# Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) vs Chess Notation Lab

The clearest difference is ads: Chess Notation Lab at none against Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles)'s shown. Chess Notation Lab also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles)'s advantage is ratings volume (3.7K vs 6) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Chess Notation Lab sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chess Notation Lab holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) has 3.7K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles)'s written reviews are positive against 100% of Chess Notation Lab's.

Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) ships an update every 2 months, Chess Notation Lab every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) | Chess Notation Lab |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (3.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tactics-pro-puzzles/id903380719/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-notation-lab/id6480255515/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.7K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 90.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Emmanuel Mathis](https://appshunter.io/developer/892041879) | [Nishat Majid](https://appshunter.io/developer/1727207034) |

## What reviewers say

### Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tactics-pro-puzzles/id903380719)

Sharpen your chess skills with a vast library of puzzles for all levels. Practice daily, offline, or track your progress with adaptive challenges. Analyze your moves with a built-in engine and customize your experience with various themes.

**Highlights:** Daily puzzles, Offline puzzle packs, Progress mode with Elo rating, Puzzle analysis engine, Bookmark puzzles, Multiple board themes

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Easy mates | $1.99 | one-time |
| Intermediate mates | $1.99 | one-time |
| Hard mates | $1.99 | one-time |
| Easy tactics | $1.99 | one-time |
| Intermediate tactics | $1.99 | one-time |
| Hard tactics | $1.99 | one-time |
| Mates in 2, 3 and 4 moves | $1.99 | one-time |
| Intermediate Tactics - Vol. 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Hard Tactics - Vol. 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Easy Tactics - Vol. 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| All-Access Pass | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Offline functionality
- 💡 Wide variety of puzzles
- 🎯 Helpful for improving tactics
- 🕰️ Daily puzzles of varying difficulty

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Some puzzles have flawed or ambiguous solutions
- 🤔 Difficulty levels not always accurate
- 📊 Lack of explanation for best moves
- 🔀 Inability to accept alternative winning solutions

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes or freezes
- Incorrect move validation in some cases

**Requested features**

- Add option to see captured pieces
- Provide more context and analysis for puzzles
- Improve difficulty categorization of puzzles
- Allow for user feedback on puzzle issues


### Chess Notation Lab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-notation-lab/id6480255515)

Master chess board coordinates and piece movement with this training app. Improve your ability to visualize moves, read notation, and understand square colors. Designed to enhance your chess calculations and potentially boost your rating.

**Highlights:** Identify squares by coordinate, Fluid piece movement visualization, Translate moves to notation, Identify square color, Orient on the board, Speed up calculation, Blind chess practice

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) free?

Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Chess Notation Lab free?

Chess Notation Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) or Chess Notation Lab?

Chess Notation Lab is rated higher. Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.7K ratings, while Chess Notation Lab averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) or Chess Notation Lab have ads?

Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) shows ads; Chess Notation Lab does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) or Chess Notation Lab?

Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) ships an update every 2 months, and Chess Notation Lab every 3 days. Most recently, Chess Tactics Pro (Puzzles) was updated on September 22, 2026 and Chess Notation Lab on September 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.*