Lichess=chess.com

There's a bit of a debate about this, but it ultimately depends on what you're comparing and how you measure "worse."

• Player Base: Chess.com has a larger, more diverse user base and tends to attract more casual players. It also has a larger number of titled players (like Grandmasters), which could lead to stronger competition in the higher rating ranges. Lichess, on the other hand, while growing rapidly, has a smaller, but arguably more dedicated community of chess players, especially for those who are into the "open-source" philosophy of the platform.

• Ratings: Ratings on both platforms are roughly similar in terms of absolute numbers, but some argue that the ratings on Lichess might be slightly higher, since the platform tends to attract more serious players (as it's free, ad-free, and has a lot of tools for improvement). Chess.com has a wider range of players, meaning you might find more beginners, leading to a more spread-out rating distribution.

• Matchmaking: Chess.com’s matchmaking algorithm is widely regarded as more polished due to the large player base. But Lichess’s algorithm is also very solid and has features that might attract more serious or competitive players, including the ability to filter games by different time controls, specific ratings, or even skill levels.

• Cheating: There’s always the issue of cheating, but both platforms take steps to prevent it. Lichess has a very strict anti-cheating policy and uses powerful AI tools to detect suspicious activity. Chess.com also does this, but some people feel like their system is a bit more "aggressive" when banning accounts.

In short: Lichess players might be slightly more hardcore in general, but chess.com has a larger pool, and with it, you’ll find more beginners or casual players. If you’re comparing the higher-rated players, though, they might be equally strong on both platforms.