Chessly review: scores and evidence
A learning platform run by Levy Rozman (GothamChess): 70+ opening and skills courses, XP-based gamification, an AI called "Levi", a 7-day trial with no card required and a 7-day refund. The site documents no game import, no diagnosis and no stated puzzle bank; prices cannot be read without an account.
Overall score
2.0/ 10
Rank
98/ 147
Languages
1
Yearly price
$89.99/yr ≈ €83 ($9.99/mo) — read by hand on /membership, 2026-09-01.
What the service is
Chessly is run by Chessly LLC, a US company whose terms of use state that it owns and operates the site from New York. The only author named in the catalogue is Levy Rozman, an International Master since 2018, better known as GothamChess. The platform advertises more than 70 opening and skills courses, a conversational assistant called Levi, experience points, achievements and leaderboards. Access is by subscription: seven days' trial with no payment details required, then automatic renewal, with a one-time seven-day money-back guarantee. Payments go through Stripe and PayPal, and the data is hosted in North America.
Activity history
- 2026-08As of 31 August 2026 the home page shows 1,339,339 people having tried Chessly and "70+ openings and skills courses", against the 1,338,704 recorded on the previous visit.
- 2024-12The terms of use and the privacy policy carry the same update date, 7 December 2024; they name Chessly LLC (New York) and the providers Stripe, PayPal, Google Analytics, Datadog and Customer.io.
- 2023-10Levy Rozman, the catalogue’s only author, published "How to Win at Chess" on 24 October 2023; the book reached fourth place on the New York Times bestseller list in its category.
- 2018Levy Rozman earned the International Master title, after becoming a National Master in 2011 and a FIDE Master in 2016.
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
0.0A1 :0Importing your games (Chess.com, Lichess, PGN files)
No game import mentioned on https://chessly.com or /faqs (a call to api.chess.com appears in the JS but the feature is not documented).
A2 :0Automatic engine analysis of every game
No engine analysis mentioned on https://chessly.com.
A3 :0Recurring mistakes identified across all your games
https://chessly.com/: no aggregated weakness
A4 :0Types of mistakes covered (tactics, strategy, endgame, time…)
https://chessly.com/: no typology
A5 :0Written explanation of each mistake
https://chessly.com/: no explanation of a mistake
A6 :0Stated verification of the diagnoses (procedure, rates)
No mention on https://chessly.com.
A7 :0Tracking each weakness over time
No history mentioned on https://chessly.com.
A8 :0Comparison with players of the same rating
No comparison mentioned on https://chessly.com.
BOpenings
3.3B1 :1Building a personal repertoire
https://chessly.com: "ALL 70+ openings and skills courses", ready-made; no editor.
B2 :2Training the repertoire (drills, games)
https://chessly.com meta: "drill, practice" on the courses; spaced repetition not documented.
B3 :0Spotting where you left your repertoire in your games
No deviation detection on https://chessly.com.
B4 :1Verification of the lines taught (engine, practice)
https://chessly.com: lines by IM Levy Rozman; no engine checking announced.
B5 :0Opening explorer and statistics
No explorer on https://chessly.com.
B6 :2Explanation of opening plans and ideas
https://chessly.com: video opening courses with plans; traps and model games cannot be checked without an account.
CTargeted training
1.1C1 :0Exercises drawn from your own games
No exercise drawn from one’s own games on https://chessly.com.
C2 :1Bank of tactical exercises (size, themes, rating)
https://chessly.com meta keywords "drill, practice"; no bank size published.
C3 :1Endgame training
https://chessly.com: "openings and skills courses"; no dedicated endgame module found.
C4 :1Strategic and positional training
https://chessly.com/: video "skills courses"; no positional exercise found
C5 :0Training defense and alertness
https://chessly.com/: no defensive exercise
C6 :0Training calculation and visualization
No visualisation exercise mentioned on https://chessly.com.
C7 :0Difficulty matched to your real level
No adaptive difficulty documented on https://chessly.com/faqs.
C8 :0Spaced repetition (named algorithm)
https://chessly.com/: no spaced repetition
C9 :0Personalized training plan
https://chessly.com/: no plan
DPrice and value
3.3D1 :0What the free plan actually lets you do
https://chessly.com/terms-of-use: access only through a 7-day trial and then a subscription; no lasting free feature documented.
