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

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Chess.com	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	5 of 5	66.5

1. Chess.comTop pick
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)

The best Lichess alternative for…

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

Best Lichess alternative for most people

PlayOK

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

Best Lichess alternative for a free option

PlayOK

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

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.

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.

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.