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Free academy website with paid plans.

Alternative · 2026

A ChessPlay.io alternative that runs fees and reminders for you

Recurring invoices are generated on their own, class reminders go out 24 and 2 hours before class, and fee reminders follow the schedule you switch on. The copilot drafts the rest and asks before it changes a record. ChessCore is a ChessPlay.io alternative for academies that need make-up credits, coach payroll, UPI AutoPay mandates and AI report drafts a coach approves. ChessPlay.io is the simpler buy for a large roster: one $99 monthly price covers unlimited students.

ChessPlay.io details below are sourced from their own site, read on 16 October 2026. We do not invent competitor facts; re-check before deciding.

Request a demoSee ChessCore pricing

Who each option fits

  • Choose ChessPlay.io

    if one flat price for unlimited students, simuls, or automatic monthly PDF reports for parents are your deciding factors.

  • Choose ChessCore

    if you want student practice and live classes alongside make-ups, payroll, UPI AutoPay mandates, a family ledger and reports a coach approves.

ChessPlay.io details as read on 16 October 2026.

Side by side

At a glance

The jobs a chess academy does every week, ChessCore beside ChessPlay.io. A ChessPlay.io cell repeats its own site as read on 16 October 2026.

Comparison of ChessCore and ChessPlay.io across the jobs a chess academy does. ChessPlay.io details sourced from https://chessplay.io, read on 16 October 2026.
The jobChessCoreChessPlay.io
Operations (records, scheduling, billing)ChessCoreChessPlay.io
Make-ups, substitutions & coach payrollChessCoreChessPlay.ioNot stated on its pages
Live classroom (shared board)ChessCoreChessPlay.io
Built-in classroom videoChessCoreVideo and audio where enabledChessPlay.ioBuilt-in video rooms, or Zoom and Meet links
Play against AIChessCoreMaia (human-like), 5 levelsChessPlay.ioEngine, 20 levels
Puzzle libraryChessCore6,095,563 puzzlesChessPlay.ioSelf-grading puzzles and homework
Lichess and Chess.com game syncChessCoreAuto-sync, Pro plan and upChessPlay.ioAuto-sync with automatic game analysis
TournamentsChessCoreSwiss, Arena, round-robin, knockout, teamChessPlay.ioSwiss, Arena, round-robin and knockout
SimulsChessCoreChessPlay.io
Monthly parent reportsChessCoreCounts and ratings by email, no AI text; AI drafts wait for a personChessPlay.ioBranded PDF per student, emailed automatically
India billing (UPI AutoPay mandates)ChessCoreUPI AutoPay, Grow plan and upChessPlay.ioUPI accepted
Unlimited students at one priceChessCoreFlat tiers by student countChessPlay.io$99 a month, unlimited students

Feature by feature

Every feature, side by side

81 features appear on ChessPlay.io’s own site, each beside ChessCore’s version. ChessCore tracks 131 other capabilities, including planned work, with availability shown below.

What ChessPlay.io lists, and ChessCore’s version

Admissions and CRM1

  • Online admission and registration

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysClaims enrolment tools for school programs.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Families enrol online through a public registration form that collects guardian and child details, records consent and holds the seat.
Scheduling and attendance10

  • Attendance tracking

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysSupports manual attendance and coach overrides.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Mark a whole batch present, late, absent or excused in a few taps, with a history parents can see.

  • Batches and class groups

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysOrganizes calendar views by batch and level.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Create batches with a coach, program, centre and capacity, and get warned before a batch clashes with a coach’s timetable.

  • Coach availability

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysUses coach weekly availability for bookings.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Record when each coach can teach, as one-off or weekly blocks, so scheduling and substitute checks respect it.

  • Online, offline and hybrid classes

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysSupports online and offline academy operations.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Run each class in person, online or hybrid, with the join link or built-in classroom set per session.

  • Multiple branches and locations

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysReports across branches with location drill-down.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Run several branches, each with its own address, timezone, rooms and staff, and see totals across all of them.

