lichess vs chess com

October 20, 2025

Online chess platforms aren’t equal. Lichess and Chess.com dominate the space, but they approach features, pricing, and learning very differently. If you’re deciding where to spend time—or money—you need to understand how they stack up in real use, not just feature lists. This breakdown covers design, player pool, training, analysis, pricing, and common complaints users make after switching.

Interface and usability

Lichess keeps its interface lightweight. The board loads instantly, there are no ads, and menus are direct. It feels like a tool built for playing chess first. Everything is one click away: analysis, puzzles, studies, tournaments. Many players stick with it because the site doesn’t get in your way.

Chess.com goes in the opposite direction: polished, animated, full of buttons and menus. There are themes, avatars, cosmetics, and promotional banners. It looks more professional, but new users often feel overwhelmed. You’re shown videos, lessons, bots, articles, shop items—sometimes before you even play a game. Some people like the “hub” approach. Others say it slows them down.

Mobile apps reflect this difference. Lichess is simple and consistent. Chess.com is feature-rich but can feel crowded. If you prefer clean and fast, Lichess wins. If you like a more “platform-like” experience with extras, Chess.com fits.

Pricing and access

Lichess is completely free. No ads, no subscriptions, no paywalls. The project runs on donations. You can play unlimited games, run engine analysis, create studies, view opening explorer, solve puzzles—as much as you want.

Chess.com uses a freemium model. You can play games for free, but most advanced tools lock after a few uses per day. Unlimited puzzles, full game review, advanced lessons, and stronger bots require paid membership (Basic, Gold, Platinum, Diamond tiers). Some features are intentionally limited to push upgrades. If you only play casual blitz, free is fine. If you want deep training, you’ll hit paywalls often.

Player pool and matchmaking

Chess.com has the largest active user base. That means fast pairing at any time of day, across almost every time control. If you want a 3+2 blitz game at 3 a.m., you’ll get it instantly. High-rated players often say the competition on Chess.com is tougher, especially above 2000.

Lichess still has millions of active users, but the distribution is different. Fast games pair quickly, but longer games (classical) can take longer to find. The average rating also trends higher due to how the rating system is calibrated. Some strong players prefer Lichess because the interface feels smoother. Others move to Chess.com for more elite competition. If you’re under 2000 rating, both platforms have enough opponents.

Rating systems and differences

Chess.com and Lichess use Glicko-based systems, but they start at different baselines. Lichess users often begin around 1500. Chess.com users often start lower, around 1200. That alone creates confusion. A 1600 on Chess.com might feel equal to an 1800 on Lichess. Players have tracked this for years and the consensus is Lichess ratings are 200–400 points higher in many modes. At higher ratings, the gap shrinks. It’s not a quality issue—just calibration. Don’t judge platforms by rating strength alone.

Game analysis and tools

Lichess gives you full Stockfish analysis for free. You get accuracy percentages, move-by-move evaluations, and the ability to explore variations endlessly. You can also create “studies” to organize games, repertoires, or training material. These studies can be public or private and shared with others. This is one of Lichess’s strongest features, especially for coaches or serious improvers.

Chess.com offers game review with accuracy scores and comments. It highlights blunders, missed wins, and critical positions. However, full analysis is limited without a premium plan. You may only get partial reports or slower engines on free accounts. Some people prefer Chess.com’s visual approach; others find Lichess more customizable and deeper.

Learning and improvement features

Chess.com dominates in structured learning. It offers step-by-step lessons, premium videos from grandmasters, themed puzzles, Puzzle Rush, Puzzle Battle, and coaches. If you like guided improvement or gamified training, this is a clear advantage. Puzzle Rush alone keeps many subscribers on the platform.

Lichess has puzzles too, but they are more straightforward. No Puzzle Rush by default (there is a community-made version, but it’s not the same). There are no curated video lesson series created by staff. Learning is self-directed. Advanced players who already know how to train love the freedom. Beginners may feel lost without structure.

Tournaments and variants

Lichess runs free tournaments around the clock, including massive arenas (sometimes thousands of players). Variants like Crazyhouse, Atomic, Chess960, Antichess, and Horde are deeply integrated. If you like weird chess or experimenting, Lichess is the better playground.

Chess.com also has variants, but not as many, and some feel underdeveloped. It does, however, host official events like Titled Tuesday, Speed Chess Championship, and Celebrity matches. These events have prize pools and strong players. Lichess is better for community tournaments. Chess.com is better for professional showcases.

Cheating and fairness

Both platforms deal with cheating. Both use engine detection. Both close accounts. Chess.com is more secretive about its system and sometimes bans high-rated players quietly. Lichess publishes monthly statistics on cheating bans and offers more transparency.

Some users feel Lichess is harsher and quicker to label engine usage. Others believe Chess.com invests more resources in detection due to its revenue. Bottom line: cheating exists on both. Blitz and bullet modes see the most reports. Serious players in longer formats may feel more comfortable when the platform has strict enforcement, but neither site is perfect.

Community and culture

Lichess users often describe the site as community-driven, open-source, and focused on chess purity. There’s no upsell pressure. Developers communicate through forums and GitHub. Decisions feel transparent.

Chess.com has a more corporate feel. It’s a business with marketing campaigns, partnerships, and content distribution. It invests in streamers, events, mobile updates, and branding. Some users appreciate the investment. Others dislike the commercialization.

When each platform works best

Use Lichess if:

You want unlimited analysis and puzzles for free.
You like minimalist design.
You play variants or long games.
You don’t want ads or subscriptions.
You prefer open-source platforms.

Use Chess.com if:

You want structured learning materials.
You like Puzzle Rush, bots, or themed drills.
You care about a massive player pool.
You want polished events and social features.
You’re willing to pay for extra tools.

Many strong players maintain accounts on both and switch depending on task: play on Lichess for speed and clean experience, train on Chess.com using premium features.

Common mistakes people make

Treating ratings as interchangeable across platforms.
Assuming Lichess is “worse” because it’s free.
Assuming Chess.com’s free tier includes everything.
Ignoring how paywalls affect daily training.
Choosing based on popularity instead of personal workflow.

What happens if you pick the wrong platform

You may burn time waiting for games in your preferred time control. Or you may waste money on features you don’t use. Worse, you might limit your improvement because the platform doesn’t support your training style. It’s better to experiment early and track what you actually use.

Final assessment

Neither platform is universally better. Lichess prioritizes speed, openness, and equality. Chess.com prioritizes features, structure, and scale. Your choice should reflect how you learn, how often you play, and whether you value freedom or guided experiences.

FAQ

Is Lichess really 100% free?
Yes. No ads, no premium tier, all tools available. Donations are optional.

Why are Chess.com ratings lower than Lichess?
Different rating baselines and player pool distributions. A 1500 on Chess.com is not equal to 1500 on Lichess.

Do grandmasters use Lichess?
Yes, many use both. Some streamers prefer Chess.com for visibility, but Lichess has titled players in daily tournaments.

Which platform is better for beginners?
Lichess for playing and practicing cheaply. Chess.com if you want guided lessons and structured learning.

Which platform has more cheaters?
Both have cheating. Both ban thousands of accounts. Experiences vary by time control and rating.

Can I use both platforms?
Yes, and many players do. It avoids being limited by one system.

Which platform is better for serious improvement?
Depends on how you train. If you want unlimited analysis and self-study, Lichess. If you want professional lessons and puzzle modes, Chess.com with premium.