If you spend enough time in the online chess world, you’ll notice a recurring debate: Lichess or Chess.com?
Both platforms are huge. Both are loved by millions. Both offer world-class tools for players of all levels. But if you look closely, Lichess quietly does something extraordinary. It delivers a complete, powerful, professional chess experience, without charging you a single cent.
This article breaks down, in clear and simple terms, why many players consider Lichess better than Chess.com, and why you might prefer using it as your main playing and training platform.
1. Lichess Is 100% Free (With No Paywall Surprise)
The most important difference is also the simplest: Lichess is free. Truly free.
Not “free but limited.”
Not “free unless you want advanced features.”
Not “free unless you want to study properly.”
Everything you need — analysis, lessons, training tools, puzzles, opening explorer, tournaments — is open to everyone.
On Chess.com, many useful features are locked behind subscription levels. For example:
- Unlimited puzzles? Paid.
- Full game review? Paid.
- Deep analysis? Paid.
- Opening explorer? Paid.
- No ads? Paid.
This doesn’t mean Chess.com is bad. But if you’re a beginner, junior, or casual player on a budget, the difference is huge. Lichess gives you everything up front, no credit card required.
Why it matters: It encourages fair access, especially for kids, students, or players in countries where subscriptions are expensive compared to local income.
2. The Analysis Board Is Elite-Level (And Completely Free)
Most experienced players agree: Lichess has the best free analysis tools online.
Here’s what you get instantly after any game:
- Unlimited computer analysis
- Cloud engine evaluation
- Centipawn loss
- Blunder detection
- Best move suggestions
- Interactive training from your mistakes
- Opening tree with millions of games
- Evaluation graphs
- Local Stockfish analysis if you want deeper work
On Chess.com, most of this is behind a paywall. Free accounts receive limited analysis and fewer computer tools.
Why Lichess shines:
The combination of deep analysis + zero ads + no limitations makes post-game learning extremely smooth. For improving players, that’s priceless.
3. Faster, Simpler, Cleaner Interface
Lichess is built to be:
- Fast
- Minimalistic
- Ad-free
- Distraction-free
No pop-ups.
No premium upgrade boxes.
No “you’ve used your puzzles for today” message.
No animated banners.
The board loads instantly.
The moves feel smooth.
The design is clean and lightweight.
Chess.com has more visual features, but it also has:
- ads for non-premium accounts
- heavier UI elements
- pop-ups for buying memberships
- more complex navigation
For players who want pure chess without noise, Lichess often feels much better.
4. Open Source & Community Driven
Lichess is a rare example of a large, high-quality website that is open source. Anyone can inspect the code, contribute to development, and build tools around it.
This creates several advantages:
- More transparency
- More trust
- Faster improvements driven by player feedback
- No incentive to hide features behind paywalls
- A strong developer community
Chess.com is a private company, and its decisions naturally focus on business models. Lichess, by contrast, is a non-profit organization funded entirely by donations. This leads to a very different philosophy: everything is designed to serve the chess community first.
5. Unlimited Training Tools
Lichess gives you:
- Unlimited puzzles
- Unlimited Puzzle Storm
- Unlimited Puzzle Racer
- Unlimited Puzzle Streak
- Unlimited studies
- Unlimited opening preparation
- Unlimited cloud analysis
Chess.com still provides strong training tools, but the key difference is the word “unlimited.” Free users on Chess.com face restrictions such as:
- Limited puzzles
- Limited daily lessons
- Limited game review
- Limited analysis depth
If you want to train seriously without paying, Lichess is the superior choice.
6. Studies: The Best Shared Chess Workspace Online
Lichess Studies are one of its most powerful features, and Chess.com has nothing truly comparable.
A study allows you to:
- Store games
- Add commentary
- Insert engine lines
- Add chapters
- Embed videos
- Share your preparation
- Create opening repertoires
- Collaborate with others in real time
Coaches love studies. Students love studies. Authors love studies. Content creators love studies.
If you want to learn chess or teach chess, Studies alone are a reason many people choose Lichess.
7. The Fair Play System Is Among the Best
Lichess uses extremely strong cheat detection, and because the platform is not built around selling memberships, the enforcement feels cleaner and more transparent.
- Lichess bans cheaters faster
- Feedback takes less time
- Appeals are reviewed by real moderators
- Cheating reports are handled without advertising concerns
On Chess.com, many players feel cheating bans are slower or less transparent, mainly because the platform has a massive global user base and more business complexity. Not necessarily worse, but different.
Lichess, being non-profit, can act more aggressively.
8. Fair and Free Tournaments for Everyone
Lichess is famous for its Titled Arena, open tournaments where grandmasters, streamers, and amateurs can compete together for cash prizes. Players like Magnus Carlsen and Alireza Firouzja have competed in these events.
All of these tournaments are free to join, while Chess.com often places big-money events behind invitations or partnerships.
Lichess also offers:
- hourly arenas
- marathon tournaments
- shield tournaments
- custom tournaments for clubs
All free, all accessible.
9. Ethics, Philosophy, and Community Values
One of the reasons many players prefer Lichess is the feeling that:
Lichess exists to grow chess, not to monetize it.
That philosophy creates a different user experience. You feel like part of a community project, not a customer segment.
Lichess embodies:
- transparency
- open access
- community contributions
- non-profit values
- equality for every player
For many chess lovers, that matters.
Lichess vs Chess.com: Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Lichess | Chess.com |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Completely free. No paywalls, no limits. | Many core features require a paid membership. |
| Ads | 100% ad-free for all users. | Ads shown to free users unless upgraded. |
| Game Analysis | Unlimited deep analysis, Stockfish, cloud engine, blunder checks, centipawn loss: all free. | Full analysis, game review, and deeper engine tools are locked behind premium. |
| Puzzles | Unlimited puzzles, Puzzle Storm, Puzzle Streak, Puzzle Racer: all free. | Daily puzzle limits for free users. Unlimited puzzles require paid membership. |
| Opening Tools | Full opening explorer, masters database, and personal repertoires free for everyone. | Opening explorer and deeper data are restricted for free users. |
| Studies (Preparation Tool) | Powerful collaborative training workspace. Create chapters, add commentary, embed engine lines: free. | No equivalent feature as complete or flexible. |
| Interface Speed | Lightweight, fast, no pop-ups, minimal design. | Heavier UI with more menus, ads, and upgrade prompts. |
| Fair Play / Anti-Cheating | Strong, transparent, fast detection. Non-profit, no commercial influence. | Also strong, but bans feel slower. Larger platform adds complexity. |
| Tournaments | Hourly arenas, marathons, Titled Arena with GMs and prize pools: all free. | Many major events are invite-only or partner-restricted. |
| Code & Philosophy | Fully open-source, community-driven, non-profit. | Commercial company focused on subscription products and content. |
| Best For | Improvement, training, serious analysis, distraction-free chess. | Casual play, social features, videos, puzzles with gamified elements. |
Conclusion: Which Platform Should You Use?
You don’t need to choose only one. Chess.com is fun, social, and has great shows and events. But if your priority is:
- serious improvement
- a fast, clean interface
- free access to powerful tools
- no ads
- open-source transparency
- community-driven development
then Lichess is the better platform for you.
It’s modern chess training without barriers. Pure, simple, and fully open. Forever.
I’m Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300. Send me a challenge or message via Lichess. Follow me on Twitter (X) or Facebook.