  • Recurring class timetable

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysCreates repeated classes on custom schedules.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Set a weekly or custom repeat rule once and the timetable fills with sessions, skipping slots that would clash.

  • QR code self check-in

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysProvides QR attendance check-in.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Print a class QR code and students check themselves in at a kiosk, with attendance recorded on the spot.

  • Reschedule or cancel single classes

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysReschedules or cancels individual occurrences.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Move or cancel one session without changing the series, with clash checks and notice to the families affected.

  • Self-booking for private lessons

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysLists self-booking among included tools.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Families pick a free slot in a coach’s calendar and book a private lesson themselves, with no back and forth.

  • Outside meeting links

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysAttaches external meeting links to classes.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Attach an outside meeting link to any class when a coach prefers another video tool for that session.
Fees and billing13

  • Recurring fees and autopay

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysCreates reusable recurring fee plans with configurable month intervals.
    ChessCoreSetup required: Families set up UPI AutoPay, eNACH or a saved card once, and recurring fees are debited on schedule.

  • Sibling discounts, coupons and scholarships

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysSupports sibling discounts and scholarship places.
    ChessCoreIn development (partially implemented): Apply sibling and group discounts, coupon codes, scholarships and referral credits to invoices automatically.

  • Razorpay, Stripe and Cashfree payments

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysNames Stripe in onboarding instructions; help pages also name Razorpay.
    ChessCoreSetup required: Connect Razorpay, Stripe or Cashfree as the payment gateway, so fees land in the academy’s own account.

  • Invoices and receipts

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysGenerates initial invoices when students are assigned plans.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Issue numbered invoices with a PDF copy, send them to families, and keep a receipt for every payment.

  • Family ledger and partial payments

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysTracks unpaid academy fees.
    ChessCoreAvailable: See what each family owes, accept partial payments and deposits, and track the remaining balance per family.

  • UPI, card and net banking payments

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysAccepts cards, UPI and bank transfers for parent fees.
    ChessCoreSetup required: Families pay fees online by UPI, card or net banking through a payment link, and the invoice is marked paid.

  • Automatic fee reminders

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysAutomates fee follow-up reminders.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Overdue fees trigger reminders by email and WhatsApp with a pay link, plus a nudge before each renewal falls due.

  • GST and VAT invoices

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysCalculates tax and includes it in fee totals.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Issue GST, VAT or sales tax invoices with tax lines and both parties’ tax IDs on the document.

  • Invoice cancellation

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysVoids an invoice without cancelling its subscription.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Void a wrong invoice without cancelling the family’s subscription, keeping the cancelled copy on record.

  • Automatic late fees

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysAdds automatic late-payment charges.
    ChessCoreSetup required: Add a late fee automatically when an invoice passes its due date, using the amount or percentage the academy sets.

  • No-show and cancellation fees

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysHandles missed-session fees.
    ChessCoreIn development (partially implemented): Charge a fee or use a credit when a student misses a booked session without notice, following the academy’s policy.

  • One-time fees

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysCreates categorized one-off academy charges.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Charge one-off fees such as admission, kit, exam or event fees, each under its own category.

  • Pause or cancel subscriptions

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysPauses subscription billing and supports cancellation.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Pause a family’s subscription billing for a break or cancel it, without losing the student’s history.
Staff1

  • Roles and permissions

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysSeparates owner, admin, head-coach and assistant permissions.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Use built-in staff roles or create custom ones that grant only chosen permissions, never more than the creator holds.
Parents and communication8

  • Class and academy announcements

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysShares updates and announcements with parents.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Post announcements to one class or the whole academy; parents see them in the portal and by email.

  • Scheduled monthly reports

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysGenerates and emails scheduled parent reports.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Schedule monthly progress digests that are built from the academy’s records and emailed to parents automatically.

  • Email to parents

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysNotifies parents and students of schedule changes.
    ChessCoreSetup required: Email parents reports, reminders and announcements from the academy’s own sender address.

