# Dr. Chess vs Chess

The clearest difference is update cadence: Dr. Chess at every 3 weeks against Chess's every 8 months. Dr. Chess also leads on monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (294 vs 45). Chess's advantage is review sentiment (67% vs 43%). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Dr. Chess against 4.2 for Chess. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dr. Chess has 294 ratings behind it against 45, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 43% of Dr. Chess's written reviews are positive against 67% of Chess's.

Dr. Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, Chess every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dr. Chess | Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (294 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dr-chess/id909211603/reviews) | **[4.2 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-classic-board-game/id1507917857/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **294** | 45 |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 45 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SUD Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/453469451) | [Aged Studio Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1482887934) |

## What reviewers say

### Dr. Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dr-chess/id909211603)

Engage in real-time online chess matches with players globally. Learn the rules and strategies of this classic two-player board game, aiming to checkmate your opponent's king. Compete in a world of millions of chess enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Real-time online multiplayer chess, Global player matchmaking, Learn chess rules and strategy, Classic board game experience, Compete worldwide

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Engaging chess gameplay mechanics
- 🌍 Global multiplayer connectivity
- 🎨 Good graphics and visual design
- ⚡ Fast-paced game mode available
- 🏆 Ranking and rating system

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnection exploits by cheaters
- 📱 App crashes when switching between apps
- 🔊 Audio settings not working properly
- ⚠️ Difficulty levels not balanced correctly
- 🚫 Forced forfeit on accidental app exit

**Reported bugs**

- Disconnection message appears when winning (suspected cheat exploit)
- Ads get stuck and require phone restart
- Sound intermittently cuts in and out
- Game shows loss when app is closed mid-game
- Screen timeout causes automatic forfeit

**Requested features**

- Friend list and ability to play with friends
- In-app chat functionality
- Account linking (Google, Facebook, etc.)
- Game export for analysis
- Tournament mode


### Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-classic-board-game/id1507917857)

Engage in classic chess matches, honing your strategy and tactics. This app offers adjustable AI difficulty, a two-player mode, and daily challenges with puzzles. Enjoy customizable boards and graphics while learning the game's intricacies.

**Highlights:** Play against AI with 10 difficulty levels, Two-player local multiplayer mode, Daily challenges and classic chess puzzles, Customizable boards and pieces, Hint and undo functions, Automatic save function

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dr. Chess free?

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

### Is Chess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Dr. Chess or Chess?

Chess is rated higher. Dr. Chess averages 4.1 out of 5 from 294 ratings, while Chess averages 4.2 from 45 ratings.

### Do Dr. Chess or Chess have ads?

Both Dr. Chess and Chess show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dr. Chess or Chess?

Dr. Chess ships an update every 3 weeks, and Chess every 8 months. Most recently, Dr. Chess was updated on November 6, 2026 and Chess on November 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.*