ChessPivot

Chess improvement services, compared

147 services, 56 criteria, measured one at a time — we found nothing broader. Scores that owe nothing to opinion: every level is an observable fact, and under each of the 8,232 scores, the public page that establishes it. The method is published in full, weights included. And the ranking is yours: set the eleven weights and everything recomputes, down to each review.

Services scored

147

Checkable criteria

56

Evidence reviews published

64/ 147

Data as of August 30, 2026 · Correction log : none received yet — submit the first

How the scores are awardedSuggest a correctionDataset
01

What the comparison shows

No service excels everywhere

8.4out of 10 is the best overall score (ChessPivot) — yet it drops to 2.5 in playing and practice. In evidence and transparency (E), the best is Stockfish (projet + apps officielles) at 7.5, and no service publishes effectiveness data with a method and a sample (E1 = 3).

Diagnosis is still rare

10services out of 147 name and count your recurring errors across all your games: Aimchess, BetterChess, Chess DNA, Chess.com, Chessigma, ChessMind AI, ChessPivot, Chessy, MyChessPlan and qchess.net. Only one publicly describes how those diagnoses are checked (criterion A6): ChessPivot (the publisher of this comparison).

Training on your own games is spreading

21services build exercises from your own mistakes. 9 then say whether the error comes back in later games (A7), only one measures it on every new game: ChessPivot (the publisher of this comparison).

Endgames and defence, the poor relations

17services have a real endgame module and 17 have dedicated defensive exercises — against 35 that drill an opening repertoire.

Effectiveness is almost never proven

1service publishes effectiveness data with a stated method: Maia Chess. ChessPivot, the publisher of this comparison, publishes none. 6 advertise a numeric rating-gain promise with no source: Chess.com, Chessigma, Chessmate (trychessmate.com), ChessMood, LearningChess.net and Remote Chess Academy (GM Igor Smirnov).

A full path costs a lot — or nothing

2of the 45 services that actually train you (exercises on your games, a repertoire or endgames) charge more than €150 a year for the full plan — ChessBase and ChessMood — while 11 are free or under €30.

02

Overall ranking

The eleven weights below are ours: an editorial choice, not a fact. Set them to what you are actually after, then read the ranking — it moves. A category score is the mean of its criteria on a 0-10 scale; the overall score is the weighted mean of those.

Your weights

These eleven sliders say what matters most to you. Drag them or type the number; they must add up to 100%. The ranking, the weight shown on each category and the scores on every review follow at once, and your setting is kept from page to page.

1. ChessPivot 8.4 · 2. Lichess 6.2 · 3. Chess.com 5.7

1. ChessPivot 7.4 · 2. Lichess 6.9 · 3. Chess.com 6.0

Total: 100 %
  1. 1ChessPivot8.4weakness diagnosis and targeted training · €64.99/yrA :10.0B :10.0C :9.6D :8.3E :5.8F :7.3G :2.5H :5.3I :8.3J :5.0K :8.9
  2. 2Lichess6.2complete free chess server · €0A :3.3B :6.1C :5.6D :10.0E :5.0F :5.3G :8.3H :7.3I :7.5J :8.3K :8.9
  3. 3Chess.com5.7All-in-one play + training platform · Diamond €125.04/yrA :6.3B :5.6C :4.4D :5.0E :2.5F :8.7G :8.3H :7.3I :5.0J :7.5K :5.6
  4. 4ChessTempo5.1tactics and openings training platform · Diamond €82.80/yr incl. VATA :3.3B :8.3C :5.9D :4.2E :4.2F :4.7G :2.5H :5.3I :6.7J :3.3K :4.4
  5. 5ChessMind AI4.7AI coach: Maia, scan, opening courses · $69.99/yr ≈ €64A :3.8B :3.9C :5.9D :6.7E :3.3F :7.3G :2.5H :5.3I :1.7J :2.5K :2.2
  6. 6ChessAtlas4.7FSRS opening repertoire trainer · $83.88/yrA :3.3B :7.2C :2.6D :6.7E :6.7F :4.7G :0.0H :4.0I :3.3J :1.7K :6.7
  7. 7Playchess (serveur ChessBase)4.6ChessBase play server and apps · €49.90/yrA :2.1B :7.2C :2.6D :6.7E :2.5F :8.0G :5.0H :4.0I :4.2J :4.2K :4.4
  8. 8Chessflare4.5openings + analysis + puzzles platform · $59.99/yr ≈ €55A :5.0B :3.9C :3.0D :7.5E :3.3F :4.7G :1.7H :5.3I :4.2J :2.5K :6.7
  9. 9qchess.net4.3free drills toolkit + OTB database · €0A :3.3B :5.0C :4.1D :10.0E :2.5F :2.0G :2.5H :0.7I :4.2J :1.7K :3.3
  10. 10Chessigma4.3Freemium game analysis and AI coach · €83/yrA :6.3B :3.3C :3.7D :7.5E :2.5F :2.0G :2.5H :3.3I :1.7J :2.5K :3.3
10 of 128 services shown

