The Best Chess Apps of 2025

There’s no shortage of chess apps out there, but not all of them deliver the same experience. Whether you’re a beginner or a grandmaster hunting for new tactics, we've found the best chess apps for you. Some offer real-time matches; others focus on deep training.

A few do both — and then some.

In this guide, we explore the top 9 chess apps available today — there's an app for every skill level.

1. Chess.com – Chess

Let’s start with the app everyone stumbles onto first: Chess.com. And look, that name might sound a bit obvious, but trust me, this app is anything but basic. Whether you’re just figuring out how the pieces move or you’ve played more games than you’d care to admit, Chess.com has a lane for you.

You can play real-time chess matches, take your time with longer games (like five days long, no rush), or practice against computer opponents with totally different personalities. I once played against a bot that only blundered pawns — and it still beat me.

You can play as many games as you want against humans or AI, no problem. But if you’re curious, there’s a whole world tucked behind the scenes — puzzles, lessons, game analysis, even chess live streams if you’re into watching other people stress over 30-second endgames.

Start small, and see where it takes you.

2. Lichess

If Chess.com is like a sprawling chess city, Lichess is your clean, ad-free, hyper-efficient studio apartment — every tool you need, nothing you don’t.

Here’s what I love about it: you can hop in, no account needed, and just start playing.

And yes — it’s completely free. No ads. No weird pop-ups.

What really stands out for me is the post-game analysis. After every match, you get a neat graph showing when you were winning, when you were absolutely not, and exactly where it all went wrong (or gloriously right).

You can even pull up grandmaster games that match your moves and see how they handled the same situation. It’s like having a personal coach but in graph form.

If you’re someone who wants to improve your chess without getting bombarded by upgrades and subscriptions, Lichess is a no-brainer.

3. Magnus Trainer

This one feels personal.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn directly from Magnus Carlsen — you know, the world champ himself — then Magnus Trainer might be the closest you’ll get.

Here’s what makes it special: every mini-lesson is based on his own games.

You’re not just solving random puzzles — you’re learning how he thinks and, sometimes, where he messed up, too. It’s a mix of short lessons, tactical exercises, and brain-training drills that genuinely help you see the board better.

And yeah, when you mess up, Magnus gives you a look. A literal one.

I’ll be real — this app leans premium. The free tier gives you a taste, but if you want the full experience, it’s $8/month or $75/year.

Still, I found real value even without paying. I actually enjoyed playing against “young Magnus” (you can pick his skill level by age, which is low-key hilarious and humbling).

I once drew against 8-year-old Magnus and felt like a genius. Don’t judge me.

4. ChessKid – Chess for Kids

ChessKid is one of those apps that does exactly what it promises — it teaches kids how to play chess in a friendly, safe, and genuinely engaging way.

Built by the team behind Chess.com, this is the scholastic version of online chess that schools and parents actually recommend.

The whole platform is ad-free and designed with full parental control. Kids can only communicate with others during games, and even that’s restricted to approved contacts.

So, if you're a parent who’s been a bit nervous about introducing your child to online chess, this app makes that first step much easier.

What I really liked about it is how balanced it feels.

You can choose between slow or fast chess games, play against friends, or test yourself against ten different bots that are just the right level of challenge for beginners.

Whether your child is playing online or offline, the app keeps the interface simple but bright enough to keep younger learners interested.

There’s also a chess puzzle section with more than 350,000 challenges — though free users can access three per day, which is still a solid way to train.

Add in short coaching videos, strategy lessons, and the chance to learn chess tactics from their very animated in-house coach, FunMasterMike, and you've got a surprisingly full experience.

More than 500,000 games are played every month on ChessKid, and over 200,000 kids are active in the community.

So, if your child wants to play chess, this is one of the best chess apps out there for their age group.

5. SocialChess

Some chess apps try to impress you with fancy engines or over-the-top interfaces. SocialChess doesn’t need any of that.

It’s sleek, straightforward, and surprisingly satisfying — especially if your goal is to play games with actual people and focus on improving without distractions.

Here’s why I kept this app on my phone: it lets me play chess matches at my own pace.

I can have a few fast games going with friends and a couple of slow-burn correspondence games where I just drop in, make my move, and bounce. There’s no rush, no pressure — just pure online chess that fits around real life.

You can play up to five games at once for free or scale it up to 100 if you decide to upgrade.

I haven’t felt the need yet — five is plenty. And if someone disappears mid-game, you can claim the win and move on.

SocialChess keeps things clean. No ads. No clutter. It is just a smooth chess board with thoughtful features and an optional analysis board if you want to go deeper into your strategy game.

One of the things I didn’t expect to enjoy - the social side. You can create a profile, chat in groups, and even map where your opponent’s located (not in a creepy way — it just adds personality).

It feels like the opposite of anonymous play, and that makes your games feel more real, more human.

6. Chess – Vintolo Ltd

Sometimes, you just want to open an app, see a wooden chess board, and start playing — no frills, no gimmicks. That’s exactly what this app from Vintolo Ltd offers.

It’s classic, clean, and completely focused on the game itself. If you’re the type of player who prefers a quiet board over flashy animations or cluttered menus, this one might be for you.

This chess app lets you play against computer opponents or a friend, with five difficulty levels you can toggle (depending on how brave you’re feeling).

