You have a board, a friend and no clock. Good news: your phone can be a perfectly decent chess clock, and the best free chess clock apps cost nothing and show no ads. Below are the options we checked in October 2026, what each one really does, and when it is worth buying a real clock instead. One of them is ours, and we say so.
What makes a good free chess clock app?
A chess clock is two countdown timers. You make your move, tap your side, and your opponent's time starts running. Almost any app can do that. The differences that matter at a real table are:
- No ads. A pop-up ad in the middle of a blitz game is how arguments start.
- Increment and delay. Most club games today use increment, like 10+5 (10 minutes each, plus 5 seconds per move). If you are not sure what that means, read how bonus time works in chess.
- Big tap areas. Each half of the screen should be one huge button.
- Pause. For when someone needs to call the organiser over.
- Works offline. Church halls and school gyms often have no signal.
Quick comparison
| Clock | Works on | Cost and ads | Increment and delay | Multi-stage controls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chess Clock by Chess.com | Android, iPhone, iPad | Free, no ads, no in-app purchases | Fischer and Bronstein increment, simple delay | Yes |
| Lichess app clock | Android, iPhone | Free, no ads | Increment | Not that we could confirm |
| ChessHost online chess clock | Any browser, installable | Free, no ads, no account | Increment, simple delay, Bronstein | No |
| Ad-supported store apps | Varies | Free with ads, paid upgrade | Varies | Varies |
| DGT 3000 (physical) | On the table | Paid hardware | Increment, US delay, Bronstein | Built for tournaments |
1 Chess Clock by Chess.com
Chess.com publishes a separate, free app simply called Chess Clock, built for games on a real board. Its store listing says it is 100% free, with no in-app purchases and no ads.
It is the most complete free app we found. It does Fischer and Bronstein increments and simple delay, and it handles multi-stage time controls like "40 moves in 2 hours, then 60 minutes", showing the current stage on screen. It pauses on its own if a call or notification interrupts the app. On iPhone and iPad you can also give each player a different time, which is handy when a parent plays a child. The Android version is open source.
Good to know: the iPhone version had not had an update since June 2024 when we checked. That is not a problem for a clock, but it is not a fast moving app.
Best for: anyone who wants a proper tournament style clock on their phone for free.
2 The clock inside the Lichess app
If you already have the official Lichess app on Android or iPhone, you have a chess clock. It includes a clock tool for over the board games, where you set the minutes per side and an increment. Lichess is free, open source and has no ads, so there is nothing to upgrade.
It is simpler than the Chess.com clock: we could not confirm delay or multi-stage options, so treat it as the quick, clean choice for casual blitz and rapid.
Best for: Lichess players who do not want yet another app on their phone.
3 ChessHost free online chess clock (browser)
Full disclosure: this one is ours. The ChessHost online chess clock runs in the web browser, so it works on any phone, tablet or laptop with nothing to download and no account. Open the page, pick a time control, tap to start.
- Presets from 1+0 bullet up to 30+0, plus a custom setting from 1 to 180 minutes with up to 60 seconds of increment.
- Increment, simple delay and Bronstein, with sound, a move counter and fullscreen.
- Installable and offline: add it to your home screen once and it still opens at a venue with no signal.
- 28 languages, which helps at international or school events.
- Deep links: a link like /tools/chess-clock/?tc=3+2 opens a clock already set to 3+2, so a club can share one link with every player.
What it does not do: no multi-stage time controls and no different times for each player. If you need those, use the Chess.com app.
Best for: borrowed devices, school laptops, tablets on a club table and anyone who does not want to install an app.
4 Ad-supported store apps
Search "chess clock" in the App Store or Google Play and you will find dozens more. Many are free to download but make their money from ads, with a paid upgrade to remove them. For example, The Chess Clock App on iPhone and iPad offers a premium plan that removes its ads. Some of these apps are perfectly good, with extras like byoyomi or per-player handicaps.
Before you install one, check the listing: Google Play shows "Contains ads" and the App Store shows "In-App Purchases" near the top. If you just want a clock, the ad-free options above already cover almost everything.
When a real clock beats an app
Phones are great for casual games, but a physical digital clock still wins at a real event. It never rings, never locks its screen, never runs out of battery halfway through round four, and both players can hit the same solid button without fumbling.
The DGT 3000 is a common example. It is FIDE approved, offers US delay and Bronstein delay as well as increment, comes with preset timing systems, and can connect to a DGT electronic board. It costs real money, so most clubs buy a few and fill the gaps with phones. Our chess clock rules guide covers what happens when a flag falls, whichever clock you use.
Short on clocks for a club night? Put real clocks on the top boards and let the other boards use a free phone or browser clock. Agree the time control before round one and announce it out loud so every board plays the same thing.
Which free chess clock app should you pick?
- You want everything, free: Chess Clock by Chess.com.
- You already use Lichess: the clock inside the Lichess app.
- You do not want to install anything, or you are on a laptop: the ChessHost online chess clock.
- You run regular rated events: buy physical clocks and keep an app as backup.
Running more than a single game? Clocks keep each board fair, but someone still has to pair the rounds and keep the standings. That is what our free chess tournament app does: players join by QR code, and ChessHost makes the pairings and standings for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free chess clock app?
For most people it is one of the ad-free ones. Chess Clock by Chess.com is free with no ads on Android and iPhone and handles tournament style multi-stage controls. If you do not want to install anything, a browser clock such as the free ChessHost online chess clock works on any phone, tablet or laptop. Lichess players can use the clock tool inside the Lichess app.
Is there a chess clock app with no ads?
Yes. Chess Clock by Chess.com says it is 100% free with no ads and no in-app purchases, the Lichess app has no ads, and the ChessHost online chess clock has no ads either. Many other store apps are free but show ads, with a paid upgrade to remove them, so check the listing before you install.
Can I use my phone as a chess clock in a tournament?
In a casual or club event, usually yes, as long as the organiser agrees and both players can see and tap the screen. In rated events the organiser normally supplies proper clocks, and many events do not allow phones in the playing area at all, so ask before you rely on one.
Does Chess.com have a chess clock app?
Yes. Chess.com publishes a separate free app called Chess Clock for over the board games. It supports Fischer and Bronstein increments, simple delay and multi-stage time controls, and pauses automatically if the app is interrupted. The Android version is open source.
Does lichess have a chess clock for over the board games?
Yes. The official Lichess mobile app for Android and iPhone includes a chess clock tool for games played on a real board, where you set the minutes per side and an increment. Like everything on Lichess it is free and has no ads.
What is the difference between increment and delay on a chess clock?
Increment adds a fixed number of seconds to your clock after every move, so you can build time up. Simple delay waits a few seconds before your clock starts counting, so a quick move costs nothing but you never gain time. Bronstein gives back what the move cost you, up to the set amount.
Need a clock right now?
Open the free ChessHost online chess clock in your browser. No download, no ads, no account.
Open the free clock