Lichess review

Lichess is the best value on this list because nothing is behind a paywall. Its about page says the site is a free, open-source chess server powered by volunteers and donations, and that users play more than five million games every day. For learning, the Learn menu has chess basics, practice positions and a coordinates trainer, and the puzzle section offers themed puzzles, a dashboard of your results and timed modes such as Puzzle Storm and Puzzle Racer. After a game you can request Stockfish analysis and compare your moves with a database of master games, all free. Studies let a coach and student share annotated lines in real time. The limits are about guidance rather than features: there are no video courses, and a beginner has to decide what to study next. Players who want a guided curriculum will get more from Chess.com, Chessly or ChessKid.

Who it is for

players who want every feature free with no ads

Price

Free; optional Patron donations.

Lichess is one of the most popular chess websites in the world while remaining 100% free.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Chess basics, practice and coordinates trainers in the Learn menu
• Puzzles with themes, a dashboard, Puzzle Streak, Puzzle Storm and Puzzle Racer
• Free computer analysis of finished games with the Stockfish engine
• Collaborative studies to share games, positions and annotated lines
• Coach directory for players who want to hire a human teacher

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Every feature is free, funded by donations
• Strength: No ads, according to Lichess
• Strength: Open-source code and a public API
• Weakness: Beginner lessons are shorter and simpler than paid course libraries
• Weakness: No video courses from the site itself
• Weakness: Structured study plans are left to the player

Key facts

• Price: Free
• Games per day: More than five million
• Engine: Stockfish analysis
• Source code: Open source
• Ads: None

Where it ranks

Lichess is No. 2 in our Best Chess Learning Apps verdict.