  • Parent portal

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysLets parents see attendance, homework, reports and performance.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Parents sign in to see each child’s schedule, attendance, games, invoices and progress, and request make-up classes.

  • Student progress reports

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysExports student performance for parent review.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Create a monthly report per student covering attendance, chess activity and coach notes, previewed and emailed to guardians.

  • SMS to parents

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysSupports configured SMS fee reminders.
    ChessCoreSetup required: Send SMS reminders and updates to parents from the academy, for families who prefer text messages.

  • WhatsApp messages to parents

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysAutomates reminders, receipts and progress nudges.
    ChessCoreSetup required: Send class reminders, fee links and updates to parents on WhatsApp from the academy’s own business number.

  • In-app notifications

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysSends schedule-change notifications inside the platform.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Parents, students and staff see schedule changes and new messages as notifications inside the app.
Teaching8

  • Ready-made course content

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysProvides a ready-made teaching-plan library. Changelog lists 1,200 ready-made lesson plans.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Install ready-made starter puzzle packs, graded lesson plans, quiz banks and a foundations curriculum on day one.

  • Homework and assignments

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysAssigns puzzles, analysis and engine-play tasks with deadlines and reminders.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Assign puzzles, game reviews, opening drills, games against the computer and lessons, then grade what students submit.

  • Lesson plans per session

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysProvides scripts, objectives and comprehension checks.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Set the lesson for each session from the syllabus, a study or a note, or accept the suggested next step.

  • Chess quizzes

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysCreates auto-graded tests with configurable attempts and score selection.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Schedule timed quizzes for a batch with attempt limits, leaderboards and team, streak and survival modes.

  • Interactive studies and PGN chapters

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysLets coaches annotate and review student games.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Build lessons as interactive chapters of positions, puzzles, questions, explanations, videos and play against the computer.

  • Video lessons and courses

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysIncludes courses; video delivery unspecified on this page.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Add lesson videos, uploaded or from YouTube and Vimeo, with checkpoint questions that pause the video.

  • Coach training and webinars

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysProvides short teacher-training videos.
    ChessCorePlanned: Coaches get training videos, growth webinars, recordings and guides on teaching chess and running an academy.

  • Puzzle set generator

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysGenerates theme-based homework puzzle sets.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Generate a homework puzzle set by theme and difficulty in one step, ready to assign to a batch.
Student engagement3

  • Play against classmates

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysIncludes player-versus-player games.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Students challenge classmates in their academy to real games, played inside the student portal.

  • Points, streaks, badges and leaderboards

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysUses XP, badges and leaderboards.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Students earn points, badges and daily streaks, level up through the curriculum and climb the weekly academy leaderboard.

  • Play against the computer

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysProvides adjustable engine opponents.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Students play human-like computer opponents, and coaches can set Stockfish at strength levels 1 to 20.
Live classes4

  • Attendance from live classes

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysMarks attendance from live-class entry.
    ChessCoreIn development (partially implemented): Students who join the live class are marked present automatically, and the coach confirms the register.

  • Screen sharing

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysShares the teaching screen.
    ChessCorePlanned: Coaches share their screen in the built-in live classroom to show slides, a video or an analysis board.

  • Shared board the coach drives

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysProvides teaching boards inside live classes.
    ChessCoreAvailable: The coach moves pieces on one shared board and every student’s screen updates live during class.

  • Built-in video and audio

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysProvides built-in rooms for teaching.
    ChessCoreSetup required: Live classes have built-in video and audio for coach and students, with no outside meeting app needed.
Games and ratings5

  • Chess.com game sync

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysAutomatically brings connected students’ Chess.com games into the platform.
    ChessCoreSetup required: Link a student’s Chess.com account and their games arrive in the academy automatically for review.

  • Stockfish game analysis

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysAnalyzes games with configurable engine depth.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Every recorded game is analysed by Stockfish, flagging blunders, mistakes and inaccuracies and giving an accuracy score.

