It's a near tie: both score 8.9, with Lichess ahead by a hair, so the right pick depends on what you need. Lichess wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Wingspan on 1, with 1 tied.
Chess players who want serious tools without ads or subscriptions
Board gamers and nature lovers who enjoy slow, satisfying strategy
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Lichess | Wingspan |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Card & Board Games | Card & Board Games |
| Category rank | #3 of 8 | #4 of 8 |
| Developer | Lichess.org | Monster Couch |
| Pricing | Free | Paid |
| Usable for free | Yes | No |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | — | ✓ |
| Windows | — | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | — |
Common questions
Is Lichess better than Wingspan?
It's a near tie: both score 8.9, with Lichess ahead by a hair, so the right pick depends on what you need. Lichess wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Wingspan on 1, with 1 tied.
Which is cheaper, Lichess or Wingspan?
Lichess: Completely free; funded by donations, with no ads or paid features. Wingspan: $9.99 on iOS and Android; expansions sold separately from $9.99. On value for money, Lichess scores higher.
Do Lichess and Wingspan work on the same devices?
Only Lichess runs on Web. Only Wingspan runs on Windows, Mac.
Which is more private, Lichess or Wingspan?
Lichess scores higher on privacy (9.2/10). App Store label: contact info and identifiers may be linked to you; user content, search history and diagnostics are collected but not linked. No tracking is listed.
Strengths and weaknesses
Lichess
- Everything is free, with no ads or premium tier
- Open source and funded by donations
- Strong analysis and puzzles that work offline
- Fewer structured lessons than paid rivals
- The interface feels plainer than Chess.com's
Lichess gives you everything most chess apps charge for, and asks for nothing. Play live or correspondence games, join arena tournaments, grind themed puzzles or Puzzle Storm, and analyze games with the latest Stockfish, all without ads or a paywall. Offline bots now include Maia, which plays more like a human. The app is younger than Chess.com's and lighter on lessons, but it improves every few weeks.
Full Lichess review
Wingspan
- Faithful to the tabletop game, with no setup
- A relaxing pace with deep engine-building
- Regular fixes and new bird packs through 2026
- All three expansions add over $30 to the price
- A 1.1GB download on iPhone
Wingspan turns one of the best modern board games into a calm, gorgeous app. You attract birds to three habitats, and each card's power chains into the next, so a quiet engine slowly turns into a points machine. Animated birds sing with real recordings, the app handles the bookkeeping, and you can play solo against the Automa or with up to five players. Expansions cost extra, but each adds plenty.
Full Wingspan review
