Lichess is, and always will be, free and open-source, with no ads and no paywalls. We’re a non-profit whose goal is to bring the game of chess to as many people as possible — and currently that number is well into the millions! Thank you to all our players who make Lichess what it is.
We also want to recognise those players who support us financially. Donations comprise over 95% of our income, allowing us to pay for servers, developers, moderators, prizes, and more, to keep our site up and running. Funding through donations can be unpredictable though, which can make planning as an organisation more difficult.
We already recognise our Patrons with the Patron wing icon, appearing next to the usernames of donors. In order to reward Patrons for their ongoing support, we are now introducing coloured wings, which are unlocked at the milestones shown below. (Don’t worry though, you can still pick another unlocked colour if you don’t like the new one). Months do not have to be consecutive, so you can always take a break if you need.
With the exception of a lifetime donation (which unlocks all colours), wings are unlocked purely by duration of donation. You’re still free to choose whatever amount to donate.
Our new Patron colour scheme (thanks to @visualdennis for helping with the colours!)
Our core values remain the same, and no features are paywalled or locked away for certain players. We wanted to find a way of showing appreciation and fostering a sense of long-term commitment.
The money we receive goes back into the chess ecosystem, without investors or stock prices or dividends to worry about. We are fully open, with a breakdown of our costs, and our finances are published on the French Association website (including the latest 2024 accounts).
If you would like to help support us, you can donate on the Patron page. Any amount is gratefully received, with a minimum donation equivalent to $1. We do this to minimise fees, but still allow as many people to donate as possible. For a $1 donation, over a third is lost to payment processing fees! For an average donation, around 10% goes to payment processing fees, with larger donations being the most efficient.
Thank you to our whole community, whether you can donate, or not. The existence of Lichess is a collective effort – and there are other ways to contribute too.
With the support of our Patrons, we can ensure Lichess remains the best and most accessible online chess platform for years to come.