Chess.com vs DarkSquares
The default home of online chess. Blindfold chess training, broken into 7 progressive levels.
| Â | Chess.com | DarkSquares |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free · from $4.17/mo | Free · from €29 one-time |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Audience | beginner, intermediate, advanced | beginner, intermediate, advanced |
| Languages | EN, ES, FR, DE, PT, RU | EN, FR, ES, DE, PT, HI |
| Features | ||
| Play online | ||
| Play bots | ||
| Local pass-and-play | ||
| Tactics puzzles | ||
| Opening trainer | ||
| Endgame trainer | ||
| Spaced repetition | ||
| Video lessons | ||
| Live coaching | ||
| Engine analysis | ||
| Board scanner (OCR) | ||
| Opening repertoire | ||
| Cloud sync | ||
| Offline mode | ||
| Kid-safe | ||
| Tournaments | ||
| Rating system | ||
| Correspondence chess | ||
| Chess variants | ||
| Study & share | ||
| AI coach | ||
| Streaming-ready | ||
| Game database | ||
Pick Chess.com if…
- Largest active community - instant matchmaking at any hour
- Deeply integrated ecosystem (lessons, courses, coaches, tournaments)
- Strong mobile apps on both platforms
- Content library unmatched in volume
Pick DarkSquares if…
- Niche done well - the only structured blindfold/visualization trainer with a real progression.
- 5-10 minute daily sessions fit into existing routines (commute, warmup, between online games).
- Lifetime pricing (€29) instead of an indefinite subscription.
- Native iOS and Android apps, plus web, with Supabase-backed sync between them.
FAQ
- Is Chess.com better than DarkSquares?
- Neither is strictly "better" - they serve different priorities. Chess.com excels at: Largest active community - instant matchmaking at any hour. DarkSquares excels at: Niche done well - the only structured blindfold/visualization trainer with a real progression.. Pick based on the job you want done.
- Is Chess.com free?
- Chess.com has a free tier. Paid plans unlock: Prices shown are annual-billing equivalents (post-Sept 2025 restructure). Monthly billing is higher. Free tier includes unlimited play, limited puzzles/lessons, and 1 Game Review per day..
- Is DarkSquares free?
- DarkSquares has a free tier. Paid plans unlock: Free tier includes unlimited exercises and levels 1-3 (board map, piece geometry, position holding) plus AI difficulties 1-3. Pro Lifetime unlocks levels 4-7, all 8 AI tiers, famous games, and advanced tactics for one payment..
- On what platforms are Chess.com and DarkSquares available?
- Chess.com runs on Web, iOS, Android. DarkSquares runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Who should use Chess.com vs DarkSquares?
- Chess.com is aimed at beginner, intermediate, advanced. DarkSquares targets beginner, intermediate, advanced. Our take: try the one whose audience description fits you.