Scid vs PC review: scores and evidence
Scid vs PC is free database software (Windows/Mac/Linux, v4.27 of 20/05/2026): PGN import, UCI engines, opening tree, opening trainer, Phalanx tactics, endgame tablebases and play on FICS. It does not detect recurring weaknesses and has neither courses nor spaced repetition.
Read on August 30, 2026 from the service’s public pages — every score cites the page read.
Overall score
3.6/ 10
Rank
23/ 128
Languages
11
Listed price
Free (GPLv2), free software — rule: free.
What the service is
Scid vs PC is free chess-database software (GPLv2 licence) maintained by Steven Atkinson, "stevenaaus", an Australian programmer according to the project’s home page (https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/). It began in 2009 as a fork of Scid 3.6.26, whose development had stalled in 2004, and the project has been registered on SourceForge since 28 May 2009 (https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidvspc/). It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and BSD; there is no mobile or web version. Features: management of si4-format databases (bulk PGN import, sorting, filters), analysis with any UCI or XBoard engine, an opening tree and reports (Opening Report, Player Report), search by position, material, pattern and CQL, an opening trainer, a tactics game against the Phalanx engine, endgame tablebases, play on FICS, engine tournaments and correspondence games. The interface is translated into eleven languages besides English. Business model: free, with no account, no subscription and no in-app purchase. The software does not detect recurring weaknesses and offers no courses, no spaced repetition and no exercises sorted by theme; the latest version, 4.27, is dated 20 May 2026 in the changelog (https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/doc/Changelog.htm).
Activity history
- 2026-05Version 4.27 of 20 May 2026: engine arrows can be shown on the main board, improved opening trainer, better support for various engines and formats — https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/doc/Changelog.htm.
- 2025-02Version 4.26 of 10 February 2025: score bar in several windows and analysis-board improvements — https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/doc/Changelog.htm.
- 2024-05Version 4.25 of 20 May 2024: bulk extra tags, pattern matching in the name editor, improved LaTeX export — https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/doc/Changelog.htm.
- 2023-05Version 4.24 of 1 May 2023: game-list filtering options and additional engine drivers — https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/doc/Changelog.htm.
- 2022-02Version 4.23 of 27 February 2022: game reordering, browsing several games at once and online tablebases — https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/doc/Changelog.htm.
- 2013-06Version 4.9.2 of 19 June 2013, the oldest entry in the online changelog — https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/doc/Changelog.htm.
- 2009-05Project registered on SourceForge on 28 May 2009 (https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidvspc/); the home page dates the fork of Scid 3.6.26 to 2009, starting from bug fixes to the computer-versus-player features (https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/).
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
1.7A1 :2Importing your games (Chess.com, Lichess, PGN files)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidvspc/ — "create huge databases": bulk PGN import; no Lichess/Chess.com connection
A2 :1Automatic engine analysis of every game
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — engine analysis of the position/game on demand; no automatic pass documented
A3 :1Recurring mistakes identified across all your games
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — "tree analysis": statistics per opening; no named mistake
A4 :0Types of mistakes covered (tactics, strategy, endgame, time…)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no typology
A5 :0Written explanation of each mistake
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — numerical engine annotation only
A6 :0Stated verification of the diagnoses (procedure, rates)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no mention
A7 :0Tracking each weakness over time
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no weakness history observed
A8 :0Comparison with players of the same rating
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no comparison
BOpenings
3.3B1 :2Building a personal repertoire
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — free-form databases/trees, "opening trainer" on your own database
B2 :2Training the repertoire (drills, games)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/doc/Changelog.htm — "Pascal’s Opening Trainer" (repertoire drill), improved in 4.27
B3 :0Spotting where you left your repertoire in your games
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no deviation detection
B4 :0Verification of the lines taught (engine, practice)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no lines supplied
B5 :2Opening explorer and statistics
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — "tree analysis" on any loaded database (external databases)
B6 :0Explanation of opening plans and ideas
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no teaching
CTargeted training
0.7C1 :0Exercises drawn from your own games
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no exercises drawn from your own games
C2 :1Bank of tactical exercises (size, themes, rating)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — "tactics game (Phalanx)" with no figures and no themes
C3 :1Endgame training
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — tablebases with online lookup; no training module
C4 :0Strategic and positional training
