Here’s the honest short answer: for playing and improving, the two apps almost everyone lands on are Chess.com and Lichess — and you can’t really go wrong with either. Lichess gives away everything for free; Chess.com offers the biggest community and a deep bank of lessons on a freemium model. Beyond those two, a handful of study, puzzle, and clock apps fill specific gaps. We’re describing all of these by their established reputation — not a hands-on test or star ratings.
Before the list, one bit of transparency: this page covers the major training and play apps. Our own app is a different animal — a casual, fun 3D chess game with character skins — so you’ll find it only in the note at the bottom, not ranked against these platforms. Mixing the two would be dishonest.
What actually matters when picking a chess app
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Cost model | Some apps are fully free; others gate lessons or unlimited puzzles behind a subscription. |
| What you want to do | Play fast games? Solve puzzles? Study openings? Different apps lean different ways. |
| Community size | A bigger player pool means quicker matchmaking at your level, day or night. |
| Analysis tools | Free computer analysis of your games is one of the fastest ways to improve. |
| Offline / clock needs | Some apps play offline or just serve as a clock; handy for travel and OTB. |
The major play-and-learn apps
Lichess. Free, ad-free, and open-source, run by a non-profit and funded by donations. Every feature — unlimited puzzles, computer analysis, tournaments, studies, and chess variants — is available at no cost. Best for: anyone who wants a genuinely free, no-strings platform with excellent study tools, and players who value open-source software.
Chess.com. The largest chess platform in the world, running on a freemium model: you can play, do some puzzles, and get basic analysis for free, with lessons, unlimited puzzles, and advanced tools behind a membership. It hosts an enormous community, a huge lessons library, bots to practice against, and the game database that powers much of online chess. Best for: beginners who want structured lessons and the biggest possible pool of opponents and events.
Study, puzzle, and utility apps. Beyond the two big platforms, several categories are worth knowing:
- Dedicated puzzle/tactics trainers — apps built specifically for drilling tactics in short sessions. (Lichess and Chess.com both include strong puzzle trainers too, so you may not need a separate one.)
- Opening and database tools — apps for exploring opening theory and reviewing master games.
- Chess clock apps — a free phone app is a perfectly good clock for casual and home games (though not for official over-the-board events, where a physical clock is required — see our chess clock guide).
Which app for which player
- Total beginner who wants guided lessons: Chess.com’s structured lesson path, or Lichess’s free “Learn” and practice tools.
- Budget of exactly zero: Lichess — every feature is free, forever.
- You mostly want to grind puzzles: either big platform’s puzzle trainer, or a dedicated tactics app.
- You want the largest community and events: Chess.com.
- You value open-source and privacy: Lichess.
- You just need a clock for casual games: any free chess-clock app.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying before you’ve played much. Both major platforms offer a lot for free. Explore the free tier first; subscribe only if you hit a real limit.
- App-hopping instead of playing. Downloading six apps doesn’t make you better. Pick one, play regularly, and review your games — that’s where improvement lives.
- Ignoring the free analysis. The single best free feature on these platforms is game analysis. Skipping it wastes your best learning tool.
- Treating a phone clock as tournament-legal. Clock apps are great for home play, but rated over-the-board events need a physical clock.
- Chasing rating over learning. A quick blitz binge feels productive but teaches little. Slower games plus review beat mindless bullet.
FAQ
What’s the best chess app for a beginner? There’s no single winner, but Chess.com (for guided lessons and a huge community) and Lichess (for completely free tools) are the two most commonly recommended starting points. Try both — they’re free to start — and stick with whichever you enjoy.
Is Lichess really completely free? Yes. Lichess is free, ad-free, and open-source, funded by donations, with all features available at no cost.
Do I have to pay for Chess.com? No. Chess.com is freemium — you can play, do puzzles, and get basic analysis for free; a paid membership unlocks lessons, unlimited puzzles, and extra tools.
Can I use a chess app as a clock? For casual and home games, yes — a free clock app works fine. Official over-the-board tournaments require a physical chess clock.
Key takeaways
- For playing and improving, the two go-to apps are Chess.com (biggest community, deep lessons, freemium) and Lichess (fully free, ad-free, open-source).
- Add a puzzle trainer, opening tool, or clock app only if you have a specific need the big platforms don’t cover.
- The fastest free win on any of them is analyzing and reviewing your own games — use it.
- Descriptions here reflect each app’s reputation, not a tested-and-rated roundup.
Keep climbing
Apps are where you put study into practice. Pair one with a good improvement plan and the best chess books for beginners, or compare the same platforms in their browser form in our best chess websites guide. New to the game entirely? Start in the learn hub.
Back to the chess equipment guide.
Researched and fact-checked by the Chess Lab Academy Editorial Team (AI-assisted, human-edited) · Platform facts verified against Lichess and Chess.com · Last verified 2026-07-13 · How we verify content.
