Compare
Chess.com Alternatives
Lichess for price and limits, a shorter format for time, a club for screens
Lichess is the direct replacement: free, open source, and nothing behind a paywall. If you are leaving over the price, that is your answer. If you are leaving because a game takes too long, a different site will not fix it, and a shorter format will.
The short answer
Use Lichess. It is free and open source, funded by donations, and it caps nothing: puzzles, engine analysis, studies and tournaments are all unlimited and there is no advertising. It is the only alternative that matches Chess.com feature for feature at zero cost.
Why people leave
Three reasons come up again and again, and each one points to a different answer.
- 1.The free tier is capped. Daily puzzles and game reviews run out. Lichess removes this problem completely.
- 2.The membership costs money. The tiers start at $4.17 a month billed yearly. Lichess has no paid tier at all.
- 3.A game takes too long. This is not a pricing problem and no rival site solves it, because they all start from the same position with the same clocks.
The alternatives
Best for everyone leaving over price or limits
The full replacement. Free and open source, no advertising, unlimited puzzles and analysis, tournaments and studies included. Import your games as PGN and carry on. The rating scale is different, so expect a different number.
Zapp Chess
Best for leaving because a game takes too long
Every game starts in the middlegame and ends on checkmate or a two-point material lead, so it takes under three minutes and no opening theory applies. Free to install, every game free. It is a format change, not another full server.
Over the board
Best for players tired of screens
A local club gives you rated games, opponents at your level and no subscription. It is the alternative nobody lists, and it is the one most likely to make you better.
Side by side
| Criterion | Chess.com | Lichess | Zapp Chess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier; plans from $4.17/mo billed yearly | Free; no paid tier exists | Free to install, every game free |
| Business model | Memberships, four tiers | Donations; no ads, no paywalls | Free app |
| Open source | No | Yes, the whole server | No |
| Typical game length | 3 to 30 minutes | 3 to 30 minutes | Under 3 minutes |
| Where a game starts | The opening | The opening | The middlegame |
| How you win | Checkmate, resignation or time | Checkmate, resignation or time | Checkmate or a 2-point material lead |
| Opening theory needed | Yes, from the first move | Yes, from the first move | None |
| Platforms | Web, Android, iPhone | Web, Android, iPhone | Android, iPhone |
✓Prices and features checked on 28 August 2026. Sources: Chess.com membership plans, About lichess.org, ChessGoals rating comparison, 2026 update.
Moving your games
Download your archive as PGN from your Chess.com account page, then import the file wherever you are going. Every serious site accepts PGN, so nothing is lost. Ratings do not move with you, because each site runs its own pool and its own scale. The conversion table on Lichess vs Chess.com explains why the numbers differ. Enter your Chess.com blitz rating below to see the rough Lichess equivalent: a 1200 on Chess.com blitz plays at about 1555 on Lichess blitz, and the gap narrows as ratings rise.
Equivalent Lichess blitz rating
≈1555
Half of players land within roughly 70 to 115 points of that number. Built from the ChessGoals dataset of players with a rating deviation under 150.
You can keep both
Nothing forces a choice. Many players keep a Chess.com account for events and friends, and play their daily games somewhere else. If you do decide to remove the account, close it for a reversible break or follow the deletion steps for a permanent removal.
Questions people ask
What is the best free alternative to Chess.com?
Lichess. It is free and open source, funded by donations, and nothing on it is behind a paywall, including unlimited puzzles and computer analysis.
Why do people look for a Chess.com alternative?
Three reasons come up repeatedly: the free tier limits puzzles and analysis, the paid tiers cost money, and a full game takes longer than the time people have.
Can I move my games to another site?
Yes. Download your games as PGN from your account page, then import the file into the other site. Ratings do not transfer, because each site runs its own pool.
Is there an alternative with shorter games?
Zapp Chess. Every game starts in the middlegame and ends on checkmate or a two-point material lead, so it takes under three minutes instead of twenty.
Do I have to delete my Chess.com account to switch?
No. Nothing stops you from keeping both. If you do want to remove the account, close it for a reversible break, or delete it for a permanent removal.
Prices and limits checked on 28 August 2026 against the Chess.com membership page and the Lichess about page. Rating conversions are built from the ChessGoals comparison dataset. This page is not affiliated with Chess.com or Lichess.