Question 1

What is ChessMotion?

Accepted Answer

ChessMotion is a web app that turns chess games and positions into shareable replays — MP4 videos, animated GIFs and interactive links. Start from a Chess.com or Lichess link, PGN, board image, FEN or a position you set up.

Question 2

Do I need an account to try it?

Accepted Answer

No. You can create a replay as a guest. A free account gives you monthly export credits, up to 10 saved projects and 30-day project storage. Paid plans add premium templates, remove the watermark and keep projects without an expiry date.

Question 3

Can I import a game I already played?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Paste a public Chess.com or Lichess game link, or paste or upload its PGN. ChessMotion imports the main line, ready to edit. Importing is free and does not use export credits.

Question 4

What does PGN import include?

Accepted Answer

PGN import brings in the complete playable game tree, player names, result, comments, annotations, side variations and a custom starting position when the PGN includes one. Every imported line remains editable.

Question 5

Which game links work?

Accepted Answer

Individual public Chess.com live and daily game URLs work, including analysis links. Individual public Lichess game URLs work too, including games opened from a tournament. Tournament, study and other collection URLs are not game URLs, so open the individual game first. Private or deleted games cannot be imported.

Question 6

What image formats can I upload?

Accepted Answer

PNG, JPG and WEBP images of a chess board work best. A tight, straight-on crop of just the board gives the most reliable recognition.

Question 7

How does board recognition work?

Accepted Answer

ChessMotion detects the 64 squares in your image, reads which piece is on each square, and builds an editable position along with the board orientation. You then review and correct it before exporting.

Question 8

What if the position is detected incorrectly?

Accepted Answer

The review screen highlights squares it was unsure about. Click any square to change or remove a piece, set whose turn it is, and confirm. The export is always based on the position you confirm.

Question 9

Can I set up a position without uploading an image?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can place pieces by hand or paste a FEN string, then build your replay from there.

Question 10

How do I create an animated GIF?

Accepted Answer

Set up the position, play the moves you want to show, choose a template and export. You can pick how many frames to use to balance smoothness against file size. See our guide on creating a chess GIF.

Question 11

What are templates?

Accepted Answer

Templates control the look and pacing of a replay — board colors, piece style, coordinates, move highlighting and animation. There are templates tuned for classic replays, puzzles, brilliant moves, mates, social shorts, and full games that show the player names and a running move list.

Question 12

What formats can I export?

Accepted Answer

MP4 video or animated GIF, in square (1:1) or landscape (16:9), plus a Vertical Short — a 9:16 MP4 sized for TikTok, Reels and Shorts. Square works anywhere, landscape suits YouTube and X. You can add a music track and your own text, and the wider formats can show the player names and a running move list.

Question 13

How do I share a replay?

Accepted Answer

You can share a public interactive link, download an MP4 or animated GIF, or open the Share on X flow with your replay link pre-filled. Public links let viewers step through the moves themselves; video and GIF are best for social feeds.

Question 14

Is there a watermark?

Accepted Answer

Free and guest exports include a small ChessMotion watermark. Creator removes it.

Question 15

What does the ChessMotion X bot do?

Accepted Answer

You can reply to a tweet that contains a board image and tag the ChessMotion bot. It reads the position, builds a replay, and replies with a link you can open and edit.

Question 16

Do you show ads?

Accepted Answer

We may show ads to free and guest users on public content pages only. Creator subscribers never see ads, and we never place ads on the editor, account, billing or admin screens.

Question 17

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

There is a free plan that gives you 25 export credits every month and the full core workflow — MP4, GIF, 9:16 vertical and 16:9 landscape, with music and text. Paid plans add watermark removal, premium templates, deeper Stockfish analysis, larger limits and a larger monthly allowance. See the pricing page for current details.

Question 18

How many videos can I create for free?

Accepted Answer

A free ChessMotion account receives 25 export credits every month. Each export uses credits depending on its format and length — the exact cost is shown in the editor before you export. Export MP4 or GIF in 9:16 vertical or 16:9 landscape, with music and text. Free exports include a small ChessMotion watermark, which paid plans remove.

Question 19

Do I need a payment card?

Accepted Answer

No. You can create a free account without adding a payment card.

Question 20

Do free credits renew?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The 25 monthly free credits renew every month on your account’s renewal date. Unused free credits don’t carry over to the next month.

Question 21

What happens when I use all my free credits?

Accepted Answer

You can wait for your next monthly renewal, buy a one-time credit pack, or upgrade to Creator for a larger monthly allowance.

Question 22

Can I use ChessMotion on my phone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. It runs in the browser on desktop and mobile, and there are vertical short export formats designed for mobile-first feeds.

Question 23

How long are my projects kept?

Accepted Answer

Guest projects are kept for 7 days. Free accounts can save up to 10 projects for 30 days. Creator projects do not expire while the plan is active.

Question 24

Is ChessMotion affiliated with Lichess or Chess.com?

Accepted Answer

No. ChessMotion is independent and not affiliated with any chess platform or federation. Public game links and PGN are used only to import game data into a replay you control.

Question 25

How do I delete my data?

Accepted Answer

You can delete individual projects at any time, and you can contact support@chessmotion.com to delete your account and associated data.

Frequently asked questions