5 Best Ways to Play Chess on a Video Call (Compared, 2026)
Playing chess with someone you can see is much better than playing chess with a username. The problem is that most setups for it are clunky — built either for chess (no video) or for video calls (no chess). Here's an honest comparison of the five main options, what each does well, and what each gets wrong.
1. Zoom + Chess.com (the workaround)
How it works: Start a Zoom call, one person creates a chess.com challenge link, both join the game in their own browsers, screen-share if needed.
Pros: Everyone already has Zoom and chess.com accounts. Zero setup beyond what you already have. Works on any device.
Cons: Two windows competing for screen space. Free Zoom calls cap at 40 minutes (long enough for a rapid game, not enough for classical). Screen-sharing only shows one person's board, so you're constantly asking "are we in sync?" Lag mismatch between Zoom audio and chess.com sync.
Best for: A spontaneous game when you're already on a Zoom call for some other reason.
2. FaceTime + Chess App
How it works: Start a FaceTime video call, open the chess.com or Lichess app on your phone, use Picture-in-Picture mode to keep the call visible while you play.
Pros: No additional setup if you and your opponent are already iPhone users. PiP keeps both apps visible simultaneously.
Cons: Both people need to be on Apple devices — no Android, no Windows, no Linux. The PiP window is tiny, so you barely see your opponent's face. Two apps running at once eats battery fast. SharePlay support for chess apps is limited.
Best for: Apple-only households where everyone's already in the iMessage ecosystem.
3. ChessBase Playchess Rooms
How it works: Generate a playchess.com room URL with a custom suffix (like play.chessbase.com/en/play?room=catsanddogs), share it, both join, video activates within the chess interface.
Pros: Built specifically for chess + video by a serious chess company. Integrated with ChessBase's analysis tools.
Cons: The interface feels enterprise — designed for chess clubs, not casual players. The video panel is small and clunky. Most casual players have never heard of it. Some features require a ChessBase account or Premium subscription.
Best for: Serious chess players already in the ChessBase ecosystem who want video on top of their existing setup.
4. Squiggle (and similar generic video-call-with-games platforms)
How it works: Squiggle is a video call platform that supports several games as features, chess being one of them. Start a call, add the chess game mode, play together.
Pros: Multi-game support — if you want to play checkers or pictionary too, it's all in one place.
Cons: Paid subscription for full features. Chess is a side feature, not the main event — the board is basic, no time controls, no rating system, no rule enforcement (you can move pieces however you want, which is "fun" in some contexts and useless if you actually want to play chess). Designed more for kids and family game night than for actual chess.
Best for: Family video calls where you want to rotate through several casual games.
5. ChessChat
How it works: A web-based platform built specifically for video chess. Match with strangers or create a private arena link, video and synced board appear in one interface.
Pros: Single window — board and video designed together. Both players can move pieces (no screen-share needed). Works in any browser on any device. Free, unlimited time. Real chess with rule enforcement, time controls, ratings. Built-in matchmaking if you don't have someone to play with.
Cons: Newer than the alternatives, so the player pool is still growing — you'll find matches faster during peak hours (evenings US/EU time) than dead hours. No native app yet, browser-only.
Best for: Anyone who plays video chess regularly and is tired of two-app workarounds.
Quick comparison table
| Zoom + chess.com | FaceTime + app | ChessBase | Squiggle | ChessChat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Yes (40-min cap) | Yes | Free tier limited | Subscription | Yes |
| Single window | No | No | Mostly | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-platform | Yes | iOS only | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Built for chess | Hybrid | Hybrid | Yes | No | Yes |
| Match strangers | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Setup time | 2-3 min | 1-2 min | 1-2 min | 1-2 min | 10 sec |
| Mobile-friendly | Painful | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes |
What we'd recommend
If you're playing once with whoever you're already on a Zoom with: Use what you've got. Zoom + chess.com works.
If you and your friend both have iPhones and play occasionally: FaceTime + the chess.com app is fine.
If you're a serious chess player and already use ChessBase: Use their room feature.
If you play video chess regularly with the same person, or want to find new opponents on video: Use a tool built for it. We obviously think ChessChat is the right answer here, but the broader point is — don't keep using a workaround if you're using it weekly. The friction adds up.