Sensitivity: no single category reverses the order of the top two; at equal weights, ChessPivot is first.

Not scored overall

Some engines, coach directories or clubs do not cover every category of the comparison: they are scored category by category, never summed into an overall score.

03

Results by category

The top ten in each category, with every criterion score. Each service page sets out the evidence behind them. Tied services share a rank.

A

Personalized diagnosis

weight 20 %

A service can only target training if it knows what the player keeps missing, and shows it to them. This is where individual progress starts, and it is the area covered least often.

  1. 1ChessPivot10.0A1 :3A2 :3A3 :3A4 :3A5 :3A6 :3A7 :3A8 :3
  2. 2=Chess.com6.3A1 :2A2 :2A3 :2A4 :2A5 :2A6 :0A7 :2A8 :3
  3. 2=Chessigma6.3A1 :3A2 :3A3 :2A4 :2A5 :2A6 :0A7 :1A8 :2
  4. 4=Aimchess5.8A1 :2A2 :2A3 :2A4 :3A5 :1A6 :0A7 :1A8 :3
  5. 4=Chess DNA5.8A1 :2A2 :2A3 :3A4 :3A5 :2A6 :0A7 :2A8 :0
  6. 6Lumichess5.4A1 :2A2 :2A3 :1A4 :2A5 :2A6 :0A7 :1A8 :3
  7. 7=Chessflare5.0A1 :3A2 :2A3 :1A4 :2A5 :2A6 :0A7 :2A8 :0
  8. 7=Chessy5.0A1 :2A2 :2A3 :2A4 :2A5 :2A6 :0A7 :2A8 :0
  9. 7=MyChessPlan5.0A1 :2A2 :1A3 :2A4 :3A5 :2A6 :0A7 :0A8 :2
  10. 10Sensei Chess4.6A1 :2A2 :2A3 :1A4 :2A5 :2A6 :0A7 :2A8 :0

What each criterion measures

  • A1. Importing your games (Chess.com, Lichess, PGN files)
  • A2. Automatic engine analysis of every game
  • A3. Recurring mistakes identified across all your games
  • A4. Types of mistakes covered (tactics, strategy, endgame, time…)
  • A5. Written explanation of each mistake
  • A6. Stated verification of the diagnoses (procedure, rates)
  • A7. Tracking each weakness over time
  • A8. Comparison with players of the same rating
B

Openings

weight 18 %

96 of the 147 services sell an openings offer — against 17 with a real endgame module: it is what the market sells most. We measure personalisation, grounding in real games and the reliability of the lines.

  1. 1ChessPivot10.0B1 :3B2 :3B3 :3B4 :3B5 :3B6 :3
  2. 2ChessTempo8.3B1 :3B2 :2B3 :3B4 :3B5 :3B6 :1
  3. 3Chessbook7.8B1 :3B2 :2B3 :2B4 :2B5 :3B6 :2
  4. 4=ChessAtlas7.2B1 :3B2 :2B3 :3B4 :2B5 :1B6 :2
  5. 4=ChessBase7.2B1 :2B2 :2B3 :1B4 :2B5 :3B6 :3
  6. 4=Playchess (serveur ChessBase)7.2B1 :2B2 :2B3 :1B4 :2B5 :3B6 :3
  7. 7Lichess6.1B1 :2B2 :2B3 :1B4 :2B5 :3B6 :1
  8. 8=Chess.com5.6B1 :1B2 :2B3 :1B4 :2B5 :2B6 :2
  9. 8=Chessable5.6B1 :2B2 :3B3 :2B4 :1B5 :0B6 :2
  10. 8=Chessalyz.ai5.6B1 :2B2 :2B3 :2B4 :2B5 :1B6 :1

What each criterion measures

  • B1. Building a personal repertoire
  • B2. Training the repertoire (drills, games)
  • B3. Spotting where you left your repertoire in your games
  • B4. Verification of the lines taught (engine, practice)
  • B5. Opening explorer and statistics
  • B6. Explanation of opening plans and ideas
C

Targeted training

weight 16 %

What the player does every day. We measure how far it is personalized, how well it covers the phases of the game, and the mechanisms that make learning last.

