1. Home
  2. Topics
  3. Play Chess For Imessage

Best Play Chess For Imessage Apps & Games

197+ iOS apps & games curated and reviewed

4.5 avg rating
18 free apps & games
Updated May 2026

Play Chess for iMessage is the household name in play chess for imessage, but it's far from the only option. We track 197+ alternatives and competitors on iOS — many free, many higher-rated than you'd expect.

Top Picks for Play Chess For Imessage

Play Chess for iMessage#1

Play Chess for iMessage by Chess.com, LLC

Chess.com - Games with Friends
Editor's Choice
🎮 Games
3.2😐(139 ratings)
Free
Play Chess for iMessage screenshot 1
Play Chess for iMessage screenshot 2
Play Chess for iMessage screenshot 3
Play Chess for iMessage screenshot 4
Play Chess for iMessage screenshot 5
Play Chess for iMessage screenshot 6

Engage in unlimited chess matches directly through iMessage with friends. Customize your game with different boards and pieces. Enjoy a casual, timer-free experience without registration or in-app purchases.

What We Love

  • 👍 Easy to play without knowing chess rules
  • 🎮 Fun gameplay mechanics for iMessage
  • 🎨 Theme customizer available
  • 🔄 Move guide and helpful features

Room to Improve

  • 🚫 Cannot uninstall app (major recurring issue)
  • 🐛 iCloud login error persists despite being logged in
  • ❌ App doesn't show on home screen
Chess - Play & Learn Online#2

Chess - Play & Learn Online by Chess.com, LLC

Board game and Puzzle learning
Strong Contender
🎮 Games
4.8😊(783K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#8in Games
Chess - Play & Learn Online screenshot 1
Chess - Play & Learn Online screenshot 2
Chess - Play & Learn Online screenshot 3
Chess - Play & Learn Online screenshot 4
Chess - Play & Learn Online screenshot 5
Chess - Play & Learn Online screenshot 6

Engage in online and offline chess matches with millions of players worldwide. Improve your skills through interactive lessons, over 500,000 puzzles, and powerful AI opponents. Compete in tournaments and explore various chess variants.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Excellent app for learning and improving chess skills
  • 🎓 Comprehensive lessons, puzzles, and analysis tools
  • 🌍 Large player base for quick matchmaking
  • 📊 Detailed game statistics and progress tracking

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Frequent connection issues and game freezes
  • ⏱️ Unreliable and inconsistent game timers
  • 🔒 Lack of transparency around anti-cheating measures
GamePigeon#3

GamePigeon by Vitalii Zlotskii

Games for iMessage
Worth Considering
🎮 Games
3.9😊(224K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
GamePigeon screenshot 1
GamePigeon screenshot 2
GamePigeon screenshot 3
GamePigeon screenshot 4
GamePigeon screenshot 5
GamePigeon screenshot 6

Play a variety of multiplayer games directly within iMessage with friends and family. Enjoy classic board games, sports simulations, and word puzzles without leaving your conversations. More games are added regularly.

What We Love

  • 🎮 Fun and engaging games
  • 👥 Great way to connect with friends
  • 💡 Variety of game options
  • ⏱️ Convenient turn-based gameplay

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Frequent glitches and bugs
  • 🤑 Expensive in-app purchases
  • 🔄 Repetitive gameplay over time

More Play Chess For Imessage apps to explore

4
Chess
Chess
Chess
Play Chess and Solve Puzzles
Free

Engage in the classic game of chess with customizable graphics and multiple difficulty levels. Play against AI or a friend, with features like move undo, hints, and time controls. Enjoy a rich chess experience with detailed game history and board customization.

HD graphics5 difficulty levelsHint option
🎮 Games
(36K)
free with in-app purchases
5
Chess ME - with Friends
Chess ME - with Friends
Chess ME - with Friends
in Messages or 2 P on 1 Device
Free

Engage in chess matches directly within messaging apps or enjoy a classic two-player experience on a single device. Features include HD graphics, game playback, move analysis, and an AI opponent. Earn rewards to become a premium user.

Play chess in messagesTwo players on one deviceGame playback and analysis
🎮 Games
(1.4K)
free with in-app purchases
6
Chess - Offline Board Game
Chess - Offline Board Game
Chess - Offline Board Game
The ultimate Chess board game
Free

Engage in classic chess matches offline with adjustable difficulty levels. Enhance your skills with hints, undo moves, and track your progress through personal statistics. Enjoy visually appealing graphics and flexible 2D or 3D piece options in this free board game.

Offline playPlay vs AI8 difficulty levels
🎮 Games
(64K)
free with in-app purchases
7
Chess - Learn Chess
Chess - Learn Chess
Chess - Learn Chess
Learn to play in minutes!
Free

Discover the world of chess with this interactive e-book. Learn the rules, terminology, and essential strategies through engaging content and practice moves with interactive diagrams. Improve your game, whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills.

Interactive e-book formatTeaches rules and terminologyCovers essential strategies
📚 Education
(194)
paid
8
Chess Tiger Pro
Chess Tiger Pro
Chess Tiger Pro
Learn, play, improve!
$14.99
$17.99 | 17% OFF

Master chess with interactive lessons and Grandmaster-level move suggestions. Learn rules effortlessly, play real games, and analyze your performance with detailed feedback. Suitable for beginners and experts alike, this ad-free app helps you improve your game at your own pace.

