ChessEver Desktop Beta is Here
My name is Vasif Durarbayli. I'm a Chess Grandmaster and the founder of ChessEver.
Today, we are releasing ChessEver Desktop beta.
How we got here
Earlier in 2025, I was walking with a fellow grandmaster in Baku. He pulled out his phone and opened FollowChess. I was shocked. The app was basically dead by then. I remembered its heyday. Every serious chess player followed events from that app. I was even a paid user until it became unbearably bad. At some point in 2025, the app disappeared from the stores. Only a few noticed.
Before it died, I tried to contact the owner company to buy it. Never heard back. So I decided to build a better version myself.
That's how ChessEver started. "Follow Chess Better," our slogan, plays on that history. We launched on iOS and Android, and focused on one thing: making the experience of following live chess as good as it can be.
Our mobile app is already the best in the broadcasting segment, and luckily, not only according to me! World #82 GM Salem R. Saleh has said so as well. And we have yet to show what can be done on mobile. We deliver all the fundamentals of broadcasting today, and very soon we will be taking it to another level.
For now, let me introduce: ChessEver Desktop beta.
This is our next step towards becoming a broadcasting platform rather than just a phone app. The desktop version offers all the features of the mobile app and more. You can follow tournaments and players the same way you do on your phone, but now on a bigger screen with keyboard shortcuts and a proper desktop workflow.
We also took on an ambitious side project: building ChessBase essentials for preparation. The desktop app includes database navigation, an Opening Explorer with filtering by player, rating, and result, and analysis tools. We tried to make the transition from ChessBase easy. Many shortcuts are similar, though some are different or completely new, so check the shortcuts in settings.
We are confident that we can do the essentials better than ChessBase, unless they step up their game. ChessBase has been the standard for decades, but the software has not evolved the way it should. Many players, especially MacBook users, have been waiting for a real alternative. ChessEver Desktop works on macOS and Windows.
This is a beta
I want to be upfront: the app is at an early stage. You will notice things that are incomplete or buggy. That is normal. We are following the same approach we used with our mobile app: release the beta, then improve it ferociously based on real feedback. Step by step, it will get better.
Our mobile app went through the same process. Now I can confidently say we have the best broadcasting app. We plan to do the same with the desktop.
Who can use it
The beta is currently available for ChessEver subscribers. If you are already a subscriber, you can download it from our website. If you are not a subscriber yet, this is a good time to join. Your feedback as an early user directly shapes what we build next.
Feedback welcome
We are building this with you, not in isolation. If you find bugs, have feature requests, or just want to share your experience, please reach out. Email, Discord, social media, whatever works for you. We fix things fast and you will see updates regularly.
If you like what you see, share it with your friends or club members. Word of mouth is how we grow.
You can download ChessEver Desktop from our website: chessever.com