  • PGN game import

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysImports game and position files.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Import games by uploading a PGN file or pasting a Lichess or Chess.com game link.

  • Lichess game sync

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysAutomatically brings connected students’ Lichess games into the platform.
    ChessCoreSetup required: Link a student’s Lichess account and their games arrive in the academy automatically for review.

  • Rating progress graphs

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysTracks ratings synchronized from Lichess and Chess.com.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Show each student’s rating over time as a graph for every rating system they play in.
Tournaments9

  • Arena tournaments

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysClaims Arena tournament support on the homepage.
    ChessCoreIn development (partially implemented): Run arena tournaments where players are paired again the moment they finish, scored on a live leaderboard.

  • Knockout tournaments

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysRuns single- or double-elimination events.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Run knockout events with an automatic bracket that advances each winner to the next round.

  • Online tournament registration

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysControls academy, batch or invitation-only event entry.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Players register for a published tournament online, and staff can add entries by hand.

  • Round robin tournaments

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysRuns round-robin events.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Run all-play-all round robin events with the full pairing schedule generated automatically.

  • Live public standings

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysPublishes live standings for parents and students.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Public standings update live as results come in, including provisional results from games still in play.

  • Swiss tournaments

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysRuns Swiss events with automatic pairings.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Run Swiss tournaments with automatic round pairings from a real Swiss pairing engine.

  • Tournament certificates

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysGenerates winner certificates.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Print certificates for every player with rank, score, academy logo and a QR code that verifies them online.

  • Simultaneous exhibitions

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysSupports coach-versus-many exhibitions and saved results.
    ChessCoreAvailable: A coach plays many students at once, each on their own board, while parents follow from the portal.

  • Tiebreak calculation

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysConfigures event tiebreaks, rounds and time controls.
    ChessCoreIn development (partially implemented): Tiebreaks such as Buchholz, Sonneborn-Berger and head-to-head are calculated automatically and shown in the standings.
AI1

  • AI-drafted messages and reports

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysProduces a student summary from AI puzzle grading, labeled beta.
    ChessCoreSetup required: AI turns a coach’s shorthand into a clear parent message or report draft that a person reviews before sending.
Branding and white label6

  • Branded certificates

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysApplies academy branding to certificates.
    ChessCoreIn development (partially implemented): Certificates carry the academy’s name, logo and colours, with a QR code linking to a verification page.

  • Branded emails from your sender

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysBrands academy email messages.
    ChessCoreIn development (partially implemented): Chain branding changes the email sender display name; messages still use the platform sender address, with further branding in development.

  • Branded parent, payment and consent pages

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysBrands parent and student portal surfaces.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Parent, payment and consent pages carry the academy’s or partner school’s logo, colours, legal name and contact details.

  • Your own custom domain

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysSupports academy domains.
    ChessCoreIn development (partially implemented): Custom domains are partially implemented for chains, with operator-assisted setup and branding on the sign-in page.

  • Academy logo and colours

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysApplies academy branding to report PDFs.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Upload the academy’s logo and set its brand colour once, and they appear across the app, invites and portals.

  • White label under your brand

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysClaims white-label reporting in named tiers.
    ChessCoreIn development (partially implemented): Chain head office sets branding for branches; ChessCore branding remains, and complete white label is in development.
Analytics6

  • Attendance analytics

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysShows attendance trends and weekly or monthly summaries.
    ChessCoreAvailable: See attendance trends over time by batch, coach and centre, and spot students who are slipping.

  • Coach utilisation

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysReports coach activity and class completion.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Compare sessions each coach taught against a target to see who is overloaded and who has room.

  • Academy dashboard

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysUnifies views across coaches and batches.
    ChessCoreAvailable: One home dashboard shows fees collected, active students, attendance and new leads, compared with the previous period.

  • CSV and PDF exports

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysDownloads tournament results.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Export any analytics table to CSV, or download the whole report as a PDF.