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no positional exercises
C5 :0Training defense and alertness
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no defensive exercises
C6 :0Training calculation and visualization
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no mention
C7 :0Difficulty matched to your real level
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — level chosen by hand
C8 :0Spaced repetition (named algorithm)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no spaced repetition
C9 :0Personalized training plan
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no plan
DPrice and value
10.0D1 :3What the free plan actually lets you do
https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidvspc/ — GPLv2, free and unlimited
D2 :3Annual price of the full plan
https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidvspc/ — free
D3 :3Commercial transparency (price shown, trial, cancellation)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidvspc/ — free, no subscription and no renewal
D4 :3Number of paid tiers (how simple the offer is)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — GPL free software, entirely free of charge
EEvidence and transparency
4.2E1 :0Published evidence of effectiveness
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no data
E2 :0Chess verification of the content (positions, lines)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no content to verify
E3 :3Transparency of the method (algorithms, code)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidvspc/ — public GPLv2 source code
E4 :2Marketing claims that can be checked (no overselling)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — factual description of the features
FContent and method
0.7F1 :0Courses organized by rating level
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no courses
F2 :0Course authors named and titled
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no teaching content
F3 :0Content formats (text, video, interactive)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no content
F4 :0Published method of progression
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no method
F5 :1How often the content is updated
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/doc/Changelog.htm — 4.27 dated 20/05/2026 (> 3 months as of 30/08/2026)
GPlaying and practice
3.3G1 :1Playing humans online (pool, anti-cheating)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — play on FICS (small pool)
G2 :1Realistic artificial opponents
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — games against Phalanx/UCI engines with levels
G3 :2Replaying one specific position against the machine
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — "play casual games against the computer" from any position in your database
G4 :0Tournaments and organized competition
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no human tournaments (engine-versus-engine tournaments only)
HExperience and accessibility
4.0H1 :0Platforms available (web, iOS, Android, desktop)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidvspc/ — Linux, Mac, Windows, BSD; no mobile version
H2 :1User ratings and reviews (stores, press)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidvspc/ — 4.9/5 from 23 reviews (< 100)
H3 :2Interface languages available
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — translations cited: German, French, Portuguese (BR), Spanish, Polish, Russian, Turkish, Finnish, Greek, Dutch, Chinese (11, excluding English)
H4 :0Accessibility (keyboard, screen reader)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no mention
H5 :3Offline use and known incidents
https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidvspc/ — local software, everything works offline
IPreparation and study
5.8I1 :2Preparing for a named opponent
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/doc/Reports.htm — "Player Report": a player’s games with White or with Black, opening statistics
I2 :1Annotating and sharing games (studies)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — variations, comments and NAGs saved locally; no sharing by link
I3 :1Entering a game played at a club (photo, scoresheet)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — moves entered on the virtual board; no photo/OCR
I4 :3Searching your games (filters, position)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/doc/Searches.htm — Board search, Material/Pattern search, CQL: search by position and by pattern
JHuman coaching and community
2.5J1 :0Access to human coaches
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no coach
J2 :1Size and activity of the community
https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidvspc/ — 23 reviews, SourceForge forums; daily activity not observed
J3 :0Tools for trainers, clubs and schools
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no coach tools
J4 :2Engagement mechanics (streaks, virtual currency, reminders)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — no gamification and no paid mechanics
KPersonal data and interoperability
10.0K1 :3Exporting your data (games, repertoire)
https://scidvspc.sourceforge.net/ — local data, PGN/EPD/LaTeX export (4.25 changelog)
K2 :3Protection of personal data (GDPR, hosting)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidvspc/ — local software with no account: no data collected, no trackers
K3 :3Public API and source code
https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidvspc/ — open GPLv2 source code
Also, outside the grid
Features found that no criterion measures. They do not count towards the score.
- Engine tournaments
- Correspondence chess
- Tournament crosstables
- Polyglot opening-book editing
- HTML/LaTeX export of games
Sources consulted
Services with a similar profile
The three services whose category profile is closest — a distance over the eleven scores, computed, never chosen.