Lichess

It genuinely amazes me how hard people complain about an app that is actually free, doesn't track you, or sell your information. It's like being given a free new car and complaining about the colour. I have seen at least 5 accounts disabled mid-game this year, so I think it is reasonable to think LiChess is dealing with cheaters. All that said, I much prefer the old app's layout and its close resemblance to the web browser version. In future development, please design wedges that look more like the older versions.

I love Lichess and believe they will I improve this app and make is much better. However, this app is just worse than the old app. There is a noticeable lag or delay in every move. It feels like the old app was playing on the main server and this one is connected to the server. It is a very small delay but when you play a game where micro seconds matter the delay is unbearable. Maybe it’s my area? But I did not have this issue with the old app. The menu system is.. hard to navigate, it’s not bad but it requires a memorizing where things are. Such as engine analysis after your game has finished you can request a computer analysis but you must navigate and find the toggle to turn the engine on if you want to analyze a position. There are so many small things that add up to an app that is not great but it is functional there are no app breaking bugs. If you want a better more seamless gaming experience you should open the web browser on your phone. It baffles me that the website is more user friendly than the app. There are more features that you can access and there isn’t a strange delay between each move (no the delay is not piece animation. I’m 2400 and have played on every chess website known to man, the delay is in the app and how he transmits information.) Perhaps I expected too much from the app. It is free and it is very good for being free.

Lichess is hands down the best chess platform out there if you value fairness, simplicity, and freedom. It’s the only major chess app that is 100% free — no ads, no paywalls, no “premium” features locked behind a subscription. Every feature is available to all users equally, whether you’re a beginner or a grandmaster. From puzzles and lessons to tournaments and analysis tools, everything works smoothly and without interruption. The open-source spirit of Lichess shows — it’s built for the community, by the community. If you want a clean, respectful, and honest place to enjoy chess, this is it. 5/5 — Not just a great app, but a great philosophy.