Chess DNA review: scores and evidence
The service imports Chess.com and Lichess games, detects 16 named mistake patterns spread across 8 dimensions, explains them in English and turns repeated mistakes into drills. No puzzle bank, no opening or endgame content, no published verification of its diagnoses.
Read on August 30, 2026 from the service’s public pages — every score cites the page read.
Overall score
3.3/ 10
Rank
30=/ 128
Languages
1
Listed price
$49.99/yr ≈ €46 (annual price shown; monthly $5.99; 90-day pass $12.99; Founder $79.99 for 3 years; $1 ≈ €0.92)
What the service is
Chess DNA is published by Yuval Incze, who describes himself as the founder and a long-time competitive player in the author box of the site’s guides (for example https://chessdna.app/openings/london-system.html); the App Store listing (https://apps.apple.com/il/app/chess-dna/id6762600434) names him as the developer. The country of publication is not documented: the privacy policy (https://chessdna.app/privacy.html) only mentions infrastructure "in the United States and other jurisdictions" (Supabase, Fly.io). No launch date is published; the earliest markers are version 1.0.2 of the iOS app (29 April 2026) and the privacy policy dated 18 April 2026. The service imports Chess.com and Lichess games by username, runs engine analysis, groups recurring mistakes into 16 named patterns ranked by rating cost, and replays them position by position; it draws an 8-skill radar (scores 0-99, ranks from Pawn to King) and produces a shareable card. Business model (https://chessdna.app/pricing.html): free tier (3 patterns, 3 challenges a day, last 50 games), Pro at $5.99/month or $49.99/year, a 90-day pass at $12.99, and a Founder offer at $79.99 for 3 years limited to the first 100 buyers. It offers no courses, no play against humans or an engine, no puzzle bank, and no opening or endgame module; the interface is English-only.
Activity history
- 2026-0831 August 2026: iOS version 1.3.0 ("16 hr ago" on the listing read on 1 September) — new animated opening screen while games are prepared, smarter notification timing (https://apps.apple.com/il/app/chess-dna/id6762600434).
- 2026-081 August 2026: iOS version 1.2.0 — slide transitions between screens, haptic feedback on taps, bug fixes (https://apps.apple.com/il/app/chess-dna/id6762600434).
- 2026-075 July 2026: opening guides signed by Yuval Incze go up, including the London System guide ("Published Jul 5, 2026", https://chessdna.app/openings/london-system.html).
- 2026-0616 June 2026: iOS version 1.1.0 — "Which World Champion do you play like?", matching the profile to a world champion; 1.0.9 on 17 June fixes an authentication bug (https://apps.apple.com/il/app/chess-dna/id6762600434).
- 2026-069 June 2026: iOS version 1.0.4, focused on reaching a first real insight faster ("getting you to your first real insight, fast", https://apps.apple.com/il/app/chess-dna/id6762600434).
- 2026-0429 April 2026: version 1.0.2, the oldest entry in the App Store version history (https://apps.apple.com/il/app/chess-dna/id6762600434); 1.0.3 on 6 May changes the app icon.
- 2026-0418 April 2026: privacy policy "Last updated: April 18, 2026", naming Supabase, Fly.io and OneSignal (https://chessdna.app/privacy.html).
The scores, evidence by evidence
Every score points to the page read and the fact found there. A fact documented nowhere is not credited: document it, then write to us.
APersonalized diagnosis
5.8A1 :2Importing your games (Chess.com, Lichess, PGN files)
https://chessdna.app/faq.html: "Chess.com and Lichess. Paste your username…"; PGN import not mentioned
A2 :2Automatic engine analysis of every game
https://chessdna.app/compare/chess-dna-vs-aimchess.html: "a strong engine", unnamed; free tier limited to the last 50 games
A3 :3Recurring mistakes identified across all your games
https://chessdna.app/features.html: 16 named patterns; https://chessdna.app/faq.html: ranked by rating-point cost
A4 :3Types of mistakes covered (tactics, strategy, endgame, time…)
https://chessdna.app/features.html: tactics, defense, endgame, opening, positional, time; 16 patterns listed
A5 :2Written explanation of each mistake
https://chessdna.app/faq.html: explanations, hints, engine-recommended move; no public example with a variation
A6 :0Stated verification of the diagnoses (procedure, rates)
no mention of false positives on https://chessdna.app/faq.html
A7 :2Tracking each weakness over time
https://chessdna.app/faq.html: radar updated after every game, trend per pattern; 1/3/6/12-month periods not observed
A8 :0Comparison with players of the same rating
https://chessdna.app/features.html: ranks 0-99 and "champion matching"; no comparison with the rating bracket
BOpenings
0.6B1 :0Building a personal repertoire
no repertoire on https://chessdna.app/features.html
B2 :0Training the repertoire (drills, games)
no drill on https://chessdna.app/features.html
B3 :1Spotting where you left your repertoire in your games
https://chessdna.app/features.html: patterns "Opening Inaccuracies", "Opening Preparation" (stats)
B4 :0Verification of the lines taught (engine, practice)
no information on https://chessdna.app/features.html
B5 :0Opening explorer and statistics
no explorer on https://chessdna.app/features.html
B6 :0Explanation of opening plans and ideas
no teaching on https://chessdna.app/features.html
CTargeted training
3.0C1 :2Exercises drawn from your own games
https://chessdna.app/: "Converts repeated mistakes into targeted practice exercises"; no per-weakness rate observed
C2 :0Bank of tactical exercises (size, themes, rating)
