Lila is the open-source code behind Lichess.org, the free nonprofit chess platform. Explore its features, nonprofit funding model and top alternatives.
Category
Gaming & Game Servers
Pricing
Free / Nonprofit, from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
2010
Headquarters
France
Web AppAPIOpen SourceSelf-Hosted
Overview
Lila is the open-source Scala codebase behind Lichess.org, created in 2010 by French programmer Thibault Duplessis as a hobby project that grew into one of the world's largest online chess platforms.
Since 2018, Lichess has operated under a registered French non-profit association, funding a small paid staff and infrastructure entirely through voluntary donations rather than advertising, subscriptions, or venture capital.
Key Features
Lichess offers unlimited real-time and correspondence games, a full rating system, chess variants like Chess960 and Crazyhouse, and a built-in Stockfish-powered analysis board, all free with no paywalled tier.
Additional tools include a puzzle trainer with millions of positions, user-created arena and Swiss tournaments, study and annotation tools, and training against the open-source Leela Chess Zero engine.
Pricing
Every feature on Lichess is free for every user, with no advertising and no premium tier; the platform is funded entirely by voluntary donations to the non-profit association that operates it.
Donors may optionally receive a Patron badge on their profile as public recognition, but this provides no functional or competitive advantage over non-donating users.
Key Features
Unlimited Free Real-Time and Correspondence Games — Play at any time control with no limits and no subscription requirement.
Built-In Stockfish Analysis Board — Analyze any game with the open-source Stockfish engine directly in the browser.
Chess Variants — Supports Chess960, Crazyhouse, King of the Hill, Atomic, and other variants.
Puzzle Trainer — Millions of tactical puzzles rated to match player skill level.
Arena and Swiss Tournaments — Anyone can create and join open tournaments in multiple formats.
Study Tool — Collaborative tools for annotating games and studying openings.
Fully Open-Source Codebase — The entire production codebase, called Lila, is published under the AGPL license.
Streaming and Coaching Integration — Built-in tools for coaches and streamers to broadcast games and lessons.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Completely free with no ads and no paywalled features
Entire production codebase is open source and auditable
Operated transparently as a registered non-profit with published finances
Huge, active player base supporting fast matchmaking at nearly any time control
Strong built-in analysis tools powered by open-source engines like Stockfish and Leela Chess Zero
Cons
Smaller catalog of structured video lessons and courses than commercial competitor Chess.com
Interface is more utilitarian and less polished for casual or beginner users than some paid platforms
Relies entirely on donations, which can constrain infrastructure investment versus VC-funded rivals
Smaller professional content and events ecosystem than the market-leading commercial platform
Community-run moderation and support can be slower than a dedicated commercial support team
Pricing
Free (All Features) Free N/A
Patron (Optional Donation) Donation-based, any amount One-time or recurring
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lila?
Lila is the name of the open-source software codebase that powers Lichess.org, written primarily in Scala.
Who created Lichess?
Lichess was created in 2010 by French programmer Thibault Duplessis as a personal side project.
Is Lichess really free?
Yes, Lichess is entirely free, ad-free, and funded by voluntary donations through a registered French non-profit association.
Is Lichess open source?
Yes, the Lila codebase and the site's design are published as open source, mainly under the AGPL license.
Does donating to Lichess unlock extra features?
No, donors only receive an optional Patron badge on their profile; all gameplay and analysis features remain the same for everyone.
How does Lichess compare to Chess.com?
Chess.com is a commercial, venture-backed freemium platform with a larger paid subscriber base, while Lichess is a free, open-source, donation-funded non-profit.