ChessBase vs Lichess
The professional's database and analysis suite. Free, open-source chess. Forever.
| ChessBase | Lichess | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From €199 one-time | Free |
| Platforms | Windows, Web, macOS | Web, iOS, Android |
| Audience | advanced, expert | beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert |
| Languages | EN, DE, ES, FR | EN, ES, FR, DE, PT, RU |
| 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 Lichess if…
- Completely free — no ads, no paywalls, no upsells
- Stockfish engine analysis available to everyone
- Excellent Studies feature for coaches and collaborative analysis
- Large library of variants and unrated training modes
FAQ
- Is ChessBase better than Lichess?
- Neither is strictly "better" — they serve different priorities. ChessBase excels at: Deepest opening preparation tool on the market. Lichess excels at: Completely free — no ads, no paywalls, no upsells. 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 Lichess free?
- Lichess has a free tier. Paid plans unlock: 100% free, no ads. Donations optional via Patron status..
- On what platforms are ChessBase and Lichess available?
- ChessBase runs on Windows, Web, macOS. Lichess runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Who should use ChessBase vs Lichess?
- ChessBase is aimed at advanced, expert. Lichess targets beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert. Our take: try the one whose audience description fits you.