ChessBase vs Follow Chess
The professional's database and analysis suite. Live broadcasts of every top tournament.
| ChessBase | Follow Chess | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From €199 one-time | Free · from $0.99/mo |
| Platforms | Windows, Web, macOS | Web, iOS, Android |
| Audience | advanced, expert | intermediate, advanced, expert |
| Languages | EN, DE, ES, FR | EN |
| 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 ChessBase if…
- Deepest opening preparation tool on the market
- Mega Database with 10M+ annotated games
- Industry standard for pro coaching
Pick Follow Chess if…
- Covers obscure events Chess.com ignores
- Clean multi-game watchlist view
- Pro tier is laughably cheap
- Low-latency broadcast relay
FAQ
- Is ChessBase better than Follow Chess?
- Neither is strictly "better" — they serve different priorities. ChessBase excels at: Deepest opening preparation tool on the market. Follow Chess excels at: Covers obscure events Chess.com ignores. Pick based on the job you want done.
- Is ChessBase free?
- ChessBase is paid. Annual database updates sold separately. Account on ChessBase Online adds cloud features.
- Is Follow Chess free?
- Follow Chess has a free tier. Paid plans unlock: Lifetime Pro purchase available as one-time upgrade..
- On what platforms are ChessBase and Follow Chess available?
- ChessBase runs on Windows, Web, macOS. Follow Chess runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Who should use ChessBase vs Follow Chess?
- ChessBase is aimed at advanced, expert. Follow Chess targets intermediate, advanced, expert. Our take: try the one whose audience description fits you.