Is Chess.com Diamond worth it?
Chess.com's top membership unlocks unlimited Game Review, lessons and puzzles. Whether that's worth it depends almost entirely on how you use chess. Here's a straight answer, including when you'd be better off with something else.
Chess AI is an independent app and isn't affiliated with Chess.com. Prices and features change; check Chess.com's membership page for the current details.
What you're paying for
Chess.com's paid tiers mostly unlock limits on things free accounts can already try. The top tier is designed for people who use the site every day: unlimited Game Review, the full lesson library, unlimited puzzles and the extra training tools, plus no ads.
It's worth it if…
- You play on Chess.com every day and want a full review of every game without thinking about limits.
- You'll actually work through the video lessons. They're the part free alternatives replace least well.
- You like having everything (play, review, lessons, puzzles) in one account.
It's probably not worth it if…
- You play a few games a week. A free account's daily review allowance may already cover you.
- You mainly want engine analysis. Lichess's computer analysis is free and unlimited.
- You want to know why you keep losing, not just which moves were bad. Move labels and short notes help, but they don't connect the dots across your games.
- You've bought memberships before and never opened the lessons.
Alternatives
| Option | Good for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free Chess.com account | Playing, a limited number of daily reviews, the free analysis board | Free |
| Lichess | Unlimited engine analysis, puzzles, studies; everything open source | Free (donations welcome) |
| Chess AI (iPhone) | An adaptive opponent, unlimited free engine review of every game, and written AI coaching that explains your mistakes and patterns across games | Free to play; coaching plans from $49.99/year with a 7-day free trial |
| A human coach | Personal guidance and accountability | Usually the most expensive per hour |
Many players mix and match: play wherever their friends are, export the PGN, and review elsewhere. See how to review every game for free.
How to decide in a week
- Write down how many games you play and how many you'd review.
- Use free trials (Chess.com and Chess AI both offer one) during the same week and note which reviews actually changed how you played.
- Cancel what you didn't use before the trial ends.
FAQ
Is Chess.com free?
Yes. Playing is free and unlimited. Paid memberships unlock more reviews, lessons and training features.
What's a good Chess.com alternative?
Lichess for free, ad-free play and analysis; Chess AI if you want coaching that explains your mistakes on iPhone.