The AI responds quickly, and the hint system is there to gently guide you if you ever get stuck. You can undo moves, highlight legal options, and jump between 2D and 3D chess pieces depending on your mood.

And yes, the design is simple, but it’s pleasant — like playing on a polished wooden board in your study.

There’s also full move history and notation for those who want to track every decision. Whether you want a quiet strategy game or a long battle with built-in time controls, you’ve got options — 5, 15, 30, or even 60-minute chess matches.

It may not have the social features or puzzle rush options you’ll find in other chess apps, but sometimes, that’s the charm.

No noise. Just you, the chess board, and your pieces.

What makes it stand out is how it gives you full control over your game. You can rewind to any position, customize the board’s appearance, and even play background music while you strategize.

It doesn’t try to be an all-in-one trainer, but it respects the purity of chess and gives you space to think and enjoy at your pace.

7. Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf

Out of all the chess apps I’ve tried, Dr. Wolf feels the most human.

This isn’t just a game you tap through — it’s like having a mentor quietly walk beside you as you play. He talks you through every move, points out mistakes, and helps you understand the “why” behind each decision.

It’s the only app I’ve used where I felt like someone was actually teaching me how to play chess — not just testing me.

Dr. Wolf is perfect if you're brand new to the game or trying to level up from beginner to intermediate.

He doesn’t throw theory at you. Instead, he plays with you, gives gentle but clear feedback in real time, and lets you learn chess at your own pace. He’ll explain why a move works, what the better alternative was, and how to spot it next time.

It’s a calm, structured approach that feels more like a conversation than a lesson.

The best part is the adaptability. Dr. Wolf adjusts to your skill level, so whether you’re just learning how the chess pieces move or already grinding tough chess puzzles, he’ll meet you where you are.

You’ll go through 50+ interactive lessons that cover everything from openings and endgames to chess tactics, strategy patterns, and positional play — all explained in plain English.

He even speaks out loud, which helps more than I expected.

It’s like having a friendly chess professor whispering over your shoulder.

And if you're someone who learns best through repetition, you’ll appreciate the way this app revisits your earlier games.

Dr. Wolf remembers your progress, highlights patterns in your mistakes, and helps you turn them into strengths — slowly but surely improving your chess over time.

There are also multiple coach “personalities” to choose from, each with a different style and voice.

Whether you want firm guidance or soft encouragement, you can pick the coach who matches your learning style. It’s a feature I didn’t know I needed until I tried it.

The first three games are free, which gives you a solid taste of how the coaching works. After that, if you want to unlock unlimited hints, updos, lessons, and feedback, you can upgrade.

I found the coaching version totally worth it, especially if you’re serious about playing smarter.

And if you ever feel overwhelmed - you can slow things down, replay your moves, and even access a full analysis board to explore ideas just like in advanced computer chess apps.

8. Really Bad Chess

Let’s get one thing straight — this isn’t your grandfather’s chessboard.

Really Bad Chess throws out the rulebook (well, kind of) and reimagines the starting position entirely.

You might begin a game with six queens and no bishops. Or play with nothing but knights where your pawns should be. And that’s the charm — this app flips your expectations and forces you to think beyond standard openings or theory-heavy lines.

If you're someone who’s been grinding online chess for a while and you're starting to feel like every match plays out the same way, this is the shake-up you need.

And even if you’re still learning how the chess pieces move, Really Bad Chess lets you experiment with wild board setups without pressure.

You won’t find traditional chess matches or multiplayer options here. You’ll be playing against computer opponents only, but the twist is this: the AI doesn’t get stronger — it gets more resourceful.

You’ll start with a hefty piece advantage, but as you win, the app reduces your upper hand. Over time, it slowly teaches you how to survive chaotic setups and capitalize on uneven material — a surprisingly effective way to improve your chess instincts.

That said, the app isn’t perfect. It doesn’t register drawn positions, so if you repeat moves or land in a stalemate, the game might just call it a win or loss.

Still, for what it offers — pure, unhinged, creative fun — it’s one of the most unique chess apps out there.

9. Shredder Chess

If most chess apps feel overwhelming — or like they expect you to already know what you're doing — Shredder Chess does the exact opposite.

It’s quiet, fast, and brilliantly beginner-friendly, while still offering enough depth for seasoned players who want to drill chess puzzles or train against computer opponents on their own terms.

Here’s why I loved it: You launch the app, and within seconds, you’re playing. No tutorials. No subscriptions dangling in your face.

Just a clean board, a responsive engine, and a series of puzzles designed to help you improve your chess one move at a time.

You can adjust the AI’s strength so it doesn’t feel like you’re getting crushed for every little mistake. It mimics human-like moves at all skill levels, which makes it a great way to build confidence.

If you’re looking to learn chess and actually enjoy the process, this app makes it easy to stick with it.

Shredder Chess offers chess puzzles on both iOS and Android.

And yes — you can even play it in your browser if you’re on a desktop.

For anyone who wants to work on chess tactics in peace, without pop-ups, noise, or distractions, Shredder is a no-frills strategy game that just gets it.

Wrapping Up

So — what’s your pick?

Are you leaning toward Chess.com, Lichess, or something totally unexpected like Really Bad Chess?

Whether you want to improve your chess or just have fun with friends, one of these apps probably clicked.

Which one caught your eye?