The Digital Chessboard Academy vs Upstep Academy: A Parent's Comparison (2026)

Choosing between two good chess academies is hard. This is a fair, side-by-side look at Upstep Academy and The Digital Chessboard Academy, so you can compare on facts.

Transparency note: we run The Digital Chessboard Academy, so we list ourselves first. Details about other academies come from their own public websites as read on 5 October 2026; programmes, prices and claims change, so please check directly with each academy before you decide. We say what each one offers, not who is better.

At a glance

At a glance	The Digital Chessboard Academy	Upstep Academy
Based in	Chennai and Nagercoil (India), serving students worldwide	Mumbai, India, with a US office (per their website)
Format	Live online group (6–7) and private 1-on-1	Live online, personalised one-on-one
Ages	From age 3, kids and adults	5–15 years (per their website)
Levels	Beginner Explorer, Intermediate Master, Champion Track	Beginner through Advanced, then Master and Pro Master
Free trial	Free demo class	Free 20-minute demo class (per their website)
Endorsement	Level certificates from the academy	Certificates signed by 5-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand (per their website)
Pricing	Group classes from ₹999/month; see pricing	Check with the academy

What Upstep Academy is known for

Upstep Academy teaches live online one-on-one for children aged 5 to 15 through a levelled curriculum, with dedicated relationship managers for families. Its level certificates are signed by Viswanathan Anand, who is its brand ambassador, which gives the academy a famous face and strong recognition. Visit their website.

What The Digital Chessboard Academy offers

• Coaches who teach the class: certified, FIDE-rated and experienced coaches with real tournament careers, each verified before they teach. Meet our coaches.
• Small groups: 6–7 students per group class, or private 1-on-1 coaching.
• A clear path: Beginner Explorer, Intermediate Master, Champion Track (Pawn → Knight → Rook → King path), with a certificate on every level completed.
• Parent visibility: a Parent Portal showing practice, performance and progress, plus progress reports and parent-teacher meetings.
• Weekly tournament practice and a free demo class before you pay, with a 7-day money-back guarantee.
• Accessible pricing: group classes from ₹999 a month. See pricing.

How to choose between them

Upstep Academy may suit you if you want a dedicated one-to-one format and value a world-famous name on certificates. The Digital Chessboard Academy may suit you if you would like a choice between small group classes and private coaching, a wider age range (from 3 upwards, including adults), and weekly tournament practice with other students.

The honest way to decide is to try both. Book a demo class with each, then compare using our 10-question checklist and the guide to cost per class. If you want a wider view, read online chess academies in India compared.

Our take

We believe The Digital Chessboard Academy is a great fit for families who want small live groups, coaches with proven tournament experience, a clear curriculum and full visibility of progress at a price that suits a regular household. A famous name is a lovely extra; what matters weekly is who teaches your child, and we show you our coaches' credentials openly. We would love you to judge us by a free class rather than by our word.

Group learning or one-to-one: which suits your child?

Upstep Academy teaches live one-to-one, which can suit children who like personal attention, need to move at their own pace or have an unusual schedule. Group learning, which we offer in groups of 6–7, suits children who are motivated by friends, enjoy playing and discussing positions together, and benefit from seeing different ideas. We also offer private one-to-one coaching, so families can choose either format, or mix them. Our guide to private vs group chess coaching goes through the pros and cons.

Question	One-to-one	Small group
Personal pace	Fully personalised	Pace set for the batch, with individual feedback
Peer motivation	Mainly the coach	Classmates and friendly competition
Practice games	Against the coach or on your own	Against classmates, plus weekly tournament practice
Cost	Usually higher per class	Usually lower per class

What a famous name means, and what it does not

Upstep Academy's certificates are signed by Viswanathan Anand, who is its brand ambassador, according to its website. That is a distinctive, motivating touch for children, and the kind of recognition many parents like. When comparing any academies, it helps to ask a second question too: who will teach my child every week, and what are their credentials? We answer it openly on our coaches page, where you will find state champions, national-level players, FIDE-rated players, FIDE National Instructors and certified arbiters. For the wider topic, read who actually teaches your child's chess class.

Age range and starting point

Upstep Academy describes its programme for ages 5 to 15. We teach children from age 3 and also welcome adults. If your child is very young, see chess for 5-year-olds; if you are an adult who wants to learn alongside your child, read learning chess as an adult.

A simple way to choose

1. Decide whether your child learns best alone with a teacher or in a group of friends.
2. Book a free demo with each academy and watch for engagement.
3. Ask about class size, curriculum, reporting and cost.
4. Look at the whole picture: coach, plan, progress tracking, schedule and price.

We also recommend our 10-question checklist for any academy.

Progress tracking and parent support

Upstep Academy lists dedicated relationship managers for families. We offer a Parent Portal, progress reports, parent-teacher meetings, and a student support and counselling team. The best question to ask any academy is: "How will I know my child is improving?" See realistic rating goals for how we think about it.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Upstep Academy or The Digital Chessboard Academy?

Both teach chess online and suit different families. Compare coach experience, class size, curriculum, parent reporting, price and the trial class. We believe The Digital Chessboard Academy is the strongest fit for families who want small live groups, FIDE-rated coaches and clear progress tracking, but trying both is the best test.

Does The Digital Chessboard Academy offer a free demo?

Yes. Book a free demo class from our website with no obligation, and we offer a 7-day money-back guarantee.

How much do classes at The Digital Chessboard Academy cost?

Group classes start from Rs 999 a month. Private 1-on-1 coaching is also available. See the pricing page for current plans.

Does Upstep Academy teach groups or one-to-one?

According to its website, live one-to-one. The Digital Chessboard Academy offers both small groups of 6 to 7 and private one-to-one coaching.

How old should my child be to start?

We teach children from age 3 and adults too. Upstep Academy describes ages 5 to 15 on its website.

Can I try both academies before deciding?

Yes, and we recommend it. Both offer a free demo class.

Explore The Digital Chessboard Academy

• Courses: Beginner Explorer to Champion Track
• Pricing and plans
• Meet our coaches
• The Parent Portal
• Free FIDE rating calculator
• Chess learning options compared
• Online chess academies compared
• All chess articles

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