  • Retention and churn analysis

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysFlags low attendance and supports re-engagement.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Track how many students stay by joining cohort, and get early warning on students at risk of leaving.

  • Revenue reports

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysTracks revenue and enrolment trends.
    ChessCoreAvailable: See revenue over any date range, broken down by program, centre and payment status.
Platform and trust6

  • Data export

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysExports game and position files.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Export the student list, a family’s full records and any analytics table whenever the academy needs them.

  • Free trial of paid plans

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysAdvertises a trial on feature pages.
    ChessCoreIn development (partially implemented): Try a paid plan free before paying, with access to the features that plan includes.

  • Data import and migration help

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysImports student data from CSV.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Import students, leads and enrolments from CSV or Excel with column mapping and undo, or let ChessCore staff move the data.

  • Setup done for you

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysConfigures branches and trains academy staff.
    ChessCoreAvailable: A setup wizard gets a new academy running, and ChessCore staff can set up and move the academy’s data for it.

  • Flat capacity pricing

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysCharges a flat monthly academy subscription.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Plans are flat capacity tiers by roster size, so adding a student never raises the bill within a tier.

  • DPDP, GDPR and COPPA tools

    What ChessPlay.io’s site saysClaims compliance by default; no independent compliance assessment performed.
    ChessCoreAvailable: Guardian consent records, versioned privacy notices, data export and erasure requests, and retention rules for children’s data.

In ChessCore, not listed on ChessPlay.io’s site

131 ChessCore capabilities, including planned work, across 14 areas. Not listed on ChessPlay.io’s site means we found no mention on the pages we read, not that ChessPlay.io cannot do it.

  • Human approval of AI drafts
  • Puzzle library
  • Puzzles from students’ own mistakes
Show all 131 by area

Admissions and CRM15

  • A/B testing for campaigns (Available)
  • Email campaigns (Setup required)
  • SMS campaigns (Setup required)
  • WhatsApp broadcast campaigns (Setup required)
  • Enquiry and lead capture forms (Available)
  • Lead scoring (Available)
  • Lead pipeline and stages (Available)
  • Academy website and profile page (Available)
  • Referral program (Available)
  • Demo and trial class booking (Available)
  • Waitlists for full classes (Available)
  • AI ad copy writer (Planned)
  • Drip sequences for leads (Setup required)
  • Meta lead ads sync (Planned)
  • Partner school programs (Available)

Scheduling and attendance9

  • Google Calendar sync (In development (partially implemented))
  • Holiday calendar and closures (In development (partially implemented))
  • Make-up classes and credits (Available)
  • Room booking (Available)
  • Substitute coach cover (Available)
  • Day, week and month views (Available)
  • Camps and intensives (Available)
  • Student records (Available)
  • Timezones for online classes (In development (partially implemented))

Fees and billing10

  • Expense tracking (Planned)
  • Multi-currency billing (In development (partially implemented))
  • Class packs and pay per class (Available)
  • Fee refunds (Available)
  • Sell courses and paid webinars (In development (partially implemented))
  • Lesson credit reversals (In development (partially implemented))
  • Prepaid and earned funds apart (In development (partially implemented))
  • Gift cards (In development (partially implemented))
  • Event entries and licence sales (In development (partially implemented))
  • Overdue account access control (In development (partially implemented))

Staff7

  • Second approver for sensitive actions (Available)
  • Coach performance and ratings (Available)
  • Coach profiles (Available)
  • Coach payroll calculation (Available)
  • Coach payouts (In development (partially implemented))
  • Affiliated clubs (In development (partially implemented))
  • Coach payout ledger (In development (partially implemented))

Parents and communication6

  • In-app chat with parents (Setup required)
  • Parent feedback and surveys (In development (partially implemented))
  • Parent mobile app (In development (partially implemented))
  • Push notifications (Setup required)
  • Message template library (Available)
  • Shared support inbox (Setup required)

