Sustainable Substitutes for Chess.com

The leading chess platform with weak privacy protection

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Reasons to avoid Chess.com

Chess.com is tied to Big Tech through significant investment from General Atlantic, a major global growth equity firm. The platform has also faced accusations of monopolistic practices, with critics and legal cases pointing to its dominant position in online chess and its consolidation of competitors.

The platform has been criticised for its lack of transparency, particularly in how it handles cheating investigations and anti-cheat processes, with calls for more open communication and data sharing. Furthermore, Chess.com exhibits AI bloat, as it has introduced multiple AI-driven features that drain batteries.

Ethical and Sustainable Chess.com Alternatives

Lichess

Open-Source, feature-rich chess platform by a non-profit.

Lichess does not track users, collect personal data, or use analytics, ensuring a highly privacy-focused experience.
The entire codebase is open-source, allowing community contributions, audits, and self-hosting.
Players can use the platform as guests without creating an account.
Lichess is based in France and operates as a non-profit organisation.
No advertisements are displayed on the platform under any circumstances.
All features are available for free, with no premium tiers, subscriptions, or paywalls.
Users can play chess offline without an internet connection, using locally stored data.
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The 4 main issues with Chess.com

Monopoly - Market dominance that stifles competition and limits user choice.

Chess.com has been accused of monopolistic practices in online chess.Source:404 Media: Chess Cheating Saga Ends: Hans Niemann Will Be Allowed Back on Chess.com (2023)

Lack of Transparency - Opacity in operations, data handling, or supply chains, making it difficult for users to understand practices.

Chess.com has faced criticism for its opaque handling of cheating investigations. Reports highlight that its anti-cheat detection system and processes lack public transparency, with calls for more open data and clearer communication about how decisions are made.Source:Wired: Paranoia Threatens to Upend Professional Chess (2022)

Big Tech - Big Tech companies do not nourish people and planet. This is especially true in times of political tension.

Chess.com received a significant growth investment from General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm, placing it within the Big Tech ecosystem.Source:Business Wire: Chess.com Announces Growth Investment from General Atlantic (2022)

AI Bloat - Service has unnecessary or harmful AI features.

Chess.com has introduced multiple unnecessary AI features, such as personality chess bots and voices.Source:Independent.co.uk: ‘Psycho’ AI bot crashes Chess.com and drives record users to chess site (2023)