The Best Free Chess Websites Kids (and Parents) Will Love
By Lalit Akhade, Founder & Head Coach, ChessMates Academy · Published 2026-03-13 · 7 min read
The Best Free Chess Websites Kids (and Parents) Will Love
Chess online does not have to cost money. Several platforms offer genuinely excellent free chess experiences — suitable for children from complete beginner to competitive level. Here is an honest guide to what is out there and what works best for different needs.
Chess.com
Best for: Everything — the most comprehensive free platform
Chess.com is the world's largest chess platform, with over 100 million registered users. The free version gives access to:
- Unlimited online games against players of all levels
- A daily puzzle (with puzzle rush available for practice)
- Basic lessons and videos for beginners
- Game analysis after each match
- "Play vs Computer" at adjustable difficulty levels
The premium subscription unlocks advanced analysis, more lessons, and full puzzle rush — but the free tier is genuinely substantial for beginners and intermediate players.
Ideal for: Children who want to play real games against opponents their level, solve puzzles, and access structured lessons. The interface is polished, colourful, and child-friendly.
Lichess.org
Best for: Everything free — truly open-source with no paywalls
Lichess is completely free — not "free tier with premium limitations," but genuinely free for everything. It is an open-source, non-profit platform supported by donations.
What Lichess gives for free: - Unlimited games in all formats (bullet, blitz, rapid, classical, correspondence) - Full puzzle training with performance tracking - Complete game analysis with computer engine - Opening explorer (see how grandmasters play any position) - Studies and interactive lessons - Tournaments every hour
The interface is less flashy than Chess.com but extremely functional. Many serious players prefer Lichess precisely because it is free of commercial pressure.
Ideal for: Families who want the full experience without subscriptions, and older children who prefer a more focused, ad-free environment.
ChessKid.com
Best for: Younger children (ages 5–12)
ChessKid is Chess.com's child-focused platform. It is designed specifically for young learners with:
- A colourful, engaging interface with friendly characters
- A safe environment with moderated communication
- Simple beginner lessons starting from piece movement
- Age-appropriate puzzles
- Parent dashboard to monitor activity and progress
- Ad-free experience
ChessKid is ideal for children aged 5–10 who are new to chess. The environment is safe, visually appealing, and appropriately paced for young beginners.
Ideal for: Young children just starting out, and parents who want a fully monitored, age-appropriate environment.
Chess Tempo
Best for: Serious puzzle training
Chess Tempo is the best dedicated puzzle training platform available. Its free version includes:
- Thousands of rated tactical puzzles with performance tracking
- Endgame training exercises
- Opening practice
- Game database access
The interface is less visually appealing than Chess.com or Lichess, but the puzzle quality and variety are unmatched. Competitive players use Chess Tempo specifically because of its rigorous puzzle rating system.
Ideal for: Children aged 10+ who are serious about improvement and want focused tactical training beyond what Chess.com's puzzle tools offer.
YouTube Channels (Free Video Lessons)
Several free YouTube channels provide excellent chess education:
GothamChess (Levy Rozman): Excellent beginner and intermediate content. Engaging, funny, and pedagogically sound. The "Road to Chess Master" series is a popular starting point.
Daniel Naroditsky (Danya): Possibly the best chess teacher on YouTube. His "Speed Run" series shows master-level thinking explained in real time.
ChessKid Official: Content designed specifically for younger players.
Ben Finegold: Entertaining and educational, especially good for intermediate players.
What Free Platforms Cannot Replace
All of these platforms are valuable tools. But they share a limitation: they are reactive, not personalised. They give you content, puzzles, and opponents — but they cannot:
- Identify your specific weaknesses
- Correct your thinking process in real time
- Build a personalised training plan
This is what a coach does. And at ChessMates, we use all of these free platforms alongside our structured coaching — integrating them into a coherent learning plan rather than leaving students to navigate them alone.
Book a free trial class at ChessMates. Our coaches will show you exactly how to use these platforms for maximum improvement between sessions.