Teaching19

  • Puzzles from students’ own mistakes (Available)
  • Curriculum and syllabus builder (Available)
  • Endgame training (In development (partially implemented))
  • Guess the move training (Available)
  • Opening repertoire trainer (In development (partially implemented))
  • Puzzle library (Available)
  • Spaced repetition review (Available)
  • Adaptive lessons (In development (partially implemented))
  • Blindfold tactics training (Planned)
  • Drip course content (Planned)
  • Recurring error detection (Available)
  • Send positions as live puzzles (Available)
  • Position memory training (Planned)
  • Move replay practice (In development (partially implemented))
  • Opening explorer database (In development (partially implemented))
  • Opening tree (Planned)
  • Custom puzzle editor (Available)
  • Puzzles by rating (Available)
  • Woodpecker method training (Planned)

Student engagement8

  • Skill certificates (Available)
  • Chess mini-games (Planned)
  • Placement and rating test (Available)
  • Student app (In development (partially implemented))
  • Live tournament broadcasts (In development (partially implemented))
  • Live polls and class quizzes (Planned)
  • Position playground (In development (partially implemented))
  • Proctored online assessments (In development (partially implemented))

Live classes7

  • AI class recaps (Setup required)
  • Class recording and playback (Setup required)
  • Classroom whiteboard (Planned)
  • Legal and free teaching modes (In development (partially implemented))
  • Class controls for coaches (In development (partially implemented))
  • Live game monitoring (In development (partially implemented))
  • Class waiting room (Available)

Games and ratings8

  • AI move and game explanations (Setup required)
  • FIDE and national rating tracking (Available)
  • Internal academy ratings (Available)
  • FIDE ID linking (Available)
  • Games flagged for review (In development (partially implemented))
  • Master game database (In development (partially implemented))
  • Shareable game reports (In development (partially implemented))
  • Opponent preparation reports (Planned)

Tournaments6

  • Embeddable standings widget (Available)
  • FIDE and federation rating reports (In development (partially implemented))
  • Elo and Glicko rating calculation (Available)
  • Team tournaments (Available)
  • Arbiter tools (Available)
  • Tournament archives (Available)

AI10

  • AI tutor for students (In development (partially implemented))
  • AI syllabus and lesson planning (Setup required)
  • AI copilot for academy records (Setup required)
  • Human approval of AI drafts (Available)
  • Personal data masked for AI (In development (partially implemented))
  • AI admin assistant (Setup required)
  • AI enquiry chatbot (Planned)
  • Counselling call transcription (In development (partially implemented))
  • AI voice agent for enquiries (Planned)
  • AI answers from past classes (Planned)

Branding and white label3

  • Installable parent and student web app (In development (partially implemented))
  • Embeddable website widgets (Available)
  • Branded student reports (In development (partially implemented))

Analytics3

  • Enrolment funnel (Available)
  • Batch health checks (In development (partially implemented))
  • Talent scouting shortlists (Planned)

Platform and trust20

  • Open REST API (Available)
  • E-signed waivers and contracts (Available)
  • Free plan (Available)
  • Multi-language interface (In development (partially implemented))
  • Installable mobile web app (Available)
  • iOS and Android apps (Planned)
  • Offline access (In development (partially implemented))
  • Two-factor sign-in and audit log (Available)
  • Email support and guided help (In development (partially implemented))
  • Workflow automations (Available)
  • Chain and franchise management (Available)
  • Discord posts for students (In development (partially implemented))
  • Protected course videos (Planned)
  • Google Chat alerts for staff (Planned)
  • MCP server for AI agents (Available)
  • Slack alerts and slash commands (In development (partially implemented))
  • Single sign-on (Planned)
  • Microsoft Teams alerts for staff (In development (partially implemented))
  • Website integration (In development (partially implemented))
  • Zapier and webhooks (In development (partially implemented))

Source: chessplay.io, pages read on 17 October 2026.

