Android
iOSAndroid and iOS mobile review
Lichess
Serious online chess, puzzles, studies, and unrestricted analysis with no ads or premium tier.
- Mobile release date
- Developed by
- Lichess Mobile contributors
- Play style
- Real-time and correspondence chess, tournaments, puzzles, studies, analysis, broadcasts, and offline computer games
Game artworkLichess is the strongest value choice for mobile chess players who already know what they want to practise. It offers competitive play and unusually deep analysis without turning puzzles, engine use, or studies into subscription gates. The new Flutter app is much more complete than it was at launch, including offline computer play, but it still asks newcomers to learn its navigation and exposes fewer structured lessons than Chess.com. Choose it for free play, analysis, and self-directed improvement; choose a more guided alternative if a polished beginner curriculum matters more than unrestricted tools.
See why it got this score ↓Still images: Lichess Mobile contributors. Image license record: GNU GPL v3 or later; bundled Fontawesome exception under SIL OFL 1.1. The exact tagged repository app icon was converted to WebP. Developer-published iPhone simulator captures of the same GPL-covered app interface were resized and converted to WebP; three were composited over a blurred crop for the hero. Captures containing third-party event promotional photography were excluded. The trailer preview is a crop of the licensed analysis interface, not a video frame.
On this page
Source-reviewed assessment by GamesRanker Editorial: GamesRanker did not claim a first-hand test for this score. We verified product facts and evaluated attributed mobile testing from the named reviewers below. Store details were last checked using the United States baseline on September 21, 2026; availability and prices may differ in your country. See how source-reviewed scores work.
The essentials
What is Lichess?
Download Lichess if you want to play and study chess on Android or iPhone without ads, subscriptions, or feature limits. The rebuilt mobile app combines live and correspondence games, puzzles, tournaments, studies, broadcasts, an opening explorer, and local Stockfish analysis. Current releases also support offline puzzles and computer games. The compromise is discoverability: several powerful tools sit behind menus that current iOS reviewers found harder to navigate than the website. GamesRanker has not played version 0.28.4; this score combines current independent iPhone testing, named store reports, and direct official sources.
Why it stands out
- Online play, puzzles, studies, and strong analysis tools are all available without a subscription
- Real-time, correspondence, tournament, bot, and over-the-board modes cover many ways to play chess
- Offline puzzles and current offline computer play make the app useful without a constant connection
- Open-source development and donation funding remove ads, paid shortcuts, and premium feature gates
What to consider
- Powerful tools and settings can be difficult to discover in the mobile navigation
- Structured beginner lessons are less comprehensive than the leading commercial alternative
- One current iOS reviewer reports a slight move delay that matters in very fast games
- Most matchmaking, sync, broadcasts, and community features still require an internet connection
Is it for you?
Should you download it?
Players who already know chess and want unrestricted online games, puzzles, opening research, and post-game analysis on both major mobile platforms. It is especially strong for self-directed learners who would rather donate voluntarily than pay for feature access.
You need a step-by-step beginner course, expect every advanced tool to explain itself, or play only ultra-fast games where even a small reported input delay is unacceptable. Mini Metro offers cleaner one-handed strategy; Unciv offers a fully offline, longer-form strategy campaign on Android.
Compare the alternatives: Mini Metro · Unciv · Balatro
Score details
Why Lichess scored 8.8
We score both the game itself and how well this version works on a phone or tablet.
Fun
Real-time and correspondence matchmaking, tournaments, puzzles, studies, broadcasts, computer opponents, and Chess960 cover both competitive play and self-directed practice. Independent 2026 comparisons consistently identify the analysis board and opening explorer as standout tools. The main omission is a beginner curriculum as structured as Chess.com's.
Phone experience
Portrait boards, configurable home widgets, offline puzzles, quick time controls, and the rebuilt Flutter interface suit short phone sessions. Current App Store reports show the cost of fitting this breadth onto mobile: feature discovery and post-game analysis controls can be hard to find, and one reviewer still preferred the mobile website.
