Top JustChess Alternatives for Every Chess Enthusiast
JustChess offers a simple way to play chess against a basic engine or with a friend in pass-and-play mode. While its straightforward design and open-source nature make it accessible, its limited features and a 3-ply engine that’s not hard to beat might leave more serious chess players wanting. If you're looking for a more robust, feature-rich, or competitive chess experience, exploring a JustChess alternative is the next logical step.
Top JustChess Alternatives
Whether you're a beginner looking to improve, a casual player seeking a challenge, or an advanced enthusiast aiming for competitive play, there's a JustChess alternative out there for you. We've compiled a list of the best options that offer diverse features, platforms, and playing experiences.
Lichess
Lichess provides a complete and ad-free chess experience, allowing users to play and compete with friends and others worldwide. As a free and open-source platform available on Web, Android, iPhone, and iPad, it's an excellent JustChess alternative for those seeking robust multiplayer options, study modes, and a vibrant community.
Chess.com
Chess.com is arguably the most popular online chess site, offering a Freemium platform on Web, Android, iPhone, Java Mobile, and HP webOS. It's an excellent JustChess alternative for learning new strategies, tactics, and rules, studying games, and playing against a massive global community.
DroidFish Chess
DroidFish Chess is a free and open-source port of the powerful Stockfish chess engine to Android. If you're looking for a significantly stronger chess opponent on your mobile device compared to JustChess's engine, DroidFish Chess is a fantastic alternative.
Chessmaster
Chessmaster is a commercial chess playing computer game series for Windows, known as the best-selling chess franchise in history. For those seeking a comprehensive, well-established, and often graphically rich single-player experience with various training tools, Chessmaster offers a significant upgrade from JustChess.
DreamChess
DreamChess is a free and open-source chess game available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. It features a moderately strong engine called "Dreamer" and is compatible with other XBoard-compatible engines like Crafty and GNU Chess, making it a versatile JustChess alternative with improved AI and cross-platform support.
Fritz
Fritz is a commercial, Windows-based chess program developed by ChessBase, renowned for its advanced features and strong engine. If you're looking for a serious training partner, extensive opening databases, and professional-level analysis tools that go far beyond JustChess's simplicity, Fritz is a top-tier choice.
Brutal Chess
Brutal Chess is a free and open-source game for Windows and PortableApps.com, featuring full 3D graphics, an advanced particle engine, and several levels of intelligent AI. For users who appreciate a more visually engaging experience combined with a challenging AI, Brutal Chess is an appealing JustChess alternative.
XBoard
XBoard, also known as WinBoard on Microsoft operating systems, is a free and open-source graphical user interface client compatible with various chess engines. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and PortableApps.com, XBoard offers a highly customizable and flexible platform for playing chess against different engines, making it a robust open-source JustChess alternative.
Lucas Chess
Lucas Chess is a free and open-source game for Windows and PortableApps.com designed to help users improve their chess skills against the computer with increasing difficulty levels and a limited number of hints from a chess tutor. It's a great JustChess alternative for those focused on guided learning and progressive challenges.
ChessRoots
ChessRoots is a free web-based platform that visualizes chess openings from millions of games, including Lichess, tournament, and engine games. While not a direct playing client, it's an excellent JustChess alternative for serious players looking to delve deep into opening theory and improve their understanding of the game.
Whether you prioritize online multiplayer, advanced AI opponents, extensive learning tools, or cross-platform compatibility, the world of chess software offers a wide array of choices beyond JustChess. Explore these alternatives to find the perfect fit for your chess journey and elevate your game!