Price at your roster

What it costs at your size

  • 30students

    ChessCore
    Core: $69 a month billed annually, $89 monthly. With UPI AutoPay, Grow: $109 a month billed annually, $139 monthly
    ChessPlay.io
    $99 USD a month, billed monthly, for unlimited students, coaches and branches

    What it meansWithout UPI AutoPay or automatic game sync, Core at $89 billed monthly ($69 a month, $828 a year, billed annually) is below $99 billed monthly. UPI AutoPay needs Grow at $139 billed monthly ($109 a month, $1,308 a year, billed annually) and automatic game sync needs Pro at $179 billed monthly ($149 a month, $1,788 a year, billed annually), both above $99.

  • 100students

    ChessCore
    Core: $69 a month billed annually, $89 monthly. With UPI AutoPay, Grow: $109 a month billed annually, $139 monthly
    ChessPlay.io
    The same $99 a month; its pricing page states no student cap

    What it meansCore covers up to 100 students, so the 30-student comparison holds. One more student takes ChessCore to Grow, at $139 billed monthly.

  • 300students

    ChessCore
    Grow: $109 a month billed annually, $139 monthly, UPI AutoPay included
    ChessPlay.io
    The same $99 a month

    What it meansCore is not an option above 100 students. Grow at $139 billed monthly ($109 a month, $1,308 a year, billed annually) compares with $99 billed monthly, so ChessPlay.io costs less on price alone. Weigh that against make-ups, payroll and AutoPay mandates.

On ChessCore, Razorpay UPI AutoPay with Stripe, WhatsApp payment links and a custom domain start on the Grow plan, and automatic Lichess and Chess.com game sync starts on Pro. ChessPlay.io prices are shown in its own currency as read on 16 October 2026, with no conversion.

Decide in 60 seconds

Who should choose which

Answer each question. Every answer carries the fit this page already gives. Start with the chess academy management software overview, or see the full buyer’s guide.

How big is the academy?
How do families pay?
What does the coaching need?

Your fit

Pick one answer in each row.

  • ChessCore0 of 3
  • ChessPlay.io0 of 3

The picker only lines up this page’s own fit notes against your answers. It is not a test of either product: run one batch in a trial before you decide.

About ChessPlay.io

What ChessPlay.io is good at

ChessPlay.io says it lets you “Run Your Entire Chess Academy” with “Lessons, live classes, tracking, scheduling, payments, and branding all effortlessly unified for 150+ chess academies worldwide” (chessplay.io, read on 16 October 2026).

Its strength is a broad, simply priced package. Its home page lists recurring classes “with integrated boards and built-in video rooms”, and its classrooms page also attaches a Zoom or Google Meet link to every session in a batch. Students get “Interactive homework and puzzles that grade themselves instantly”, play against “a tunable engine” across 20 levels, and an analysis board. Students connect Lichess and Chess.com accounts once and “Their online games flow straight into ChessPlay”, where blunders, mistakes and brilliancies are highlighted automatically. It runs Swiss, Arena, round-robin and knockout tournaments and simultaneous exhibitions, and schedules a branded monthly PDF report per student that it emails to parents. Fee collection accepts cards, UPI and bank transfers. Pricing is "$99/month for unlimited students, coaches, and branches".

ChessCore, differently

Which parent reports send automatically?

Both products can email a monthly report to parents without a click. ChessPlay.io’s is a branded one-page PDF that it emails on a day you choose. ChessCore’s, once the academy switches it on, is an email built from attendance and rating data with no AI text, and it needs parent communication consent. Separately, ChessCore can draft report narratives with AI, and those wait for a person to review them. ChessCore also runs classes and student practice in the same product as the back office: a catalog of 6,095,563 rated puzzles from the open Lichess puzzle database, a spaced-repetition training queue, human-like AI opponents at five levels and a live classroom board. Leads and trials, make-up credits, coach substitutions, coach payroll, several centres and a family ledger sit alongside. Razorpay UPI AutoPay mandates and Stripe start on the Grow plan, and Stockfish reviews coach-selected Lichess and Chess.com games, with automatic game sync starting on Pro. Built-in video and audio are available where enabled for the academy.

