Alternatives to Magnus Trainer

Gamified learning with lessons featuring Magnus Carlsen. If that's not for you - or you want to try something different - here are apps that overlap on features and use cases.

Magnus Trainer is a gamified mobile-first chess training app: short lessons, interactive exercises, branded around Magnus Carlsen. It works well for ages roughly 10-14 and for adult beginners who want chess in 5-minute snacks. Past about 1200 ELO, it tends to feel thin - the gamified format doesn't go deep enough to keep moving the needle.

First-line alternative

For a player who outgrew Magnus Trainer, Chessable is the structural step up. The MoveTrainer gives the same drilling-feels-like-a-game effect but on real, deeper content (full openings, full endgames, real annotated games). Per-course pricing means a single $50 purchase covers months of training rather than a continuing subscription.

Second option

For a player who wants the snack format on harder content, Aimchess fits - it's not a "lesson app" but the daily insight feed and personalized exercises play in roughly the same usage pattern (5-15 minutes a day, mobile-friendly), and the content tightens as the player improves rather than capping out.

Verdict

Magnus Trainer isn't bad chess software; it's just calibrated for an earlier stage. If the user reading this is past 1200 ELO and noticing the lessons stopped teaching anything new, Chessable is the most natural next product. If the user is still under 1200 and wants more variety in the gamified format, the alternative is just consistency - Magnus Trainer plus a free Lichess account is enough.