Chess.com Alternatives Worth Trying
Chess.com is great, but it is not the only option. Here are platforms that do things differently.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: Chess.com has earned its place at the top through years of excellent work. Wanting to try alternatives does not mean it is bad — it means you are looking for something different. That is perfectly healthy.
Overview
Chess.com is the dominant chess platform for good reason: it offers an enormous feature set, the largest player community, and professional-quality content. But dominance does not mean it is the best fit for every player.
Some players want a free experience without ads. Others want deeper tactical training. Some want personal coaching instead of a content library. And some simply want to explore what else is out there. This guide covers the best alternatives and what makes each one worth your attention.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Lichess | Old School Chess | Chess Tempo | Chess24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Play | Excellent | Learning-focused | Limited | Good |
| Puzzles | Unlimited free | Curated | Specialized | Available |
| Coaching | Self-directed | Personal coaching | Self-study | Video content |
| Analysis | Full Stockfish free | Coach-guided | Puzzle-focused | Good |
| Price | Free | Free to start | Freemium | Freemium |
| Unique Strength | Zero cost | Personal guidance | Puzzle quality | Broadcasts |
Detailed Review
Lichess is the most natural alternative to Chess.com. It covers nearly every feature Chess.com offers — games, puzzles, analysis, tournaments — and does so for free. The trade-off is a smaller community, but Lichess is still very active with millions of players.
Old School Chess is not really an alternative to Chess.com in the traditional sense. It does not try to replicate Chess.com's features. Instead, it offers something Chess.com does not: a personal coaching experience. If you have been using Chess.com for months and still feel like you are not improving, the guided approach may be what you need.
Chess Tempo is a specialist platform for tactical training. Its puzzles are meticulously calibrated by difficulty, and the endgame training modules are among the best available. If puzzles are your primary interest, Chess Tempo may serve you better than Chess.com's puzzle feature.
Chess24 brings strong broadcast coverage and content from top grandmasters. While some features have been integrated into the Chess.com ecosystem, the platform still offers unique perspectives.
Who Should Use What?
Switch to Lichess if your main frustration with Chess.com is cost. You will get nearly everything for free.
Add Old School Chess if your frustration is a lack of direction. Coaching fills the gap between having resources and knowing how to use them.
Try Chess Tempo if you are specifically dissatisfied with Chess.com's puzzle experience and want more rigorous tactical training.
Explore Chess24 if you enjoy following professional chess and want high-quality broadcast commentary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I delete my Chess.com account?
There is no reason to. You can maintain a Chess.com account while using other platforms. Many players keep accounts on multiple sites and use each for its strengths.
Will my rating transfer between platforms?
No. Each platform has its own rating system. Your Lichess rating will be different from your Chess.com rating. This is normal and expected.
Is there a platform that combines everything?
No single platform does everything perfectly. The chess ecosystem works best when you use different tools for different purposes — one for play, one for study, one for coaching.
Professor Archer says: My advice: do not abandon Chess.com entirely. Use it for what it does best — finding games and accessing their content library. Then supplement with platforms that address what you are missing.
Quick Quiz
What is the most common reason players look for Chess.com alternatives?
- Chess.com does not offer online play - Chess.com offers excellent online play with the largest community. This is actually one of its greatest strengths.
- They want features that are free or a different learning approach (Correct) - Correct. The most common reasons are wanting free access to premium features (which Lichess provides) or wanting a different approach to learning (which coaching-focused platforms offer).
- Chess.com has been shut down - Chess.com is very much active and continues to be the largest chess platform in the world.
- Chess.com does not have puzzles - Chess.com has an extensive puzzle database. However, unlimited puzzle access requires a premium subscription.