Offline · No ads · Coaching
A Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi alternative
that tells you why the game went wrong.
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi is a free, offline xiangqi app with eight AI opponents, hundreds of endgame puzzles, western or Hanzi pieces, hints, and unlimited undo, rated 4.6 from about a thousand ratings on the US App Store. Xiangqiful plays offline too, and its focus is what comes after the game. Pikafish reviews every move on your device, names each mistake in xiangqi's own terms, and turns those mistakes into drills and mate problems. Xiangqiful has no ads and collects no data.
How does Xiangqiful compare to Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi?
Both are offline xiangqi apps you play against the computer. The difference is what happens after the game.
Opponents
Xiangqiful: 40 AI opponents in eight tiers, from Novice to Master, each with its own style; the first 10 are free, and Premium opens all 40. Beat one twice to mark it defeated.
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi: Eight AI opponents, from ‘A Lucky Child’ to ‘The Centenarian Elder’, plus AI-versus-AI and sacrifice modes.
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi: Eight AI opponents, from ‘A Lucky Child’ to ‘The Centenarian Elder’, plus AI-versus-AI and sacrifice modes.
After the game
Xiangqiful: Pikafish grades every move from best to blunder, gives accuracy for both sides, and names mistakes in xiangqi terms: a screenless cannon, a trapped horse, broken advisors, a missed Iron Bolt mate.
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi: Hints and unlimited undo while you play; a structured post-game review is not a listed feature.
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi: Hints and unlimited undo while you play; a structured post-game review is not a listed feature.
Puzzles & training
Xiangqiful: 902 mate problems, mate-in-1 to mate-in-7, 708 of them from eight classical manuals, the Shiqing Yaqu supplying the most, each line re-checked by the app's own solver. 150+ drills in nine modules, and 80 lessons in 8 tracks.
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi: 600+ endgame puzzles and a custom board for setting up your own positions.
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi: 600+ endgame puzzles and a custom board for setting up your own positions.
Reading the pieces
Xiangqiful: Traditional, western-symbol, and hybrid sets; traditional or simplified characters; WXF or Chinese notation; optional 3D board; 40 localizations.
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi: Western symbols, Hanzi characters, and vintage designs; English only.
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi: Western symbols, Hanzi characters, and vintage designs; English only.
Ads & privacy
Xiangqiful: No ads in either tier, no tracking. The app collects no data.
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi: No in-app purchases. Its privacy label lists identifiers used to track you and for third-party advertising.
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi: No in-app purchases. Its privacy label lists identifiers used to track you and for third-party advertising.
Price & platforms
Xiangqiful: Free; Premium $1.99/month or $9.99/year (each with a 7-day free trial), or $19.99 once. iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi: Free. iPhone and iPad, and Apple-silicon Macs.
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi: Free. iPhone and iPad, and Apple-silicon Macs.
| Feature | Xiangqiful | Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi |
|---|---|---|
| Works offline | Yes | Yes |
| AI opponents | 40 in eight tiers, each with its own style (first 10 free) | 8, beginner to expert |
| Post-game engine review | Yes: Pikafish on device, moves graded from best to blunder, accuracy for both sides | Not a listed feature; hints during play |
| Mistakes named in xiangqi terms | Yes | No |
| Training from your own games | Yes: drills and mate problems chosen from your weaknesses | No |
| Puzzles | 902 mate problems, solver-checked | 600+ endgame puzzles |
| Lessons | 80 lessons in 8 tracks | Not a listed feature |
| Western-style pieces | Western and hybrid sets | Western symbols |
| Languages | 40 localizations | English |
| Ads & tracking | None; the app collects no data | Identifiers used for tracking and third-party advertising |
| Price | Free; Premium $1.99/mo or $9.99/yr (each with a 7-day free trial), or $19.99 lifetime | Free, no in-app purchases |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, and Mac | iPhone, iPad, and Apple-silicon Macs |
| Best for | Understanding your games and training what they show | Free offline games and endgame puzzles against the computer |
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi details were checked on 1 October 2026 against its public US App Store listing (developer Tuyen Mai) and can change. Check opponents, puzzles, and the privacy label on the current listing before installing.
Which to pick: free games or a coach
Pick Xiangqiful if you want…
- A review of every game, with each mistake named in xiangqi terms
- Drills and mate problems chosen from what you keep missing
- 80 lessons, with a hybrid set that teaches the characters as you play
- An app without ads that collects no data
- The app in your own language, from 40 localizations
Pick Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi if you want…
- A completely free offline opponent with no purchases at all
- Hundreds of endgame puzzles and a custom board
- AI-versus-AI and sacrifice modes to experiment with
- A long-established app with about a thousand ratings
If you just want a free opponent on the train, Best XiangQi does the job; if you want to know why you lost and what to practise next, try Xiangqiful.
About Xiangqiful
Questions
FAQ
What is a good alternative to Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi?
Xiangqiful, if you want your games explained as well as played. Both apps let you play xiangqi offline against the computer. Xiangqiful adds a review of every game: Pikafish grades each move on your device, names mistakes such as a screenless cannon or a missed Iron Bolt mate, and turns them into drills and mate problems. It has no ads and collects no data.
Does Xiangqiful work offline like Best XiangQi?
Yes. The engine, the analysis, the lessons, the puzzles, and all the opponents run on your device, so it plays the same in airplane mode. There is no account and no server of its own; only purchases and the optional Game Center use Apple's servers.
Is Best XiangQi free? Is Xiangqiful?
Chinese Chess - Best XiangQi is free with no in-app purchases; its privacy label lists identifiers used for tracking and third-party advertising. Xiangqiful is free to download with no ads: unlimited games against the first 10 of its 40 opponents, all 80 lessons, the first drill set in every drill module, 2 game analyses, 3 training puzzles, and 2 coach hints a day. Premium is $1.99/month or $9.99/year (each with a 7-day free trial), or $19.99 once. All three Premium plans support Family Sharing. On price alone, Best XiangQi wins.
Which app has more puzzles?
They count different things. Best XiangQi lists more than 600 endgame puzzles. Xiangqiful has 902 mate problems (consecutive-check puzzles from mate-in-1 to mate-in-7, 708 from eight classical manuals, the Shiqing Yaqu supplying the most, and 194 original compositions) plus 150+ drills across nine modules. Xiangqiful's own solver re-checked every mate line, and book problems that don't work were left out.
Can I play with western pieces in both apps?
Yes. Best XiangQi offers western symbols as well as Hanzi and vintage pieces. Xiangqiful has three sets: traditional characters, western symbols, and a hybrid that shows both so you learn the characters as you play. It also offers traditional or simplified characters and WXF or Chinese notation.
How strong are Xiangqiful's opponents?
There are 40 opponents in eight tiers, from Novice to Master, on Xiangqiful's own strength scale, not an Elo rating. Each plays a style, such as aggressive, defensive, cannoneer, or endgame grinder. Shīfu sits on rung 33 and the Sage at the top. The first 10 are free with unlimited games, and Premium opens all 40. Game Review uses Pikafish, a strong open-source engine.
Try it
Open Xiangqiful
Offline xiangqi that explains your games. It needs no account and collects no data.
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