Is the free tier really unlimited? Yes - the instant review, the board, explore mode, learn puzzles, the public gallery and discussion are free with no limits. What is not free is anything that calls an AI model (cloud reviews, deep dives, chat), because each of those costs real money.
What counts as a cloud review? The full works for one game: an in-depth note on each of the first 80 moves (160 half-moves; later moves keep the instant notes) and a written deep dive of the whole game. Every note is checked against the board. A note that is thin or wrong gets more chances: three retries with the first model, then two with a second model, then one with a third, and only the notes that are still not good are retried. Pro includes 12 a month.
What if I go over? Cloud reviews pause until next month, or top up with credits - your account never charges you overage automatically.
Do I need an account? Not to analyze a game. Cloud reviews and chat need an account with a Pro plan or credits, so we can keep your allowance.
Can prices change? If costs ever force a change, existing subscribers keep their rate, and founding yearly members keep $79 for life.
Why these prices? Every cloud review has a hard cost ceiling of about 26 cents, enforced in code: no single step of it may cost more than 5 cents and no chat question more than 2. Every plan is priced to stay profitable even if you use all of it, and nothing on the free tier calls a paid model. Typical reviews cost far less, so credits are never marked down on a promise we can’t keep.