Brandwave

How popular isLichess?

In September 2026, people searched for Lichess by name about 7.5 million times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 53.9% of all global online chess site searches, placing Lichess first out of six sites. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about online chess sites, Lichess appeared in three of the five answers and was the second most recommended of the six.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Lichess is the most searched of 6 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. LichessShare of searches 53.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. Chess.comShare of searches 44.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. ChessKidShare of searches 0.97%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  4. ChessableShare of searches 0.44%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  5. SparkChessShare of searches 0.44%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

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Top online chess sites in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Lichess was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Lichess is the second most recommended of the six.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Chess.com1st
  2. Lichess2nd
  3. SparkChess3rd
  4. Chess Tempo4th
  5. Chessable5th
  6. ChessKid–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Chess.com5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Lichess3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Chess Tempo3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • SparkChess2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Chessable1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • ChessKid0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about online chess sites

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Which online chess sites compete with Lichess?

Lichess against online chess sites worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Lichess, Chess.com. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthLichessChess.comChessKidChessableSparkChessChess Tempo
Oct 202562.8%34.3%1.4%0.62%0.62%0.23%
Nov 202563%34.4%1.1%0.62%0.62%0.23%
Dec 202563%34.4%1.1%0.62%0.62%0.23%
Jan 202658.5%39.1%1.1%0.58%0.58%0.26%
Feb 202662.9%34.4%1.4%0.51%0.62%0.23%
Mar 202658.4%39%1.3%0.47%0.58%0.26%
Apr 202658.3%39%1.3%0.58%0.58%0.26%
May 202658.2%38.9%1.6%0.58%0.58%0.26%
Jun 202658.7%39.3%0.86%0.47%0.47%0.21%
Jul 202663.5%34.7%0.51%0.51%0.51%0.23%
Aug 202658.8%39.3%0.71%0.48%0.48%0.26%
Sep 202653.9%44.1%0.97%0.44%0.44%0.2%

  1. 1.Lichess

    53.9%

    Held 1st. 7.5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -4.9 points.

  2. 2.Chess.com

    44.1%

    Held 2nd. 6.1M estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share +4.8 points.

  3. 3.ChessKid

    0.97%

    Held 3rd. 135K estimated branded searches, +49.2% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  4. 4.Chessable

    0.44%

    Held 4th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  5. 5.SparkChess

    0.44%

    Held 5th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.Chess Tempo

    0.2%

    Held 6th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

Compare popularity between Lichess and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Lichess

5 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Lichess changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Lichess worldwide held steady at 7.5M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Lichess’ share of searches among online chess sites worldwide decreased from 62.8% to 53.9%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Lichess’ share of searches among online chess sites worldwide peaked at 63.5% in July 2026 and was lowest at 53.9% in September 2026.

How did search popularity change for online chess sites worldwide in September 2026?

5 changes

  1. In September 2026, Chess.com gained share of searches among online chess sites worldwide, from 39.3% to 44.1%.

  2. In September 2026, Lichess lost share of searches among online chess sites worldwide, from 58.8% to 53.9%.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Chessable worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 60.5K in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for SparkChess worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 60.5K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for ChessKid worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 135K in September 2026.

How are Lichess’ branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Lichess’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • lichess

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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