  1. 1ChessPivot9.6C1 :3C2 :3C3 :3C4 :3C5 :3C6 :2C7 :3C8 :3C9 :3
  2. 2=ChessMind AI5.9C1 :2C2 :1C3 :2C4 :2C5 :2C6 :2C7 :1C8 :2C9 :2
  3. 2=ChessTempo5.9C1 :2C2 :3C3 :2C4 :2C5 :2C6 :0C7 :2C8 :2C9 :1
  4. 4Lichess5.6C1 :2C2 :3C3 :2C4 :1C5 :2C6 :1C7 :2C8 :1C9 :1
  5. 5=Chessable5.2C1 :0C2 :1C3 :2C4 :3C5 :2C6 :2C7 :0C8 :2C9 :2
  6. 5=CT-ART / Chess King5.2C1 :0C2 :2C3 :2C4 :2C5 :2C6 :2C7 :2C8 :1C9 :1
  7. 5=Lucas Chess5.2C1 :2C2 :1C3 :2C4 :2C5 :2C6 :2C7 :0C8 :1C9 :2
  8. 8Aimchess4.8C1 :2C2 :1C3 :2C4 :0C5 :2C6 :2C7 :1C8 :1C9 :2
  9. 9=Chess.com4.4C1 :1C2 :2C3 :3C4 :2C5 :0C6 :1C7 :2C8 :0C9 :1
  10. 9=Chessalyz.ai4.4C1 :2C2 :1C3 :1C4 :0C5 :2C6 :0C7 :2C8 :2C9 :2

What each criterion measures

  • C1. Exercises drawn from your own games
  • C2. Bank of tactical exercises (size, themes, rating)
  • C3. Endgame training
  • C4. Strategic and positional training
  • C5. Training defense and alertness
  • C6. Training calculation and visualization
  • C7. Difficulty matched to your real level
  • C8. Spaced repetition (named algorithm)
  • C9. Personalized training plan
D

Price and value

weight 14 %

What a complete path really costs, and how it is sold.

  1. 1=ChessX10.0D1 :3D2 :3D3 :3D4 :3
  2. 1=En Croissant10.0D1 :3D2 :3D3 :3D4 :3
  3. 1=Lichess10.0D1 :3D2 :3D3 :3D4 :3
  4. 1=Listudy10.0D1 :3D2 :3D3 :3D4 :3
  5. 1=Lucas Chess10.0D1 :3D2 :3D3 :3D4 :3
  6. 1=Lumichess10.0D1 :3D2 :3D3 :3D4 :3
  7. 1=Maia Chess10.0D1 :3D2 :3D3 :3D4 :3
  8. 1=Opening Scanner10.0D1 :3D2 :3D3 :3D4 :3
  9. 1=qchess.net10.0D1 :3D2 :3D3 :3D4 :3
  10. 1=Scid vs PC10.0D1 :3D2 :3D3 :3D4 :3

What each criterion measures

  • D1. What the free plan actually lets you do
  • D2. Annual price of the full plan
  • D3. Commercial transparency (price shown, trial, cancellation)
  • D4. Number of paid tiers (how simple the offer is)
E

Evidence and transparency

weight 8 %

What a service claims, and what it proves.

  1. 1Stockfish (projet + apps officielles)7.5E1 :0E2 :3E3 :3E4 :3
  2. 2=ChessAtlas6.7E1 :1E2 :2E3 :2E4 :3
  3. 2=Chessvia6.7E1 :1E2 :2E3 :2E4 :3
  4. 4=BetterChess5.8E1 :0E2 :2E3 :2E4 :3
  5. 4=Chess Endgame Training (supertorpe)5.8E1 :0E2 :2E3 :3E4 :2
  6. 4=ChessDojo5.8E1 :1E2 :2E3 :3E4 :1
  7. 4=Chessiro5.8E1 :0E2 :2E3 :2E4 :3
  8. 4=ChessPivot5.8E1 :0E2 :2E3 :2E4 :3
  9. 4=Maia Chess5.8E1 :2E2 :0E3 :3E4 :2
  10. 4=Opening Scanner5.8E1 :0E2 :1E3 :3E4 :3

What each criterion measures

  • E1. Published evidence of effectiveness
  • E2. Chess verification of the content (positions, lines)
  • E3. Transparency of the method (algorithms, code)
  • E4. Marketing claims that can be checked (no overselling)
F

Content and method

weight 8 %

The courses and the structure of progress. We measure how content is organized by level, who the authors are, the formats, and the volume.

