There's never been a better time to be a chess player looking for analysis tools. Between open-source engines, free platforms, and browser-based analyzers, you can get world-class analysis without spending a dollar.
Here's a comprehensive look at what's available in 2026.
Engine Analysis
Stockfish
Stockfish remains the gold standard of chess engines. It's open-source, free, and currently the strongest traditional chess engine in the world.
- Rating: 3600+ Elo
- Best for: Deep positional and tactical analysis
- Platforms: Available everywhere — Lichess, Chess.com, standalone downloads, browser WASM
- Latest version: Stockfish 18 (featuring improved NNUE evaluation)
Stockfish 18's NNUE (Efficiently Updatable Neural Network) evaluation has made its positional understanding almost indistinguishable from neural network engines like Leela in most positions, while maintaining superior tactical vision.
Leela Chess Zero (Lc0)
A neural-network engine that plays in a more "human-like" style:
- Rating: 3500+ Elo
- Best for: Understanding plans and strategic ideas
- Limitations: Requires a GPU for real-time analysis; CPU performance is much weaker
- How to use: Download from lczero.org, or use on Lichess (limited)
Leela occasionally finds moves that Stockfish doesn't, especially in quiet positions with long-term plans. But for most players, Stockfish is more practical and accessible.
Online Analysis Platforms
Lichess Analysis Board
The best free analysis tool online, period.
What you get for free:
- Unlimited engine analysis (Stockfish via server-side computation)
- Opening explorer with master games and player databases
- Cloud evaluation at depth 30+
- Endgame tablebases (7-piece Syzygy)
- Game import from PGN
- Annotation tools (comments, arrows, highlights)
Best for: Move-by-move analysis of individual games.
Limitations: It analyzes one game at a time. No bulk scanning or pattern detection across multiple games.
Chess.com Game Review
Chess.com's analysis tool has a polished interface but locks most features behind a paywall.
Free tier:
- 1 game review per day
- Basic accuracy score
- Move classifications (brilliant, great, good, inaccuracy, mistake, blunder)
Premium ($6.99/mo):
- Unlimited game reviews
- Deeper analysis
- Opening report
- Win/loss/draw stats by opening
Best for: Casual players who want quick feedback on a single game per day.
Bulk Analysis Tools
This is where most free tools fall short. Analyzing one game is easy — analyzing 50 games to find patterns requires different tools.
FireChess
What it does: Scans your Lichess or Chess.com games in bulk to find repeated mistakes, opening leaks, missed tactics, and endgame blunders.
Key features:
- Runs Stockfish 18 WASM directly in your browser (private — no data sent to servers)
- Scans openings, tactics, and endgames as separate modes
- Identifies repeated positions where you consistently err
- Generates accuracy metrics and a strength radar chart
- Drill mode to practice your weak positions
- Free tier: 25 games per scan
Best for: Finding systemic weaknesses across many games, not just reviewing one game.
Lichess Insights
Lichess has a built-in "Insights" page that shows statistical trends:
- Performance by time control, color, opening
- Accuracy trends over time
- Move time analysis
Best for: High-level trends. Doesn't offer position-level analysis.
Opening Preparation
Lichess Opening Explorer
Three databases in one:
- Master games — OTB games from titled players
- Lichess database — millions of online games, filterable by rating
- Player search — see what your opponent plays
Best for: Checking what moves are popular and successful in any position. Free and comprehensive.
Chess.com Opening Explorer
Similar to Lichess but with some unique data:
- Separate databases for different time controls
- Win/draw/loss percentages
- Game examples
Note: Full access requires Diamond membership.
Chessable
Not free for most content, but has a few free courses and the spaced-repetition "MoveTrainer" is excellent for memorizing opening lines.
Best for: Learning specific opening repertoires (if you're willing to buy courses).
Endgame Resources
Syzygy Endgame Tablebases
For positions with 7 or fewer pieces, endgame tablebases provide perfect play — mathematically proven best moves.
- Available online through Lichess analysis
- Also accessible via syzygy-tables.info
- Free and instant
Best for: Checking whether an endgame is theoretically won, drawn, or lost.
Lichess Practice
Lichess offers free practice modules for common endgames:
- King and pawn endings
- Rook endings
- Basic checkmates (K+Q, K+R, K+2B)
Best for: Learning fundamental endgame techniques with interactive exercises.
Tactical Training
Lichess Puzzles
- Unlimited free puzzles
- Rated puzzle system (tracks your tactical strength)
- Themed puzzles (pins, forks, discovered attacks, etc.)
- Puzzle streaks and storm modes for timed practice
Chess.com Puzzles
- 5 free puzzles per day (unlimited with premium)
- Good interface and difficulty matching
- Puzzle rush mode
Chess Tempo
An older but still excellent puzzle site:
- Large puzzle database
- Difficulty-rated problems
- Free tier is generous
The Best Free Stack for Improvement
If I had to recommend a completely free analysis workflow for a club player:
| Need | Tool |
|---|---|
| Game-by-game analysis | Lichess Analysis Board |
| Bulk pattern detection | FireChess (free tier: 25 games) |
| Opening preparation | Lichess Opening Explorer |
| Tactical training | Lichess Puzzles |
| Endgame study | Syzygy tables + Lichess Practice |
| Progress tracking | Lichess Insights + FireChess Radar |
This stack covers nearly everything you need and costs exactly $0.
When to Pay for Tools
Free tools cover 90% of what most players need. Consider paying when:
- You want unlimited bulk scanning — FireChess Pro removes the 25-game cap
- You want detailed opening reports — Chess.com Diamond provides this
- You want structured courses — Chessable's paid courses are excellent
- You're 2000+ and need deeper prep — ChessBase is the professional standard
For players under 1800, free tools are more than sufficient. Focus on using them consistently rather than upgrading.
Getting Started
The most important thing is to actually use your analysis tools regularly. A free tool used every week beats a premium tool used once a month.
Start here:
- Play your games on Lichess or Chess.com
- Scan your last 25 games on FireChess to find your biggest weaknesses
- Deep-analyze your most instructive loss on Lichess
- Train your weak areas with Lichess Puzzles or Practice
- Repeat weekly
Improvement in chess is about consistent, targeted practice. The tools are free — the discipline is up to you.