Chess Clock by Chess.com

The Best Game Timer for Chess

Ratings

Age

4+

Board

Languages

English

Latest Version 2.0.7

Mon Jun 17 2024

Adding some minor updates and improvements!

We hope you love this update. If so, please consider giving it a fresh five-star rating or review. It really helps us out! Thank you - and enjoy your chess.

Chess Clock by Chess.com replaces your expensive physical chess timer with a sleek, reliable digital clock. Designed for competitive play, it supports all popular time controls including Blitz, Bullet, and Rapid. You can easily customize increments (time added after a move) and delays (time before your clock starts). With a move counter, sound alerts, and a clean, high-visibility interface, it’s the ultimate companion for over-the-board games with friends or at your local chess club.

Dinsun Expert Review

Our Expert Score

71/100

Chess Clock by Chess.com is a utilitarian masterpiece. While it’s technically a tool and not a game, it is an essential piece of 'gaming' software for any over-the-board chess player. The design is impeccably clean, prioritizing high-contrast numbers and large tap areas that can withstand the frantic 'slapping' of a blitz or bullet game. It feels professional and reliable, which is exactly what you want when your time is ticking down.

The customization options are surprisingly deep. You aren't just limited to standard time controls; you can easily set up complex increments and delays (Fisher or Bronstein) that are used in professional tournaments. The inclusion of sound alerts and a move counter makes it a complete replacement for expensive physical clocks. It’s a simple app that does one thing perfectly, proving that Rockstar-level polish isn't just for action games—it's for the tools that power our hobbies too.

Dinsun reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026

Features

Customizable time and increment settings

High-visibility, high-contrast clock face

Move counter for tournament tracking

Landscape and portrait support

Tips & Walkthrough

Setting Up for Blitz

For a standard Blitz game, select the '5+0' preset. If you want a more modern feel, go to custom settings and set '3+2' (3 minutes with a 2-second increment). This ensures that even in extreme time scrambles, you can always finish the game on the board.

Gameplays

Fisher vs. Bronstein Delay

Use 'Fisher' increments to add time directly to your total after every move. Use 'Bronstein' delay to have the clock wait for a few seconds before it begins to count down. Most modern tournaments prefer Fisher increments.

Screenshot

Q&A

The app is free and focuses on a clean, professional experience for serious players.

Ratings & Reviews

Solid chess timer

Mon Apr 16 2018 mtnPerson15

A really nice timer for casual games with your friends. I like the ability to save your own preset times, so you can play your favorite time easily. A great alternative to an analog or electric chess timer. I would definitely pay money for this app. The only thing I would have liked to see is a sound cue for the end of the game. Overall, a very solid chess timer.

Timer adds after you push clock

Tue Oct 17 2023 CougarMeat

I revised this two four stars because it does add an increment - note, NOT a delay - but it adds it back after your move. I believe that is called, “Fischer After”. You cannot change that method. I was looking for a clock that gave a simple delay Before the timer started. So I was befuddled because no matter how I set it, the clock started immediately and time was not added on in the beginning (Fischer Before) as was done with other clocks. So, yeah, this works. But it would have been nice if the method was better described.

Works except when you use more than one finger

Wed Jan 01 2025 JamieHND

The app does what you need it to but the problem is that if you use more than one finger to hit the timer, it won’t count. You have to use one finger for it to consistently work. If you slap it like you would a regular button, multiple fingers touch at once and it will not always register a click to switch to your opponent. Easy fix on the developer’s end if they see this! If using only one finger to hit the clock isn’t an issue for you, then this is a great app!

Awesome

Fri Feb 01 2019 gcbiggie64

What a fantastic timer. Sometimes you find yourself playing real chess but don’t have a clock on hand. This fantastic app has many of the time options of a real check clock. The button size and readability is very good. The sound effects give it a real visceral feel of hitting a clock! Would be cool to add a vibrate when hit button too.

Great for Backgammon Too!

Tue May 28 2019 Walksslow

I wanted an app for playing backgammon, and this one fits the bill VERY nicely! Use is intuitive (although it took me a bit to figure how to program delays). Automatic pause feature upon interruption is an obvious nice touch for a clock that is connected to your mobile phone. Manual pause feature works well to manage game interruptions. Two additions I’d like to see: 1. A useful help/programming guide. 2. Visual countdown of the delay period. As it stands now, clock doesn’t begin counting down until full delay period has expired, then clock displays count down of reserve time consumed. A great little app for backgammon or chess players. Highly recommended!

Great, but add warning please

Fri Aug 01 2025 Rogcg

Works really well, but please add options to warn of low time. 30 seconds left, 10 seconds, 1 min, etc. at least the standard 10 seconds but more options would be great. Right now there is no warning at all. Thank you,

Excellent and easy to use chess timer

Sun Jan 03 2021 Per4mnce

A simple and intuitive user interface that works well. Some nice options for more advanced use. Totally free and no annoying advertisements. Tested on my iPad and iPhone using most recent IOS version. Thank you developers!

Great Clock!

Thu Feb 06 2020 Flambeau400

Great clock with a lot of nice features. One small bug. Once you’ve made a time change in the Edit function of Settings, there’s no option to cancel. There are only two choices. Both options, “<Settings” and “Save”, store the change. You have to go back and manually undo the update that was made.