Trainstein vs ChessKid
Two good ways to practise chess. Here is how they differ.
If you are searching for a ChessKid alternative, or wondering whether Trainstein and ChessKid can sit side by side, this page is for you. We make Trainstein, so we are not a neutral judge, and we will say so plainly. ChessKid details are summarised from its public homepage, checked on 28 October 2026, and where we couldn't confirm something, we have left it out. We think ChessKid is a well-known platform that many families enjoy.
What ChessKid is
According to its own website, ChessKid describes itself as "The #1 Chess Platform for Kids" and says it is used by 2000+ schools. Its public home page lists live play against kids from around the world, bots at different skill levels, thousands of puzzles, and 150+ interactive lessons, plus training videos for teachers. It also lists "No chat" and "Child activity reports" under safety, and offers a paid Gold Membership; its help centre has an article explaining the difference between a free account and a Gold Membership. We haven't listed prices or exact limits here, because those change; please check ChessKid's own site for the current details.
What Trainstein is
Trainstein is a playful chess tactics trainer for children aged 5 to 12, made by the coaches of Trainstein Chess College in Chatswood, Sydney. It is built around one job: helping a child get better at tactics through short, game-like practice. What it has today:
- Puzzle Rush: timed runs, with a three-minute option, on a theme the child picks.
- Puzzles sorted by theme and difficulty, so a child can work on forks one week and pins the next.
- Mistake review: wrong answers in Puzzle Rush are saved so a child can go back over them.
- XP and a 24-level ladder: every puzzle a child solves earns XP.
- VS Bot: friendly practice games against computer characters.
- Interactive Chesspedia lessons that walk through ideas step by step.
Side by side
| Topic | ChessKid (from its public site) | Trainstein |
|---|---|---|
| Main idea | A broad chess platform for kids: games, puzzles, lessons | A focused tactics trainer with timed puzzle runs |
| Play | Live games with other kids and bots | Bots only, with no live games against other children |
| Puzzles | Thousands | Sorted by theme and difficulty, with Puzzle Rush |
| Lessons | 150+ interactive lessons | Interactive Chesspedia lessons |
| Safety notes | "No chat", child activity reports | Built for parent-managed accounts; no chat |
| Access | Free account and paid Gold Membership | Public sign-up closed; waitlist open |
ChessKid details are summarised from its homepage, checked on 28 October 2026, and quotation marks mark its exact words. Trainstein details reflect our current internal beta. Trainstein Chess College also runs in-person classes in Chatswood, Sydney.
Which one fits your child?
ChessKid may suit you if your child wants to play lots of games against other children online, you want its advertised 150+ interactive lessons, or your child's school already uses it.
Trainstein may suit you if your child already knows the moves and needs to get sharper at tactics, you prefer practice that is short and focused, you want a mistakes list to revisit, or you would like to pair the app with coaching from a real chess school.
Both platforms offer practice and learning activities. ChessKid also offers live games against other children, while Trainstein focuses on tactics practice and currently takes waitlist sign-ups. Some families will want both, and they don't conflict.
Three questions to ask before you choose
- What do I want from it? Playing other kids is fun, and focused practice can help your child spot ideas they missed in their games. Pick the one that matches your goal.
- How much screen time am I comfortable with? Short bursts of practice are easier to fit into a school week than open-ended sessions.
- Will they enjoy it? Check each service's current access and pricing, try what is available, or ask a friend whose child has used it. Trainstein's public sign-up is currently closed.
A taste of how a tactic is taught
White to move. Your turn!
Read how it works (spoiler)
Try this puzzle (White to move). Black has just captured White's queen on e7, but White's rook goes from d1 to d8 with check. The black king on g8 is boxed in by its own pawns on f7, g7 and h7, and the rook's check runs along the back row, so f8 and h8 are not safe. Black's only legal reply is to block with the rook on e8. White's rook then takes it on e8, and it is checkmate. The line is Rd8+, Re8, Rxe8#.
This is a back-rank checkmate, a pattern coaches teach early. You can use any chess site, book or real board to practise it. What matters is the habit: before each move, look at checks, captures and threats. Here, the check on the back row left Black with a single legal move, the block on e8, and White's second rook move finished the game.
For more on building that habit, see our guides to chess puzzles for beginners, chess tactics for kids, and how to teach a child chess.
If you live in Sydney, our coaches also run in-person classes at Trainstein Chess College.
Questions parents ask
Is Trainstein a ChessKid alternative?
It can be, but it works differently. Trainstein concentrates on tactics practice, while ChessKid describes a wider platform of games, puzzles and lessons. Many families could use both.
Can I sign up for Trainstein now?
Not yet. Public sign-up is closed at the moment, so you can't create an account. Join the waitlist and we will email you when it opens. We haven't listed prices here, so check each service's current access and pricing.
Can my child play other children on Trainstein?
No. Children play puzzles, interactive lessons and computer opponents (VS Bot). There is no live play or chat.
Does Trainstein replace chess lessons?
No. It is practice. Our coaches teach in person in Sydney, and the app is designed to complement that teaching.
Where does your information about ChessKid come from?
From ChessKid's own public homepage, checked on 28 October 2026. We have not used its logo or screenshots, and we encourage you to check their site for current features and pricing.
Which age group is Trainstein for?
It is designed for children aged 5 to 12.
Want to see if Trainstein is the right fit?
Join the waitlist and we will email you when sign-up opens.