Scid vs. PC
Open-source database and analysis powerhouse.
FreeWindowsmacOSLinux
About Scid vs. PC
Scid vs. PC is a community fork of the venerable Scid database, maintained by Steven Atkinson since 2009. It is the free alternative to ChessBase for players who want a local PGN database, engine-vs-engine tournaments, FICS client and advanced position search without paying Hamburg prices. The UI is stubbornly Tcl/Tk and looks like it escaped from 2005, but under the hood it handles million-game databases, multi-engine analysis and Chess960. Competes with Scid on the Mac and Arena on Windows for the free-desktop niche.
Pros
- Free ChessBase alternative with most features
- Handles million-game PGN databases
- Built-in FICS client and engine tournaments
- Actively maintained — 4.26 shipped recently
Cons
- UI looks two decades old
- Steep learning curve for newcomers
- macOS build lags Windows and Linux
Features
Game databaseEngine analysisOpening repertoireCorrespondence chessPlay onlineChess variantsOffline modeStudy & share
Pricing
100% free.
Best for
Audience: Intermediate (1200 – 1800), Advanced (1800 – 2200), Expert (2200+)
Languages: EN, DE, FR, ES, IT, NL, PT
Use cases
Similar apps
Last reviewed April 20, 2026 · First launched 2009