App review
Chess Tactics and Lessons review: price, free version and privacy
A chess tactics trainer with 30,000+ tactics, lessons and openings that adapt to your level; tactics are free, and PRO is $3.99 a month or $29.99 a year.
Best for players who want unlimited free tactics puzzles
Chess Tactics and Lessons
by Lockwood Productions, LLC
- Price
- Free, with subscription
- In-app purchases
- $0.99 to $29.99
- App Store rating
- 4.8 (5.1K)
- Last update
- October 8, 2026
- Privacy label
- No tracking; 6 types linked to you
- Works on
- iPhone, iPad (iOS 26.0+)
Our verdict
This is a good free tactics trainer for players who want to drill puzzles every day. Players on an older iPhone cannot install it, and those who want to play full games online need a different app.
What Chess Tactics and Lessons is
Chess Tactics and Lessons is a puzzle trainer with lessons and opening practice on the side. The description lists over 30,000 tactics, lessons and openings, difficulty that adjusts as you play, lessons with positions from "The Queen's Gambit" and World Championship games, and explanations with engine analysis. Users can also create puzzles and comment on others'.
Who it suits
- Players who want unlimited free tactics puzzles
- Improving players who learn from explained positions
Strengths
- The description says you can play as many tactics as you want for free.
- Difficulty adapts to your ability as you play.
- Lessons explain moves in plain words, and a chess engine is available on the analysis board.
- Low prices, rated 4.8 from about 5,100 ratings, updated in October 2026.
Limits
- Requires iOS 26 or later, so older iPhones cannot install it.
- The age rating notes advertising and user-generated content.
- The listing does not say what PRO adds.
- Six data types are linked to you.
What the free version does
Tactics are free and unlimited, according to the description. A $0.99 purchase removes ads, and the listing does not say which lessons or features need PRO.
Price
On the US App Store in November 2026, the price list includes a Monthly PRO Subscription at $3.99 and an Annual Pro Subscription at $29.99. Smaller one-off items include saved puzzles at $1.99, ad removal at $0.99 and board themes at $0.99 each.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Monthly PRO Subscription | $3.99 |
| Annual Pro Subscription | $29.99 |
| Enable Saved Puzzles | $1.99 |
| Remove ads | $0.99 |
| Green Chess Board | $0.99 |
| Marble Chess Board | $0.99 |
| Orange Chess Board | $0.99 |
Privacy
The privacy label declares no tracking. Purchases, contact info, user content, identifiers, usage data and diagnostics are linked to you.
| Linked to you | Purchases, Contact Info, User Content, Identifiers, Usage Data, Diagnostics |
|---|---|
| Not linked to you | Diagnostics |
What the screenshots show
The screenshots show a tactic board with "Your move. (White)" and a lesson that explains in three points why Ke5 is strong.
Sources
- Chess Tactics and Lessons on the App Store, checked November 2, 2026
- Developer website