Can you get a refund on a Chess.com membership?
Usually only in your first 30 days. Chess.com gives all first-time credit card and Android subscriptions a 30-day money-back guarantee, and says it does not offer partial refunds for unused time outside that guarantee. If you paid through the Apple App Store, Chess.com cannot refund you and you must ask Apple. Accounts banned for breaking the rules, including cheating, generally get no refund. To ask, open Support on Chess.com, choose Contact Support and type "I want a refund" to reach the Billing team.
By Daniel Rozin · Published · Updated
How this guide was made: drafted with AI assistance, then checked against the sources cited on this page before publishing. Spot a mistake? Tell me.
Key takeaways
- Chess.com gives all first-time credit card and Android subscriptions a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Outside that guarantee, Chess.com says it does not offer partial refunds for unused time.
- Memberships bought through the Apple App Store are refunded by Apple, not Chess.com, and Apple decides.
- Subscribers banned for breaking Chess.com's terms, such as cheating or abusive behaviour, do not get refunds.
- Paid memberships renew automatically at the end of each monthly or yearly cycle unless you cancel before the renewal date.
- Crypto payments to Chess.com are non-refundable under its Subscriber Agreement.
When does Chess.com give refunds?
Chess.com refunds new members inside a 30-day window and otherwise does not refund unused time. Which rule applies depends on how and when you paid.
| Your situation | Refund? | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| First-time subscription by credit card or Android, within 30 days | Yes, under the 30-day money-back guarantee | Chess.com Billing team |
| Renewal or later months, asking for unused time back | No partial refunds for unused time | Chess.com Billing team (you can still ask) |
| Charged twice | Chess.com asks you to submit a refund request for review | Chess.com Billing team |
| Bought through the Apple App Store or iTunes | Up to Apple | Apple |
| Account banned for breaking the terms (cheating, abuse) | No | Not refundable |
| Paid with crypto | No | Not refundable |
Rules from Chess.com's Help Center refund and payment-policy articles, Legal FAQ and Subscriber Agreement, read on 28 October 2026. Chess.com can change these terms, so read its current policy before you pay.
How to request a Chess.com refund
Refund requests go through the Support Messenger on Chess.com, which routes them to the Billing team.
- Click Support in the bottom-left menu of any Chess.com page to open the Support Messenger.
- Select Contact Support, then Get Started.
- Click Get more help to skip the Help Center articles.
- Type "I want a refund" and follow the prompts to reach the Billing team.
- Say when you subscribed and how you paid, so they can see whether the 30-day guarantee applies.
What if you subscribed through Apple?
Ask Apple. Chess.com says that for subscriptions bought through Apple, all refunds, cancellations and subscription changes are handled by Apple, and that Chess.com cannot influence Apple's decision.
- On the web: sign in to Apple's Report a Problem site, choose Request a refund, pick Chess.com and give the reason.
- Cancel through your Apple subscription settings; Chess.com cannot change App Store subscriptions.
How to cancel before you are charged again
Cancel before your renewal date, in the same place you subscribed. Chess.com memberships auto-renew at the then-current rate at the end of each monthly or yearly cycle.
| Where you subscribed | How to cancel |
|---|---|
| Chess.com website | Membership Settings, then Cancel |
| Apple App Store | Your Apple subscription settings |
| Google Play | Google Play subscription settings |
Cancellation paths from Chess.com's Legal FAQ, read on 28 October 2026. Gift subscriptions are charged once and do not renew.
Free alternatives if you are not sure you need a membership
If you are unsure whether a membership is worth it, start free. Lichess says it is "entirely free, forever, and for everyone" and that no features are reserved for its Patron donors, and a free Chess.com account lets you play without paying.
- Review your own games for free: how to analyze your own chess games.
- Find what keeps costing you games before paying for training: how to find your chess weaknesses.
- If you are thinking about paid lessons instead, see how to find a chess coach.
FAQ
Does Chess.com give refunds?
Yes, within limits. All first-time credit card and Android subscriptions get a 30-day money-back guarantee. Outside that, Chess.com says it does not offer partial refunds for unused time.
How do I ask Chess.com for a refund?
Open Support on any Chess.com page, choose Contact Support, then Get Started and Get more help, and type "I want a refund" to reach the Billing team.
Can I get a refund if I paid through the App Store?
Only from Apple. Chess.com says it cannot process refunds for purchases made through Apple's payment system and cannot influence Apple's decision.
Will I get a refund if my Chess.com account is banned?
Generally no. Chess.com says subscribers banned for breaking its terms, such as cheating or abusive behaviour, do not get refunds.
Does a Chess.com membership renew automatically?
Yes. Paid memberships auto-renew at the end of each monthly or yearly cycle at the then-current rate unless you cancel before the renewal date. Gift subscriptions do not renew.
What if Chess.com charged me twice?
Chess.com asks you to submit a refund request through the Support Messenger so its Billing team can review the double charge.
Sources
- Chess.com Help Center: How can I get a refund for my Chess.com membership?. Retrieved 2026-10-28. Refund request steps; double-charge requests; Apple purchases refunded by Apple; 30-day money-back guarantee for first-time credit card and Android subscriptions; no refunds for banned subscribers.
- Chess.com Help Center: Payment policies. Retrieved 2026-10-28. 30-day money-back guarantee; banned subscribers not refunded; iTunes subscribers subject to Apple's terms.
- Chess.com Help Center: Refunds for iTunes or Apple App Store subscriptions. Retrieved 2026-10-28. Apple handles refunds, cancellations and changes; Chess.com cannot influence Apple's decision; Report a Problem steps.
- Chess.com Legal FAQs. Retrieved 2026-10-28. Auto-renewal at the then-current rate; cancel paths for website, Apple and Google Play; no partial refunds for unused time except the 30-day guarantee; banned accounts generally not refunded.
- Chess.com Subscriber Agreement. Retrieved 2026-10-28. Gift subscriptions charged once and do not renew; crypto transactions non-refundable.
- Lichess: Become a Patron. Retrieved 2026-10-28. Lichess is entirely free, forever, for everyone; no features reserved for Patrons.
- RookMentor Chess Fingerprint (in the app). Retrieved 2026-10-28. Up to three recurring leaks, how losses end, clock at move 20, share of moves under 5 seconds after move 10.
Analyze your own games
Before paying for any chess training, see what is actually costing you games. The free Chess Fingerprint reads your recent chess.com or Lichess games and ranks up to three recurring leaks, with how your losses end, your clock at move 20 and how often you move in under 5 seconds after move 10. Treat it as a signal to check, not a verdict.
See this in your own gamesDiscuss this on r/RookMentor (run by the RookMentor team)