ChessKid vs Chess.com: Which Should Your Child Use?
Last updated: October 2026
ChessKid is designed for children and has no chat, so it is usually the better choice for young beginners. Chess.com is a general platform with a larger player pool and deeper analysis tools, which suits older, intermediate players. At Trainstein we use both: beginners mostly play on ChessKid, and stronger students mostly on Chess.com.
What is the difference between ChessKid and Chess.com?
ChessKid is a children's chess site with built-in safety restrictions; Chess.com is the general-audience site used by players of all ages. The two work quite differently for a child.
Feature | ChessKid | |
Audience | Children (with parent and coach accounts) | General audience; minimum age applies |
Chat and messaging | Kids cannot message or chat with each other; adult accounts cannot talk to kids | Social features available; minors' accounts are muted until parental consent is completed |
Usernames | Auto-generated; custom usernames (Gold only) reviewed by staff | Chosen by the user |
Parent tools | Child activity reports; parents can disable social access | Parental consent form for underage users |
Free account | Live games, 3 puzzles a day, bots levels 1–3, beginner lessons, 30-day game archive | Unlimited games, 3 daily puzzles, 1 daily lesson, limited game reviews |
Paid tier | Gold (full access) | Gold, Platinum, Diamond |
Sources: see the list at the end of this article.
Is ChessKid safe for young children?
Yes — safety is the main reason ChessKid exists. According to ChessKid, "Kids cannot message nor chat with each other on the site" and "Adult accounts cannot talk to kids. Ever." Usernames are auto-generated, custom names are reviewed by staff, and parents can switch off social access and view activity reports.
For a five- or six-year-old playing online, this removes most of the worries parents have about strangers and inappropriate messages.
Can children use Chess.com?
Yes, but with conditions. Chess.com's User Agreement sets a minimum age of 13, and users below the legal age in their jurisdiction need a parent or guardian's consent. Chess.com's help centre says that when a parental consent form is sent, the minor's account "is automatically muted and all social features are disabled" until the completed form is received.
In practice, we suggest parents set up and supervise the account, review the settings together, and keep the device in a shared space for younger players.
What do you get free, and what do you pay for?
Both sites are genuinely usable for free, and many children never need to pay.
ChessKid free: live games, 3 puzzles a day, computer opponents at levels 1–3, beginner lessons, a limited number of videos and workouts, and a 30-day game archive. Gold unlocks "full, unlimited access to everything on ChessKid". A Gold purchase for a child also gives the linked parent account Gold, and multi-child discounts are offered.
Chess.com free: unlimited games, 3 daily puzzles, 1 daily lesson and limited game reviews. Gold removes ads and unlocks unlimited lessons and puzzles; Platinum adds unlimited game review and analysis; Diamond adds the Insights statistics feature and coach explanations in game review.
Chess.com notes that its prices vary by country, so check the membership pages for current Australian pricing before buying.
Which should my child use?
Choose by level and age rather than by brand:
New to chess, or under about 8: ChessKid. Safe, colourful and built around short lessons and puzzles for children.
Comfortable with the rules and playing regularly: stay on ChessKid while it still feels challenging.
Intermediate and above (roughly Chess.com 300–800 or NSWJCL 200–400 and rising): Chess.com, with a parent-supervised account, for a bigger pool of opponents and stronger analysis.
Older child entering rated tournaments: Chess.com, used alongside coaching and over-the-board games.
What does Trainstein use?
Trainstein uses both ChessKid and Chess.com: beginner classes mostly use ChessKid and stronger students mostly use Chess.com, and our online classes run on Zoom alongside these platforms. Term students also get two online practice tournaments a week on Chess.com (Friday and Saturday, 7–8 pm) and a weekly online game-analysis session. Enrolled students can also get discounted memberships for Chess.com, ChessKid and Chessmatec.
Whichever site your child uses, 2–3 practice sessions a week of 20–30 minutes each is plenty. Short, regular practice helps more than occasional long sessions — and losing games online is a normal part of learning.
Next step
If you are not sure which platform or class level suits your child, contact Trainstein Chess College on 0415 228 088 or trainsteinchess@gmail.com, or visit us at Level 1, 308 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood. We can help you set up the right account for your child's level.
Comments