no tactics bank on https://chessdna.app/features.html
C3 :0Endgame training
no endgame module on https://chessdna.app/features.html
C4 :2Strategic and positional training
https://chessdna.app/features.html: replays grouped by pattern Pawn Structure, Piece Activity, Space Control; plan not explained
C5 :2Training defense and alertness
https://chessdna.app/features.html: replays Hanging Pieces, Back Rank, King Safety; no rating per exercise
C6 :0Training calculation and visualization
no mention on https://chessdna.app/features.html
C7 :0Difficulty matched to your real level
no exercise rating on https://chessdna.app/faq.html
C8 :0Spaced repetition (named algorithm)
https://chessdna.app/faq.html: no spaced repetition
C9 :2Personalized training plan
https://chessdna.app/faq.html: daily challenges drawn from the player’s own games; no time budget
DPrice and value
6.7D1 :2What the free plan actually lets you do
https://chessdna.app/pricing.html: free = 3 patterns, 3 challenges/day, 50 games, full radar
D2 :2Annual price of the full plan
https://chessdna.app/pricing.html: $49.99/yr ≈ €46
D3 :1Commercial transparency (price shown, trial, cancellation)
https://chessdna.app/pricing.html: prices shown, "Cancel anytime"; /refunds page empty, no trial
D4 :3Number of paid tiers (how simple the offer is)
https://chessdna.app/pricing.html: a single Pro tier (monthly, yearly, 90 days, Founder)
EEvidence and transparency
3.3E1 :1Published evidence of effectiveness
https://chessdna.app/: "We tracked real rating change before and after signup", with no published method (/research.html empty)
E2 :0Chess verification of the content (positions, lines)
no information on https://chessdna.app/faq.html
E3 :1Transparency of the method (algorithms, code)
https://chessdna.app/compare/chess-dna-vs-aimchess.html: "a strong engine", "AI" with no parameters
E4 :2Marketing claims that can be checked (no overselling)
https://chessdna.app/: "mistakes costing you the most rating"; no quantified promise
FContent and method
1.3F1 :0Courses organized by rating level
no course on https://chessdna.app/
F2 :0Course authors named and titled
no course author; yuval@chessdna.app on https://chessdna.app/
F3 :0Content formats (text, video, interactive)
no content on https://chessdna.app/
F4 :0Published method of progression
no method on https://chessdna.app/
F5 :2How often the content is updated
apps.apple.com id6762600434: v1.2.0 dated 01/08/2026; https://chessdna.app/privacy.html dated 18/04/2026
GPlaying and practice
0.0G1 :0Playing humans online (pool, anti-cheating)
no play on https://chessdna.app/features.html
G2 :0Realistic artificial opponents
no opponent on https://chessdna.app/features.html
G3 :0Replaying one specific position against the machine
https://chessdna.app/: "replays them step-by-step"; no play against an engine
G4 :0Tournaments and organized competition
no tournament on https://chessdna.app/
HExperience and accessibility
2.0H1 :2Platforms available (web, iOS, Android, desktop)
https://chessdna.app/faq.html: web, iOS, Android; App Store listing found, Google Play listing not found
H2 :0User ratings and reviews (stores, press)
apps.apple.com id6762600434: 5/5 on 2 ratings; no third-party review
H3 :0Interface languages available
App Store (id6762600434, iTunes Search API languageCodesISO2A): EN only; chessdna.app site with no language switcher
H4 :0Accessibility (keyboard, screen reader)
no accessibility information on https://chessdna.app/faq.html
H5 :1Offline use and known incidents
https://chessdna.app/privacy.html: Supabase/Fly.io; no incident reported
IPreparation and study
0.8I1 :0Preparing for a named opponent
https://chessdna.app/faq.html: no opponent preparation
I2 :0Annotating and sharing games (studies)
https://chessdna.app/features.html: no annotation
I3 :0Entering a game played at a club (photo, scoresheet)
https://chessdna.app/faq.html: import by username only
I4 :1Searching your games (filters, position)
https://chessdna.app/pricing.html: "full game history" on Pro, without filters
JHuman coaching and community
1.7J1 :0Access to human coaches
no coach; "titled ambassadors" programme on https://chessdna.app/
J2 :0Size and activity of the community
no community on https://chessdna.app/
J3 :0Tools for trainers, clubs and schools
no coach tool on https://chessdna.app/
J4 :2Engagement mechanics (streaks, virtual currency, reminders)
https://chessdna.app/: shareable cards, no virtual currency
KPersonal data and interoperability
2.2K1 :1Exporting your data (games, repertoire)
https://chessdna.app/privacy.html: "machine-readable" export and deletion via a form (30 days)
K2 :1Protection of personal data (GDPR, hosting)
https://chessdna.app/privacy.html: TikTok/Reddit pixels, Contentsquare, hosted in the United States, GDPR cited
K3 :0Public API and source code
closed; no API on https://chessdna.app/
Also, outside the grid
Features found that no criterion measures. They do not count towards the score.
- Shareable Chess DNA card
- Tagged positive patterns (sacrifices, defensive resources)
- Multi-device sync
Sources consulted
- https://chessdna.app/
- https://chessdna.app/faq.html
- https://chessdna.app/features.html
- https://chessdna.app/pricing.html
- https://chessdna.app/privacy.html
- https://chessdna.app/press.html
- https://chessdna.app/about.html
- https://chessdna.app/openings/london-system.html
- https://apps.apple.com/il/app/chess-dna/id6762600434
- https://chessdna.app/compare/chess-dna-vs-aimchess.html
Services with a similar profile
The three services whose category profile is closest — a distance over the eleven scores, computed, never chosen.