Lichess for free play & engine. Chessyi for visualization depth.
Lichess is the gold standard for free play and unlimited browser analysis. If your only need is Stockfish lines, Lichess is extremely hard to beat on price (free).
Chessyi competes on a different axis: seeing the position with 12+ heatmaps and piece-level markers, plus opening practice and a large bundled library on the same board.
| Feature | Chessyi | Lichess |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to analyse | Trial then Plus/Pro | Free |
| Heatmaps | 12+ overlays | Arrows / eval / explorer |
| Play online | Not the focus | Excellent free play |
| Opening trainer | Built-in practice lines | Studies & community tools |
| Privacy of engine | Local WASM Stockfish | Local or server analysis options |
When Lichess wins
- Free unlimited server/local analysis in a mature UI
- Studies, forums, and a full free play ecosystem
- Opening explorer with huge live databases
When Chessyi wins
- Visualization-first heatmaps and piece attack/defense markers
- Opening practice with validation tied to the same analysis board
- 1.9M master games included without juggling separate DB tools
- Product focus on study software rather than matchmaking
Recommended workflow
Play or analyse on Lichess when you want speed and community. When a position still feels opaque, export the PGN to Chessyi and paint control, tension, and king safety.
See PGN import guides →FAQ
Why pay for Chessyi if Lichess is free?
Pay for Chessyi when visualization depth, bundled library study, and opening drills on one board are worth more than another free eval bar. Many players keep Lichess and add Chessyi for study sessions.
Ready to analyse like a master?
Open the board with a 7-day Pro trial. Stockfish, openings, and 1.9M games in one place.
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