Lichess vs SparkChess
Free, open-source chess. Forever. Friendly casual chess with quirky AI characters.
| Lichess | SparkChess | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS |
| Audience | beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert | beginner, intermediate |
| Languages | EN, ES, FR, DE, PT, RU | 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 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
Pick SparkChess if…
- Characterful AI opponents with distinct styles
- Genuinely kid-safe multiplayer design
- Works on PC, Mac, mobile and web
- Two decades of iteration, very stable
FAQ
- Is Lichess better than SparkChess?
- Neither is strictly "better" — they serve different priorities. Lichess excels at: Completely free — no ads, no paywalls, no upsells. SparkChess excels at: Characterful AI opponents with distinct styles. Pick based on the job you want done.
- Is Lichess free?
- Lichess has a free tier. Paid plans unlock: 100% free, no ads. Donations optional via Patron status..
- Is SparkChess free?
- SparkChess has a free tier. Paid plans unlock: Free tier capped at 2,000 multiplayer points; Premium and Premium Live subscriptions remove limits. In-app purchases $0.99–$9.99..
- On what platforms are Lichess and SparkChess available?
- Lichess runs on Web, iOS, Android. SparkChess runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
- Who should use Lichess vs SparkChess?
- Lichess is aimed at beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert. SparkChess targets beginner, intermediate. Our take: try the one whose audience description fits you.