D2 :1Annual price of the full plan
https://chessly.com/membership — $89.99/yr ≈ €83 (€76-150 band). Read by hand on 2026-09-01: the amounts only load after sign-in.
D3 :3Commercial transparency (price shown, trial, cancellation)
https://chessly.com/terms-of-use: "7 days … without providing any financial information", cancellation online, a 7-day refund.
D4 :0Number of paid tiers (how simple the offer is)
https://chessly.com/membership: "Membership Offers" rendered in JS, the tiers cannot be read
ERigor and honesty
2.5E1 :1Published evidence of effectiveness
https://chessly.com: "1,338,704 people … have tried Chessly", "100,000 copies sold", with no method.
E2 :0Chess verification of the content (positions, lines)
No information about checking on https://chessly.com.
E3 :0Transparency of the method (algorithms, code)
https://chessly.com: "Our Chess AI: Levi", with no technical description.
E4 :2Marketing claims that can be checked (no overselling)
https://chessly.com: factual wording, no quantified promise of rating gain.
FContent and method
5.3F1 :1Courses organized by rating level
https://chessly.com: 70+ courses with no visible level label.
F2 :2Course authors named and titled
https://chessly.com: Levy Rozman (IM, GothamChess) is the only author named.
F3 :3Content formats (text, video, interactive)
https://chessly.com meta: "video", "drill, practice" plus guides; scored 3 on video plus interactive drills.
F4 :1Published method of progression
https://chessly.com: "10+ years of teaching experience"; no published curriculum.
F5 :1How often the content is updated
https://chessly.com/privacy-policy dated 07/12/2024; "70+ Courses (and growing)" with no date; no changelog.
GPlaying and practice
0.0G1 :0Playing humans online (pool, anti-cheating)
No play against humans on https://chessly.com.
G2 :0Realistic artificial opponents
https://chessly.com: "Our Chess AI: Levi" is an assistant; no artificial opponent documented.
G3 :0Replaying one specific position against the machine
No practice from a given position on https://chessly.com.
G4 :0Tournaments and organized competition
No tournament on https://chessly.com.
HExperience and accessibility
1.3H1 :1Platforms available (web, iOS, Android, desktop)
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=chessly: no official app; the site is responsive.
H2 :0User ratings and reviews (stores, press)
No store listing; no third-party review on https://chessly.com.
H3 :0Interface languages available
https://chessly.com — English only, no switcher; App Store Chessly (id6759234053): English only
H4 :0Accessibility (keyboard, screen reader)
No mention of accessibility on https://chessly.com/faqs.
H5 :1Offline use and known incidents
https://chessly.com: an online service; no incident reported, no status page.
IPreparation and study
0.0I1 :0Preparing for a named opponent
https://chessly.com/: no opponent preparation
I2 :0Annotating and sharing games (studies)
https://chessly.com/: no annotation
I3 :0Entering a game played at a club (photo, scoresheet)
https://chessly.com/: no game entry
I4 :0Searching your games (filters, position)
https://chessly.com/: no search through one’s own games
JHuman coaching and community
4.2J1 :0Access to human coaches
No human coach on https://chessly.com.
J2 :2Size and activity of the community
https://chessly.com: Discord and YouTube linked; "1,338,704 people have tried Chessly" (accounts, not active members).
J3 :1Tools for trainers, clubs and schools
https://chessly.com/faqs: "I run a chess club/school … collaboration opportunities?"; no coach area described.
J4 :2Engagement mechanics (streaks, virtual currency, reminders)
https://chessly.com: XP and "achievements", with no paid mechanic found.
KPersonal data and interoperability
2.2K1 :1Exporting your data (games, repertoire)
https://chessly.com/privacy-policy: access and deletion on request at support@chessly.freshdesk.com.
K2 :1Protection of personal data (GDPR, hosting)
https://chessly.com/privacy-policy: Chessly LLC, servers in North America, Google Analytics, Datadog, Customer.io.
K3 :0Public API and source code
No PGN import or export and no API on https://chessly.com.
Also, outside the grid
Features found that no criterion measures. They do not count towards the score.
- Conversational AI assistant "Levi"