Your academy brand. Academy logos and colours are supported. Complete white label remains in development for chains on the Grow plan and up, and ChessCore branding remains. Custom domains are partially implemented for chains on the Grow plan and up, with operator-assisted setup. Families can install the web portal from a browser; the branded web app remains partially implemented on the Pro plan and up.

Illustrative screen from a made-up demo academy.

Worked through

How do the two monthly reports compare?

Compare what lands in a parent’s inbox, not the feature names. ChessPlay.io details are from its reports page, read on 16 October 2026. See automatic monthly emails and reviewed report narratives for how ChessCore separates the two, and ChessPlay and CircleChess for coaching delivery for a view of the ChessPlay.io product beyond reports. Check ChessCore capacity and feature limits before you price the switch.

Automatic monthly parent reports in ChessPlay.io and ChessCore
QuestionChessPlay.io, as its reports page describes itChessCore
Does it send without a click?ChessPlay.io, as its reports page describes itYes. Monthly reports are scheduled per student and emailed to parents on a day you choose.ChessCoreYes, when the academy switches on monthly report emails.
What is in it?ChessPlay.io, as its reports page describes itA branded one-page PDF with attendance, classes covered, homework completion, quiz scores, rating progress and a coach note.ChessCoreAttendance and rating figures built from the records. Unrecorded classes are not counted as absences.
Is there AI text?ChessPlay.io, as its reports page describes itThe page we read does not describe AI text in the monthly PDF.ChessCoreNo. AI-written narratives are a separate draft that waits for a person to review it.
Can a coach review it first?ChessPlay.io, as its reports page describes itThe page we read describes a coach note but no pre-send review step. Ask before you rely on one.ChessCoreFor AI-written text, yes. The automatic monthly email has no AI text to review.
What does delivery need?ChessPlay.io, as its reports page describes itParents receive the PDF by email, or through a shareable link that opens without a login.ChessCoreA linked guardian email and parent communication consent.

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Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is ChessCore a ChessPlay.io alternative?

Yes. Both run classes, student practice, tournaments and fees. ChessCore adds a 6,095,563-puzzle catalog, spaced-repetition practice, deeper operations (make-ups, substitutions, payroll), UPI AutoPay mandates and AI reports a coach approves. ChessPlay.io adds simuls and one $99 monthly price for unlimited students. Confirm current ChessPlay.io features on its own site before deciding.

Does ChessCore include lessons and a curriculum like ChessPlay.io?

Yes. ChessCore has a curriculum builder with starter content packs, studies, homework and quizzes, and coaches can assign puzzle sets from the catalog. ChessPlay.io lists self-grading homework, puzzles and quizzes.

Which fits an Indian academy?

ChessCore is built for India with Razorpay UPI AutoPay mandates and Stripe on the Grow plan and up, WhatsApp parent updates and a family ledger. ChessPlay.io lists UPI, cards and bank transfers among accepted payment methods on its pricing page, read on 16 October 2026.

How do I move my academy from ChessPlay.io to ChessCore?

Put your student list in a spreadsheet; the template at /templates/chesscore-student-import-template.csv shows the columns. Import your student roster from a CSV or Excel (.xlsx) file, mapping columns for student name, guardian name, email and phone, batch and date of birth. Every import is previewed first, with row-by-row errors, before anything is saved. Likely duplicates are flagged for you to decide on, and you can undo an import within 24 hours. ChessCore does not import invoices, fee plans or opening balances, so set those up in ChessCore yourself. Students’ games come in once you link each student’s Lichess or Chess.com account, or when you upload a PGN file. Ask ChessPlay.io how to download your student list; we have not read an export page of theirs.

What if parent reports are switched on in both products during the pilot?

Parents would get two monthly reports for the same child. Name one sender for the pilot month and switch off the duplicate report route in the other product before you go live. This is a check for the person running the pilot, not a connector between the two products.

Written by Abhishek Tiwari. See our editorial standards.

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