Chess.com vs Lichess: Which Should You Use?
Chess.com and Lichess are the two dominant places to play chess online, and both are excellent — this isn't a "one is bad" comparison. What matters is which one fits how you actually want to play and learn.
Head-to-head
| Feature | Chess.com | Lichess |
|---|---|---|
| Cost/pricing model | Free tier plus paid membership tiers that unlock extras | 100% free, no paid tiers at all |
| Ads | Ads shown to free-tier users; removed on paid tiers | No ads, ever |
| Puzzle library | Large, well-organised puzzle sets plus Puzzle Rush and Puzzle Battle game modes | Large free puzzle trainer with no limits |
| Game analysis tools | Strong built-in analysis; deeper features reserved for paid tiers | Full Stockfish analysis on every game, completely free, no limits |
| Opening explorer | Available, more advanced access on paid tiers | Free opening explorer, including a database drawn from real games |
| Mobile app quality | Polished, feature-rich, frequently updated | Clean and functional, more minimal in style |
| Community/social features | Large, active player base; clubs, forums, friending | Active community, notably popular among titled players and strong club players |
| Streaming/content integration | Deep integration with streamers and content creators | Used by streamers too, but with less built-in platform integration |
| Open source vs proprietary | Proprietary, closed platform | Fully open source |
| Best for | Beginners and casual players who want a polished app experience with lessons and courses | Players who want unlimited free analysis with zero paywalls, at any level |
Chess.com's strengths
Chess.com has by far the largest player base of any chess site, which means fast matchmaking at almost any time of day and any rating level. Its interface is polished and beginner-friendly, and it offers structured lessons and courses (in the style of Chessable-style guided learning) that walk newer players through openings, tactics, and endgames step by step. The mobile app is consistently rated as one of the strongest in the category. Game modes like Puzzle Rush and Puzzle Battle turn tactics training into something closer to a game, which helps a lot of players build the habit of practising daily. The community side — clubs, forums, following other players — is also more developed than on most competing sites.
Lichess's strengths
Lichess is completely free and completely ad-free, with no paywalled features anywhere on the platform — everything from unlimited puzzles to full Stockfish-powered game analysis is available to every user at no cost. It's also fully open source, which is part of why it has such a loyal following among titled players and strong club players: nothing is hidden behind a subscription, and the analysis tools are as strong as anything a paid product offers elsewhere. The interface is deliberately clean and minimal, which suits players who want to get straight into a game or straight into analysing one without extra friction or upsell prompts.
Which should you pick?
If you're a casual beginner who wants a fun, guided app experience with lessons, game modes, and a big community to be part of, Chess.com is the easier starting point. If you want unlimited free game analysis and a no-friction, no-upsell experience regardless of your level, Lichess is hard to beat. In practice, a lot of serious players end up using both — Chess.com for community and structured learning, Lichess for deep, free analysis of every game they play.
Whichever platform you choose, the fundamentals carry across both: brush up on Chess Tactics to spot forks, pins and skewers, and make sure you know How to Play Chess if you're just starting out. One thing to keep in mind — ratings on the two sites aren't directly comparable, so see Chess Ratings and ELO Explained for why a rating on one site doesn't map cleanly onto the other.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chess.com or Lichess better for beginners?
Both work well for beginners. Chess.com's structured lessons and polished app tend to suit beginners who want guidance, while Lichess suits beginners who are comfortable finding their own way and want every feature free from day one.
Is Lichess really completely free?
Yes. Lichess has no paid tiers, no ads, and no features locked behind a paywall — including full game analysis with Stockfish, which is a paid feature on many other platforms.
Can I play the same account on both?
No — Chess.com and Lichess are separate platforms with separate accounts, ratings, and game histories. Many players keep an account on both.
Which has better puzzles?
Both have large, well-regarded puzzle libraries. Chess.com adds game-like modes such as Puzzle Rush and Puzzle Battle, while Lichess offers its full puzzle trainer free with no limits.