FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about pricing, the free plan, and how BirdChess trains your openings. Can't find what you're looking for? Email me.
How much does BirdChess cost?
BirdChess is free to start. Sign in for the daily opening and up to 10 opening quiz rounds per day; no card is required. Pro unlocks all openings and removes usage limits for $7/month or $49/year (billed in USD).
Early birds: I'm looking for chess enthusiasts to test BirdChess and send honest feedback, and I'll give you a year of Pro, free in exchange — DM me on X.
Is there a free version?
Yes. After signing in, Free includes the daily opening and up to 10 opening quiz rounds per day. A round is one decision in a quiz, not a whole lesson or game. Guided lessons and warm-up moves don't use this allowance; using a hint in a counted round still uses that round. Separate allowances cover 3 games against the bird, 1 game analysis, and 3 account imports from Chess.com or Lichess per day. You also get 20 AI coach questions to start, not a daily refill. Signing in saves and syncs your progress across devices.
Do I need to sign in?
You can browse openings and try Play against the bird without an account. Sign in to use Train, quizzes, labs, the AI coach, game imports and analysis, and progress sync. Signing in is free; Pro unlocks the full training catalogue and removes usage limits.
What is the most commonly played opening?
The Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5) is the most-played opening in the world across every rating level, and the most common reply to 1.e4. BirdChess trains it deeply from both sides, along with the other popular families — the Italian Game, Ruy Lopez, Caro-Kann, French, Queen's Gambit, London System, and King's Indian.
How is BirdChess different from Chess.com or Lichess?
Chess.com and Lichess are places to play. BirdChess is a tutor built to train one thing well: your openings. It drills both sides of a line until the right move is automatic, turns your own mistakes into future drills, and BirdEngine explains the plan behind every move — not just that it's best.
The two work together. Import your Chess.com or Lichess games into BirdChess and it finds the moments worth practicing, then builds lessons from the positions you actually reach.
Do I need a Chess.com or Lichess account?
No — BirdChess works on its own. If you do play on Chess.com or Lichess, you can import your public games (or paste a PGN) so BirdChess can find your opening mistakes and turn them into drills.
What is BirdEngine?
BirdEngine combines chess-engine analysis, curated opening lines, and AI explanations. The engine checks moves and the opening lines guide practice; the AI explains ideas and plans. Move grading is separate from AI prose, and explanations can contain mistakes.
Can the AI coach ever tell me a wrong move?
Yes. AI explanations can be wrong or misleading even when a move has been checked by the engine. The opening graph and engine analysis guide move grading; the AI does not grade your answer. These checks reduce errors, but do not guarantee that every explanation or suggested plan is correct.
Does BirdChess work on mobile and offline?
BirdChess works on mobile and can be installed. A previously cached app shell may reopen offline, but offline training is not guaranteed. Loading or restarting lessons, AI coaching, account features, and progress sync require an internet connection.
How do I cancel or manage my subscription?
Manage or cancel any time from your account. Billing runs through Stripe; canceling stops future charges and keeps Pro until the end of the period you've already paid for.
Who makes BirdChess?
BirdChess is built by Ben Sigman and operated by Applied Quanta. Read the story behind it, or reach me at ben@birdchess.com.