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ChessMood vs Lichess

GM-led video courses plus live coaching community. Free, open-source chess. Forever.

 ChessMoodLichess
PricingFrom $79/moFree
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
Audienceintermediate, advancedbeginner, intermediate, advanced, expert
LanguagesENEN, 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 ChessMood if…

  • Weekly live GM Q&A is rare at this price
  • Opinionated, cohesive curriculum from one school
  • Strong community and accountability loop
  • Opening repertoires are GM-tested and current
Full review →

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
Full review →

FAQ

Is ChessMood better than Lichess?
Neither is strictly "better" — they serve different priorities. ChessMood excels at: Weekly live GM Q&A is rare at this price. Lichess excels at: Completely free — no ads, no paywalls, no upsells. Pick based on the job you want done.
Is ChessMood free?
ChessMood is paid. 7-day trial, 30-day money-back guarantee.
Is Lichess free?
Lichess has a free tier. Paid plans unlock: 100% free, no ads. Donations optional via Patron status..
On what platforms are ChessMood and Lichess available?
ChessMood runs on Web. Lichess runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Who should use ChessMood vs Lichess?
ChessMood is aimed at intermediate, advanced. Lichess targets beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert. Our take: try the one whose audience description fits you.