Ad-free learning experienceIntroductory chess lessons for beginnersGrandmaster-level move suggestions
🎮 Games
(23K)
free with in-app purchases
9
SocialChess • Online Chess
SocialChess • Online Chess
SocialChess • Online Chess
Play Friends, Learn, No Ads!
Free

Engage in online chess matches with friends or strangers, featuring both timed and correspondence game modes. Enjoy a clean interface with no ads, advanced features, and detailed game statistics. Play offline and sync later, with options to expand game limits via in-app purchase.

Online chess matchesTimed and correspondence gamesNo advertisements
🎮 Games
(7.1K)
free with in-app purchases
10
Pocket Chess
Pocket Chess
Pocket Chess
Chess Puzzles
Free

Enhance your chess skills with hundreds of challenging chess problems and puzzles. This app focuses on simplified boards to help you quickly recognize chess patterns and improve your game.

Hundreds of chess problemsCheckmate in 2 and 4 puzzlesSimplified boards for pattern recognition
🎮 Games
(14K)
free with in-app purchases
11
Chess Royale
Chess Royale
Chess Royale
Play with Friends, Learn & Win
Free

Engage in the classic game of chess with millions worldwide. This app offers AI challenges, multiplayer matches, and extensive training tools including puzzles and post-game analysis to improve your strategic skills.

Play against AIMultiplayer matchesChess puzzles
🎮 Games
(20K)
free with in-app purchases
12
™ Chess
™ Chess
™ Chess
Play and learn Chess
Free

Engage in the timeless strategy of chess on your mobile device. Play against sophisticated AI opponents across multiple difficulty levels, or challenge friends and family. Features include an undo option, board editor, and customizable themes for a personalized experience.

Play against AIMultiplayer matchesUndo feature
🎮 Games
(9.1K)
free with in-app purchases
13
Chess Clash: Online & Offline
Chess Clash: Online & Offline
Chess Clash: Online & Offline
2 player puzzle board game
Free

Engage in strategic chess battles online or offline. Compete against players worldwide, challenge friends, and collect unique chess sets. Enjoy different game modes and daily rewards.

Online multiplayerOffline play with computerInvite and play with friends
🎮 Games
(2.9K)
free with in-app purchases
14
Chess ∙
Chess ∙
Chess ∙
by Optime Software LLC
Free

Experience a visually appealing and engaging chess game on your iPhone and iPod Touch. Play against friends or a customizable AI opponent with features like undo and automatic saving. Enjoy a free, ad-supported experience.

1 and 2 player gameplayChallenging computer opponentGreat graphics and sound
🎮 Games
(193K)
ad-supported
15
Real Chess Master 3D
Real Chess Master 3D
Real Chess Master 3D
logic of attack and defense
Free

Experience the classic game of chess in a visually stunning 3D environment. Play against a challenging AI with numerous difficulty levels or test your skills against real players worldwide. Offers helpful hints for beginners and customizable board themes.

Advanced 3D graphicsPlay against AIPlay against real opponents
🎮 Games
(386)
ad-supported
16
Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf
Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf
Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf
Beginner friendly coaching
Free

This app provides personalized chess coaching with an AI companion who explains moves, identifies mistakes, and offers interactive lessons. It caters to beginners and intermediate players with a comprehensive curriculum and adaptive difficulty.

Personalized AI coachingAudible explanations of movesOver 50 interactive lessons
🎮 Games
(26K)
free with in-app purchases
17
Square Off Chess- Play & Learn
Square Off Chess- Play & Learn
Square Off Chess- Play & Learn
Elevate Your Chess Experience
Free

This app offers a comprehensive chess experience for players of all levels. Learn, analyze, and master the game with challenging AI, unlimited game analysis, and online competition. Track your progress and share your gameplay with the world.

Challenge AI up to ELO 3200+Adaptive AI that adjusts to your movesUnlimited game import and analysis
🎮 Games
(3K)
free with in-app purchases
18
Chess Universe+
Chess Universe+
Chess Universe+
Play and learn chess online!
Free

Engage in online chess matches and enhance your gameplay with a comprehensive learning platform. Access tutorials, challenges, and connect with a global community of players. Personalize your experience with collectible pets and avatar customizations.

Play against players worldwideExtensive tutorials and lessonsInteractive learning challenges
🎮 Games
(5.8K)
free
19
Chess Online +
Chess Online +
Chess Online +
Play online chess game!
Free

Engage in online chess matches with a global community of players. Offers various time controls, rated games, and computer opponents. Improve your skills with learning tools and puzzles.

Global multiplayer chess communityMultiple time control optionsRated games and statistics
🎮 Games
(26K)
free with in-app purchases
20
Chess - tChess Pro
Chess - tChess Pro
Chess - tChess Pro
For beginners to professionals
$7.99

This app offers a high-quality chess experience for players of all levels, from beginners to professionals. It features a strong engine, analysis tools, and learning resources to improve your game.

Simulated human opponents for beginnersTop-tier chess engine for expertsReal-time game analysis
🎮 Games
(245)
paid