The best online chess platforms selected to improve your level

Playing chess online. Finding the best free chess app to improve has never been easier. Between websites, mobile apps and artificial intelligence, here’s our selection of the best platforms to help you progress at your own pace.

Table des matières

The essential platforms

For a full comparison of all the platforms available, see our dedicated article on the 10 best online chess sites. Here are the three giants that dominate the market:

Chess.com

The world leader with over 100 million members. Intuitive interface, interactive courses, daily puzzles, AI analysis. Generous free version, premium from €5/month.

Lichess.org

100% free and open source. No advertising, all features accessible. Built-in Stockfish analysis, collaborative studies, community tournaments. The ethical choice.

Chess24

Merged with Chess.com since 2023. Broadcasts of top-level tournaments, educational content from grandmasters, premium interface.

Feature comparison

Feature	Chess.com	Lichess
Price	Freemium (€5-14/month)	Free
Engine analysis	Limited on free plan	Unlimited (Stockfish)
Puzzles	3/day free, unlimited on premium	Unlimited
Video lessons	Yes (premium)	No (but community studies)
Community	100M+ members	5M+ active members
Mobile app	iOS and Android	iOS and Android
Online tournaments	Yes, daily	Yes, daily (Arena)

The best mobile apps

For playing and improving

Mobile apps let you play anywhere. Besides the Chess.com and Lichess apps, several others deserve your attention:

Magnus Trainer

Magnus Carlsen’s app. Exercises inspired by his own progression, from beginner to master. Playful, gamified teaching.

Chessable

The ideal tool for memorising openings through spaced repetition. Grandmaster courses available free or as premium content.

Chess Tempo

The reference for tactical problems graded by difficulty. A database of 100,000+ puzzles with detailed statistics.

DecodeChess

Game analysis with explanations in natural language (not just variations). Ideal for understanding the “why” behind each move.

How to use online play to improve

The optimal online training programme: 1) Play 2-3 rapid games a day (10 or 15 min). 2) Analyse each game with the engine AFTER reviewing it yourself. 3) Do 10-20 tactical puzzles daily. 4) Study one opening a week. 5) Watch one commentated grandmaster game a week.

Online blitz is tempting, but be careful: playing only blitz can develop bad habits. Alternate with longer games (15-30 min) that force you to think more deeply.

💡 Pro tip: after each online game, note down your 3 main mistakes in a notebook. This simple exercise greatly speeds up your progress, as it turns every defeat into a concrete lesson.

And what about physical play in all this?

Online play is a wonderful tool for progress, but it doesn’t replace the pleasure of moving real pieces on a real chess board. Electronic chess boards offer the best of both worlds: the feel of a physical set and the analytical power of a computer.

Online play is an extraordinary tool, but never forget the beauty of face-to-face play. The click of pieces on wood, the palpable tension across the board — that cannot be virtualised.

— Le Palais des Échecs