  1. 1ChessMood9.3F1 :3F2 :3F3 :3F4 :2F5 :3
  2. 2Chess.com8.7F1 :2F2 :3F3 :3F4 :2F5 :3
  3. 3=Apprendre-les-echecs-24h.com8.0F1 :2F2 :2F3 :3F4 :2F5 :3
  4. 3=Chessable8.0F1 :2F2 :3F3 :3F4 :1F5 :3
  5. 3=KCF Academy (Kasparov Chess Foundation)8.0F1 :3F2 :3F3 :2F4 :2F5 :2
  6. 3=Playchess (serveur ChessBase)8.0F1 :2F2 :3F3 :3F4 :1F5 :3
  7. 7=ChessBase7.3F1 :2F2 :2F3 :3F4 :1F5 :3
  8. 7=ChessDojo7.3F1 :3F2 :3F3 :2F4 :2F5 :1
  9. 7=ChessMind AI7.3F1 :2F2 :2F3 :3F4 :2F5 :2
  10. 7=ChessPivot7.3F1 :2F2 :1F3 :2F4 :3F5 :3

What each criterion measures

  • F1. Courses organized by rating level
  • F2. Course authors named and titled
  • F3. Content formats (text, video, interactive)
  • F4. Published method of progression
  • F5. How often the content is updated
G

Playing and practice

weight 5 %

Playing is still essential. We measure the size of the pool, how realistic the artificial opponents are, and whether you can replay one specific position.

  1. 1=Chess.com8.3G1 :3G2 :2G3 :2G4 :3
  2. 1=Lichess8.3G1 :3G2 :2G3 :2G4 :3
  3. 3=Chessiverse5.0G1 :0G2 :3G3 :1G4 :2
  4. 3=Playchess (serveur ChessBase)5.0G1 :1G2 :2G3 :1G4 :2
  5. 5=Chess Assistant 26 / Aquarium 2026 (ChessOK)4.2G1 :1G2 :1G3 :2G4 :1
  6. 5=Chess Universe4.2G1 :2G2 :1G3 :1G4 :1
  7. 5=ChessBase4.2G1 :1G2 :1G3 :1G4 :2
  8. 5=Chessity4.2G1 :1G2 :2G3 :0G4 :2
  9. 5=ChessKid4.2G1 :2G2 :2G3 :0G4 :1
  10. 5=FICS4.2G1 :1G2 :1G3 :1G4 :2

What each criterion measures

  • G1. Playing humans online (pool, anti-cheating)
  • G2. Realistic artificial opponents
  • G3. Replaying one specific position against the machine
  • G4. Tournaments and organized competition
H

Experience and accessibility

weight 5 %

A tool nobody uses helps nobody improve. We measure the platforms, perceived quality that can be measured (store ratings), languages, accessibility, and offline use.

  1. 1=Chess.com7.3H1 :3H2 :3H3 :3H4 :1H5 :1
  2. 1=CT-ART / Chess King7.3H1 :3H2 :3H3 :3H4 :0H5 :2
  3. 1=Lichess7.3H1 :3H2 :1H3 :3H4 :2H5 :2
  4. 4=Chess Coach Pro (KemigoGames / Igor Zelka)6.7H1 :2H2 :3H3 :2H4 :0H5 :3
  5. 4=ChessKid6.7H1 :3H2 :3H3 :3H4 :0H5 :1
  6. 4=Duolingo Chess6.7H1 :3H2 :3H3 :3H4 :0H5 :1
  7. 4=Udemy (offre échecs)6.7H1 :3H2 :2H3 :2H4 :1H5 :2
  8. 8=Shredder Chess6.0H1 :3H2 :1H3 :2H4 :0H5 :3
  9. 8=Stockfish (projet + apps officielles)6.0H1 :2H2 :3H3 :1H4 :0H5 :3
  10. 10ChessPivot5.3H1 :1H2 :0H3 :1H4 :3H5 :3

What each criterion measures

  • H1. Platforms available (web, iOS, Android, desktop)
  • H2. User ratings and reviews (stores, press)
  • H3. Interface languages available
  • H4. Accessibility (keyboard, screen reader)
  • H5. Offline use and known incidents
I

Preparation and study

weight 2 %

Everything around training: preparing for an opponent, annotating and sharing a game, entering a game played over the board, finding a game again in your history.

