Last updated 08-12-2026
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Chess Scanner
Chess Scanner digitizes handwritten tournament score sheets into playable digital games. Snap a photo of your completed notation, and the app reads the handwriting, converts moves to standard algebraic notation, and lets you review or fix any misread squares before saving.
Manual score entry can take 10 or more minutes per game. Chess Scanner targets that bottleneck with neural-network OCR that claims over 95% accuracy, processing a sheet in about a minute. The free tier archives unlimited scans in the app, while the paid Competitive Player plan exports PGN files and opens games directly on Lichess or Chess.com.
Club players, tournament competitors, and coaches use Chess Scanner to back up paper scoresheets and sync libraries across iOS, Android, and the web app. Score sheet images are processed on servers in Germany and deleted immediately after game generation, per the product FAQ.
Free Casual Player plan includes unlimited score sheet scans with in-app save and sharing
Competitive Player premium costs around $18 per year with PGN export and Lichess or Chess.com links
Claims over 95% handwriting recognition accuracy on tournament notation
Processes a scoresheet in about one minute versus 10 or more minutes of manual entry
Syncs scanned games across iOS, Android, iPad, and the web app in real time
Club databases let multiple members store games in one shared team library
Turns paper tournament scores into digital games in about a minute instead of manual typing.
Free tier includes unlimited scans for players who only need in-app archives.
PGN export and direct Lichess or Chess.com links come with the low annual premium plan.
Cross-device sync covers phones, tablets, and the web app under one library.
Club database sharing helps teams archive multiple members' games centrally.
PGN export, analysis shortcuts, and second-player scanning require the paid Competitive Player plan.
Handwriting recognition still needs manual review when notation is messy or crossed out.
Premium price varies by platform and country rather than a single global rate card.
What does Chess Scanner do?
Chess Scanner photographs handwritten chess score sheets and converts the moves into digital games using OCR. You review the generated notation, edit mistakes, then save or export the game from the app.
How much does Chess Scanner cost?
Chess Scanner Casual Player is free with unlimited scans and in-app storage. The Competitive Player plan costs around $18 per year and adds PGN export, Lichess or Chess.com opening, and higher-accuracy Pro Generation.
Can Chess Scanner export PGN files?
Yes, Chess Scanner exports PGN files on the Competitive Player premium plan. The free Casual Player tier saves games inside the Chess Scanner app and supports filtering and sharing without file export.
Which platforms support Chess Scanner?
Chess Scanner offers iOS, Android, and a web app that stay synchronized through one account. You can scan on mobile and review or analyze the same games on the web version.
How accurate is Chess Scanner?
Chess Scanner advertises over 95% accuracy on handwritten notation and lets you edit any misread moves after scanning. Premium Pro Generation improves results for competitive players who need cleaner exports.
Where are Chess Scanner images processed?
Chess Scanner transmits score sheet images to its servers in Germany for game generation using proprietary text recognition. The FAQ states images are deleted from servers immediately after the game is generated.