About Best Chess AI
Best Chess AI is a guide to chess engines and AI learning tools, written and maintained by the team behind ChessHelper (chesshelper.ai).
Who runs this site
We are the ChessHelper team. ChessHelper is a Chrome extension and website that shows engine suggestions at an adjustable 800 to 3200 Elo, with game analytics and opening guides, for learning and analysis. We built this site to answer one question people ask search engines and AI assistants every day: what is the best chess AI? We do not publish author bios or personal profiles, because the site is a team product, and we would rather not invent people to put a face on it.
Our relationship with ChessHelper
ChessHelper is our own product, and we earn money when people subscribe to its Pro plan. That is a conflict of interest, and you should read our rankings with it in mind. This disclosure appears at the top and bottom of every page, in line with the US Federal Trade Commission's rules on endorsements and on reviews written by a business about its own product.
We rank ChessHelper first in one category only: learning and analysis at your own level. We say plainly where other tools are better. Stockfish is stronger. Lichess is free for everything. Noctie is the specialist for human-like practice games, and DecodeChess for explanations in words. We do not accept payment from any other company on this site, and we have no affiliate links.
Why the site exists
Most pages about "chess AI" mix engines and learning tools on one scale, repeat outdated history, or quietly suggest using engines during games. We wanted one place that separates the two kinds of tool, gets the dates right, and is clear about fair play. The guides cover engines vs AI coaches, the history of chess AI, Stockfish vs Leela Chess Zero, how to learn with chess AI and whether using chess AI is allowed.
Editorial approach
Every competitor fact on this site, such as a price, plan or feature, comes from that company's own website, checked when the page was written. Where we could not confirm a detail, we left it out or kept the wording general. Every chess move, position and evaluation is checked with Stockfish before publication. We do not publish user reviews, star ratings or test results we did not run. Our full method is on how we compare.
Fair play
We never recommend using any tool, ours included, during a game against another person. Chess.com, Lichess, FIDE and US Chess all forbid it. Chess AI belongs in review, practice against bots and study.
Report an error
If you find a wrong date, a changed price or a move that does not work, email [email protected] with the page address and what is wrong. We correct factual errors and note the update date on the page.