  1. 1ChessPivot8.3I1 :3I2 :1I3 :3I4 :3
  2. 2Lichess7.5I1 :2I2 :3I3 :1I4 :3
  3. 3=ChessBase6.7I1 :2I2 :2I3 :1I4 :3
  4. 3=ChessDojo6.7I1 :1I2 :3I3 :1I4 :3
  5. 3=ChessTempo6.7I1 :2I2 :2I3 :1I4 :3
  6. 6=365Chess5.8I1 :2I2 :1I3 :1I4 :3
  7. 6=ChessX5.8I1 :2I2 :1I3 :1I4 :3
  8. 6=HIARCS Chess Explorer Pro5.8I1 :2I2 :1I3 :1I4 :3
  9. 6=Scid vs PC5.8I1 :2I2 :1I3 :1I4 :3
  10. 10Chess.com5.0I1 :1I2 :2I3 :1I4 :2

What each criterion measures

  • I1. Preparing for a named opponent
  • I2. Annotating and sharing games (studies)
  • I3. Entering a game played at a club (photo, scoresheet)
  • I4. Searching your games (filters, position)
J

Human coaching and community

weight 2 %

Many players get past a plateau with a human across the board. We measure access to coaches, community life and the tools offered to trainers.

  1. 1Lichess8.3J1 :3J2 :3J3 :1J4 :3
  2. 2Chess.com7.5J1 :3J2 :3J3 :2J4 :1
  3. 3=Apprendre-les-echecs-24h.com6.7J1 :3J2 :2J3 :0J4 :3
  4. 3=ChessDojo6.7J1 :3J2 :2J3 :1J4 :2
  5. 3=ChessKid6.7J1 :2J2 :3J3 :2J4 :1
  6. 6=Chess in Schools and Communities (UK)5.8J1 :2J2 :2J3 :1J4 :2
  7. 6=Chess University (Kostya Kavutskiy)5.8J1 :3J2 :1J3 :0J4 :3
  8. 6=Dan Heisman (danheisman.com)5.8J1 :3J2 :1J3 :0J4 :3
  9. 6=Killer Chess Training5.8J1 :3J2 :2J3 :0J4 :2
  10. 6=Saint Louis Chess Club (offre en ligne)5.8J1 :3J2 :2J3 :0J4 :2

What each criterion measures

  • J1. Access to human coaches
  • J2. Size and activity of the community
  • J3. Tools for trainers, clubs and schools
  • J4. Engagement mechanics (streaks, virtual currency, reminders)
K

Personal data and interoperability

weight 2 %

What players can get back of their own data, what is done with it, and whether the service can talk to other tools.

  1. 1Scid vs PC10.0K1 :3K2 :3K3 :3
  2. 2=ChessPivot8.9K1 :3K2 :3K3 :2
  3. 2=Lichess8.9K1 :2K2 :3K3 :3
  4. 4=Chess Endgame Training (supertorpe)7.8K1 :2K2 :2K3 :3
  5. 4=Opening Scanner7.8K1 :2K2 :2K3 :3
  6. 6=Arena Chess GUI6.7K1 :3K2 :2K3 :1
  7. 6=ChessAtlas6.7K1 :2K2 :3K3 :1
  8. 6=Chessflare6.7K1 :2K2 :3K3 :1
  9. 6=En Croissant6.7K1 :3K2 :0K3 :3
  10. 6=Listudy6.7K1 :2K2 :1K3 :3

What each criterion measures

  • K1. Exporting your data (games, repertoire)
  • K2. Protection of personal data (GDPR, hosting)
  • K3. Public API and source code
04

Service reviews

Each review covers what the service is, how it has evolved, its scores, and the source cited under each one.

What the reviews found

  • K2 :0Protection of personal data (GDPR, hosting)

    https://www.chess.com/legal/privacy — "we may sell… personal information", DoubleClick, hosting in the United States (25 March 2026)

    Chess.com

  • E4 :0Marketing claims that can be checked (no overselling)

    https://www.chess.com/membership — the numerical claim "2.7X Faster" is not sourced

    Chess.com

  • A3 :1Recurring mistakes identified across all your games

    https://lichess.org/insights/thibault — Insights = aggregated statistics (openings, accuracy); no error named and counted

    Lichess

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