi-Touch Control: Move pieces naturally across the board with simple touch gestures. You can drag and drop or tap-select and place pieces precisely where you want. This freedom allows players to replicate a true over-the-board chess experience. - Unrestricted Moves: Unlike typical digital chess games, this app doesn’t restrict moves to legal ones. You can experiment freely – throw pieces off the board, try out unique starting positions, or quickly set up positions to explain tactics to your opponent. With a double-tap, you have unlimited undo and redo at your fingertips (redo by holding an additional finger on the display). - Hidden Move-Based Variants: Chessanova introduces a unique twist to classic chess, allowing you to alter the game through hidden moves. Adjust the board size or add extra pieces seamlessly—no menus or buttons needed. Simply place specific pieces in distinct ways to unlock modifications that bring fresh challenges and force even experienced players to rethink their strategies. Add a whole new layer of variety with one of the following moves: White Pawn to White Rook: Doubles the rooks and expands the board by two columns White Pawn to White Knight: Doubles the knights and expands the board by two columns White Pawn to White Bishop: Doubles the bishops and expands the board by two columns White Rook to White Rook: Removes all rooks and reduces the board by two rows and two columns White Knight to White Knight: Removes all knights and reduces the board by two rows and two columns White Bishop to White Bishop: Removes all bishops and reduces the board by two rows and two columns White Pawn to White Queen: Randomly changes the color scheme King to King: Resets the game A Pure Chess Experience: No bots, settings, in-app purchases, or unnecessary sounds. Just you, your opponent, and the chessboard. Discover a fresh approach to chess with endless possibilities. Enjoy playing together!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Chessanova at 100% against Chess Hotel's 13%. Chessanova also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support 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 Hotel sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Chessanova asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Chess Hotel | Chessanova |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 12.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Foggy Media | Jonas Fehrenberg |
Customer experience
Chess Hotel
Chessanova
In-app purchases
Chess Hotel
- Chess Hotel Basic$2.991 Month
- Chess Hotel Regular$3.991 Month
- Chess Hotel Unlimited$7.991 Month
- Premium$2.99
- Premium Membership - 1 Year$6.99
Chessanova
No in-app purchases









