💰 Pricing

One free tournament
every month.

Every account gets one free event a month, up to 12 players, forever. Full features, no credit card, no trial period. Running events more often, or bigger than 12 players? ChessHost Pro is $7 a month, or $18 for 3 months, and you can cancel any time.

✅ What is always free

  • One tournament every month, up to 12 players
  • Swiss, Round Robin, and Knockout formats
  • Team Battle (two-team) mode
  • QR code player self-registration
  • Automatic pairings and standings
  • Live TV and projector display
  • Shareable spectator link for players
  • Participation certificates and diplomas
  • Share results as image or public link
  • Works on any phone, tablet, or laptop
  • No player accounts or downloads required

🏭 When you need Pro

  • You want more than one event in a month
  • Your event has more than 12 players
  • One plan covers every tournament you run
  • Checked when you start Round 1
  • Creating events and adding players is always free
  • Unlimited players per event
  • $7 a month, or $18 for 3 months
  • Cancel any time, no long contract

Plans

Free

$0

Forever, no card needed

  • 1 tournament every month
  • Up to 12 players per event
  • All formats supported
  • TV display and certificates

Pro, monthly

$7

Per month, cancel any time

  • Unlimited tournaments, instead of one
  • Unlimited players, instead of 12
  • Everything else stays free

There is deliberately no yearly plan: 3 months is the longest we ask you to commit to. ChessHost Pro is billed by Paddle and you can cancel from your Billing page at any time, keeping Pro until the end of the period you have already paid for. See our Refund Policy and Privacy Policy.

How it works

1

Create your tournament

Set a name, pick a format (Swiss, Round Robin, Knockout, or Team Battle), and set a time control. Takes about two minutes.

2

Players join by QR code

Share the QR code or join link. Players tap their name and they are in. No accounts, no downloads, no email needed.

3

Start the rounds

Press start to generate the first round pairings. This is the moment your plan is checked. Your free event for the month covers it, or Pro covers it, and nothing else is ever charged per event.

About ChessHost Pro: Pro is a recurring subscription to digital services. It is $7 billed every month, or $18 billed every 3 months, and it renews automatically until you cancel. There is no yearly plan. You can cancel at any time from your Billing page, in which case Pro keeps running until the end of the period you have already paid for and your account then returns to the free plan. Any tournament you have already started keeps running whatever plan you are on. Payments are processed by Paddle as merchant of record. See our Refund Policy for full details.

Frequently asked questions

Is ChessHost free?

Yes. Every account gets one free tournament every month, up to 12 players, for as long as you want it. You only need Pro for bigger or more frequent events. Everything including Swiss pairings, QR registration, live TV display, and certificates is free within that limit.

What do I get on the free plan?

One tournament per calendar month, with up to 12 players. Your allowance resets at the start of each month. Nothing is time limited or trial based, and the free plan does not expire.

What is ChessHost Pro?

ChessHost Pro does one thing: it removes the free plan's two limits. You get unlimited tournaments every month instead of one, and unlimited players per event instead of 12. Every other feature is free for everyone and always has been.

How much does ChessHost Pro cost?

$7 a month, or $18 for 3 months, which works out at $6 a month. There is no annual plan and no long contract. You can cancel any time from your Billing page.

Why is there no yearly plan?

We would rather not hold a year of your money in advance. Three months is the longest we ask you to commit to, so if ChessHost ever stopped being right for you, or stopped running, you are never far from the end of what you paid for.

Can I cancel any time?

Yes. Cancel from your Billing page in two clicks. Pro keeps running until the end of the period you have already paid for, and then your account moves back to the free plan. Nothing is deleted when you cancel.

What happens to my tournaments if I cancel?

Nothing. Any tournament you have already started keeps running to the end, on any plan, and your past results and certificates stay in your account. You simply go back to one free event a month.

What payment methods are accepted?

Payments are processed by Paddle and support major credit and debit cards, plus a range of popular local payment methods depending on your country.

Can I get a refund?

Yes. If something has gone wrong, email contact@chesshost.app and we will sort it out. See our Refund Policy for the full details.

Why is there a player limit on the free plan?

Keeping the free plan generous lets casual organizers, teachers and pub hosts run their events at no cost at all. The Pro plan helps cover server costs and lets us keep improving the app. Most people who run a casual chess night never need to pay anything.

Start your next chess event for free

One free event every month, up to 12 players. No signup required for your players. Works on any phone or laptop.

Launch the app