Best Free and Paid Chess Alternatives
This page highlights some of the best Chess software options and alternatives available in 2025, helping you make smarter tech choices.

AI Factory Chess Treebeard
ChessAI Factory Chess Treebeard, with its innovative Treebeard Chess engine and a unique human-like playing...

Thief
ChessThief is a well-known, free chess client developed by Zon Jan, primarily used for playing...

Fritz
ChessFritz, developed by ChessBase, has long been hailed as the world's most popular chess program....

Shredder Chess
Chess SoftwareShredder Chess, developed by Stefan Meyer-Kahlen, has long been revered as a titan in the...

Brutal Chess
ChessBrutal Chess, known for its full 3D graphics, advanced particle engine, and AI levels inspired...

BrainyChess
ChessBrainyChess is a fantastic chess app offering online gameplay, a vast puzzle database, and a...

Better Than Chess
Chess GamesBetter Than Chess offers a customizable board, no account requirement, and the ability to play...

HIARCS Chess Explorer
Chess SoftwareHIARCS Chess Explorer is renowned as a world-class chess database, analysis, and playing software for...

Tarrasch Chess GUI
ChessTarrasch Chess GUI, a flexible, minimalist, and user-friendly chess graphical user interface, has long been...

Chess Walk
Chess SoftwareChess Walk is a popular Android chess application known for its ability to facilitate both...

BabasChess
ChessBabasChess, a revolutionary Internet Chess Client for Windows, has been a popular choice for many...

Lucas Chess
Chess SoftwareLucas Chess is a popular software for chess enthusiasts looking to improve their game against...

Chess.com
ChessChess.com has long been a go-to platform for playing chess online, learning new strategies, and...

chess genius
Chess SoftwareChess Genius has long been a go-to for chess enthusiasts seeking a strong program on...

iNemesis
Chess SoftwareiNemesis, a free chess program designed for the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS), has long...

Scid vs. PC
ChessScid vs. PC, a powerful fork of Shane's Chess Information Database (Scid), is a beloved...

XBoard
Chess SoftwareXBoard, also known as WinBoard on Microsoft operating systems, has long been a go-to free...

Chessmaster
Chess SoftwareChessmaster, the best-selling chess franchise in history with over five million units sold by 2002,...

Jin
ChessJin is a well-known open-source, cross-platform graphical client for chess servers, written in Java. It...

ChessRoots
Chess SoftwareChessRoots emerged from a unique vision: to provide chess players, especially those at a lower...