Desktop App
Native chess analysis for macOS and Windows. Stockfish 18 runs locally — fast, offline, no browser needed.
Unlock the full Desktop App
Premium gives you the license key to activate — plus Chrome Extension, AI Coach, Human Mode, and full 3650 ELO.
Go PremiummacOS (Apple Silicon + Intel) and Windows 64-bit. Premium license required to activate.
Native Stockfish 18
The engine runs directly on your machine for deeper, faster analysis than any browser version.
Works offline
No internet needed for analysis. Full engine power even without connection.
Play vs AI
Adjustable ELO slider from 400 to 3650. Every level calibrated with UCI_Elo.
AI Coach
Move-by-move commentary that explains why each move matters. 19 languages.
Human Mode
Natural-looking move suggestions — adds natural variation to timing and selection for realistic practice.
Fast install
Under 200 MB. Installs in seconds. No telemetry, no background processes.
System requirements
- macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later
- Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) or Intel
- ~200 MB disk space
- Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit)
- ~200 MB disk space
Desktop App vs Browser Version
The browser version of Chess Calculator is fast enough for most users — but the desktop app runs native Stockfish 18 instead of WebAssembly, which gives you substantially deeper analysis with less CPU. Here's the exact comparison:
| Feature | Browser | Desktop App |
|---|---|---|
| Stockfish 18 | WebAssembly | Native binary (~20x faster) |
| Max depth | depth 25 | depth 40+ |
| Analysis time | 5-10s per position | under 1 second |
| Works offline | No (needs first load) | Yes (after license activation) |
| Full Premium features | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Free tier available | Included with Premium |
System Requirements
macOS
- macOS 11 Big Sur or later
- Apple Silicon or Intel
- 200 MB disk space
- 4 GB RAM recommended
Windows
- Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit)
- Intel or AMD CPU from 2015+
- 200 MB disk space
- 4 GB RAM recommended
The chess desktop app is lightweight — under 200 MB installed, no background processes, no telemetry. After chess analysis or a quick position check via chess solver, close the app and it frees all memory.
First-time install
macOS: Drag the app to Applications. On first launch, macOS shows "unidentified developer".
- Double-click the app — you'll see a warning, click Done.
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security.
- Scroll down and click Open Anyway next to ChessCalculator.
- Confirm with your Mac password. The app opens and stays trusted from then on.
Older macOS still showing "damaged"? Click here.
Open Terminal (Cmd+Space → "Terminal") and paste:
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/ChessCalculator.app
Press Enter, then double-click the app.
Windows: Run the installer. If SmartScreen warns, click "More info" → "Run anyway".