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Lichess vs Chess.com – Which One Should You Use?

Lichess vs Chess.com – Which One Should You Use?

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avii_ar
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When it comes to online chess, two platforms dominate the scene: Lichess and Chess.com. Both are incredibly popular, each with their own strengths, features, and fan bases. For someone just getting into chess improvement, it can be confusing to decide which one is better to use. I’ve spent time on both, and in this blog I want to break down their differences in a simple way.

What I’ve noticed is that Lichess is better when it comes to free features, while Chess.com offers a more polished, user-friendly experience — especially if you’re willing to pay for premium. Let’s go point by point and see how they compare.

 1. Cost and Free Features

  • Lichess: 100% free. All training tools, puzzles, insights, studies, and game reviews are available without paying a rupee.

  • Chess.com: Has a free version, but many advanced features (like unlimited puzzles, deep analysis, and lessons) are locked behind a paywall.

 Winner: Lichess for free users.

 2. Game Analysis and Insights

  • Lichess: Offers full computer analysis, opening explorer, and detailed insights completely free. You can see your strengths and weaknesses across openings, time controls, and phases of the game.

  • Chess.com: Has its own game review system that highlights key moments, mistakes, and blunders. It’s very user-friendly, but deep insights require premium.

 Winner: Lichess for free insights, Chess.com for polished paid analysis.

 3. User Interface and Experience

  • Lichess: Simple, clean, and lightweight. It runs fast even on slower devices and has no ads at all.

  • Chess.com: More modern and colorful, with features like daily puzzles, news, articles, and a lively home page. 

Winner: Chess.com for user-friendliness.

 4. Training Tools

  • Lichess: Free tactics trainer, studies, opening explorer, and even a “puzzle storm” mode.

  • Chess.com: Offers Puzzle Rush, Puzzle Battle, video lessons, bots of different levels, and interactive drills — but most are limited without premium.

 Winner: Lichess if you want everything free, Chess.com if you’re ready to pay.

 5. Community and Tournaments

  • Lichess: Hosts regular arena tournaments and has a very active global community. Great for serious practice.

  • Chess.com: Has larger events like Titled Tuesday, championship broadcasts, and strong streamers. Community features like clubs, forums, and live commentary make it very engaging.

 Winner: Chess.com for big events, Lichess for free daily practice.

Conclusion

Both platforms are excellent, but they serve slightly different needs:

  • If you want everything for free, from puzzles to insights to analysis, Lichess is unbeatable.

  • If you prefer a more polished, user-friendly experience and don’t mind paying, Chess.com Premium is the stronger option.

In the end, I’d say: for free users, Lichess wins. But if you can invest in premium, Chess.com becomes the better overall platform.