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Lichess alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Lichess: fewer structured lessons and video courses than Chess.com, and server-side deep analysis is capped at 40 games a day. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Lichess, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. PlayOK currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1PlayOK logoPlayOKFreeNoWeb3 of 379.8
2Chess.com logoChess.comFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android5 of 566.5
3Board Game Arena logoBoard Game ArenaFree plan + paidNoWeb7 of 761.8
  1. PlayOK logo

    1. PlayOKTop pick

    Best for: Players who want quick live games of chess, backgammon or classic card games with real people

    FreeWeb

    79.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Lichess

    Lightweight site for casual chess that also offers draughts, backgammon and card games.

    Pros

    • Large live player base for classic games
    • Rankings, statistics and game records
    • Works on phones and tablets
    • Free to play

    Cons

    • No modern hobby board games
    • Plain, dated design
    • No built-in video chat
    Visit PlayOK Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PlayOK a good Lichess alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 29, 2026playok.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Features
    Rooms, rankings, stats, profiles
    Checked Oct 29, 2026playok.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile
    Supported
    Checked Oct 29, 2026playok.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Chess.com logo

    2. Chess.com

    Best for: Players who want the biggest pool of opponents plus structured lessons and coaching

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Lichess

    Larger player base plus guided lessons, bots with personalities and a coach mode, with a paid tier.

    Pros

    • Huge player base means fast pairings at any level
    • Lessons, bots and a coach mode for beginners
    • Live coverage of top tournaments and news
    • Polished mobile apps

    Cons

    • Free tier shows ads and limits game review, puzzles and lessons
    • Key improvement tools need a paid Premium membership
    • Closed platform; you can't self-host or audit the code
    Visit Chess.com Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Chess.com a good Lichess alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Players
    250+ million
    Checked Nov 1, 2026chess.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Ad-free
    Premium only
    Checked Nov 1, 2026chess.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Puzzles
    500,000+
    Checked Nov 1, 2026chess.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    Yes
    Checked Nov 1, 2026chess.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile apps
    iOS and Android
    Checked Nov 1, 2026chess.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Board Game Arena logo

    3. Board Game Arena

    Best for: Board gamers who want a huge licensed catalog and opponents available around the clock

    Free plan + paidWeb

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Lichess

    Good if your group wants chess and many modern board games in one place.

    Pros

    • Over a thousand games, many of them modern licensed titles
    • Rules are enforced automatically
    • Real-time and turn-based play
    • Huge player base for quick matchmaking

    Cons

    • Some games need a Premium member to start a table
    • Busy interface takes time to learn
    • No built-in video chat
    Visit Board Game Arena Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Board Game Arena a good Lichess alternative?

    Verified facts

    7 of 7 verified
    Games
    1,400+
    Checked Oct 26, 2026boardgamearena.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Install needed
    No, runs in the browser
    Checked Oct 29, 2026boardgamearena.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Play modes
    Real-time or turn-based
    Checked Oct 29, 2026boardgamearena.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Languages
    42
    Checked Oct 29, 2026boardgamearena.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid plan
    Premium membership
    Checked Oct 29, 2026boardgamearena.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium (annual) plan
    $42 a year
    Checked Nov 1, 2026forum.boardgamearena.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium (monthly) plan
    $5 a month
    Checked Nov 1, 2026forum.boardgamearena.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Lichess alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

PlayOK logo

Best Lichess alternative for most people

PlayOK

Lightweight site for casual chess that also offers draughts, backgammon and card games.

PlayOK logo

Best Lichess alternative for a free option

PlayOK

Lightweight site for casual chess that also offers draughts, backgammon and card games.

Chess.com logo

Best Lichess alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Chess.com

Larger player base plus guided lessons, bots with personalities and a coach mode, with a paid tier.

Chess.com logo

Best Lichess alternative for iPhone and Android

Chess.com

Larger player base plus guided lessons, bots with personalities and a coach mode, with a paid tier.

Board Game Arena logo

Best Lichess alternative for working in the browser

Board Game Arena

Good if your group wants chess and many modern board games in one place.

Lichess alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Lichess?

PlayOK ranks first right now. Lightweight site for casual chess that also offers draughts, backgammon and card games. Chess.com and Board Game Arena follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Lichess?

Yes. PlayOK (free), Chess.com (free plan + paid) and Board Game Arena (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Lichess?

None of the 3 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Lichess?

The complaints we hear most: fewer structured lessons and video courses than Chess.com; server-side deep analysis is capped at 40 games a day; relies on donations rather than a paid support team.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Lichess, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.