Value
Both US stores offer the complete app free. Online play, unlimited puzzles, studies, tournaments, opening research, and engine analysis are not divided into paid tiers, and independent comparisons confirm the absence of ads and a paywall. Donations support the service without changing in-app access.
Performance
The Flutter rewrite targeted a smoother, responsive experience, and version 0.28.4 includes startup and socket reliability work alongside other fixes. Apple release notes also record a June game-screen performance improvement. One current iOS reviewer nevertheless reports a small move delay, so the score stops short of treating fast time-control play as uniformly seamless.
Ads & purchases
No ads, premium tier, energy system, or paid analysis affects play or training. The code and issue tracker are public, and the stores describe a donation-supported service. Online accounts necessarily handle identity, gameplay, messages, and diagnostics, so this is not a no-data product even though the business model avoids monetizing access to chess tools.
On mobile
Features that matter
- 01Play rated or casual real-time and correspondence chess, friend challenges, and arena tournaments
- 02Solve themed puzzles or use Puzzle Streak and Puzzle Storm, with offline puzzle support
- 03Analyse games locally with Stockfish or request server analysis, then inspect opening and tablebase data
- 04Build and share studies, edit positions, practise coordinates, and import or copy PGN variations
- 05Watch tournament broadcasts, Lichess TV, and streamers or use the built-in over-the-board chess clock
- 06Play offline against the Maia computer opponent with configurable time controls in version 0.28.4
Quick answers
Common questions about Lichess on mobile
Straight answers about price, content, offline play, controls, and compatibility.
Is every Lichess mobile feature really free?+
Yes. The checked US listings have no purchase price or advertised in-app purchases, and Lichess says the service is funded by donations. Matchmaking, puzzles, studies, tournaments, and analysis are not separated into premium tiers. A donation supports the nonprofit but does not unlock gameplay advantages.
Can Lichess be played offline on Android or iPhone?+
Partly. Puzzles can be prepared for offline use, and version 0.28.4 includes an offline Maia computer opponent with offline time controls. Live matchmaking, correspondence sync, server analysis, broadcasts, messages, and most community features still need a connection.
Is this the new Lichess app or the legacy mobile app?+
This page covers the rebuilt Flutter edition with Android package org.lichess.mobileV2 and App Store ID 1662361230. Lichess announced its stable official release on August 8, 2025. The older app may still appear in discussions or on devices, so package identity matters when comparing old reviews.
What Android and iPhone versions does Lichess require?+
The official Android baseline is Android 8.0 or newer. The current US App Store requires iOS or iPadOS 15.6 or newer. These are operating-system floors rather than guarantees for every phone or tablet; the local store makes the final compatibility decision.
Is Lichess a good app for complete chess beginners?+
It can teach rules, coordinates, tactics, and study material, but it is strongest as a play-and-analysis toolkit. Independent comparisons find its structured beginner instruction and feature discovery weaker than Chess.com's. A new player who needs a guided course may prefer learning elsewhere while using Lichess for free games and puzzles.
Does the Lichess app support chess variants?+
The new app supports standard chess and has improved Chess960 support, and 2026 release history added additional variant work. Feature parity with the website can still change by variant, so players who depend on a specific non-standard format should check the current app release notes before switching from the web or legacy app.
Store snapshot
What players are rating
United States snapshot, : On September 21, 2026, US Google Play showed a free Install action, 1M+ downloads, about 14,200 reviews, a 4.0 aggregate rating, an Everyone rating, and an August 15 update date. The US App Store showed Free, version 0.28.4, 86.6 MB, 610 ratings at 4.0, a 4+ rating, and iOS 15.6+. These audience signals helped confirm a durable candidate but did not affect the editorial score.
Your next step
Price and download
The checked US Google Play and App Store listings both offer the complete app free. Lichess is funded by donations and advertises no paid tier, ads, or in-app purchases. Local store availability can differ.
Regional store note: Listed on both reference stores on . GamesRanker uses this consistent baseline for comparison; use the store links to see availability, pricing, size, and requirements in your region.
