Lichess vs Valheim Server Docker

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted game servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

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FeatureLichessValheim Server Docker
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicenseAGPL-3.0Apache-2.0
LanguageScalaShell
Setup difficultyHardMedium
Min. RAM4,096 MB2,048 MB
Deploymentdocker, sourcedocker
GitHub stars★ 18,557★ 2,239
First released20102021
ReplacesChess.comofficial Valheim hosting

Why pick each one

Choose Lichess if…

  • Full-featured chess platform
  • Completely ad-free
Lichess details

Choose Valheim Server Docker if…

  • Released under the Apache-2.0 license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Active community (2.2k GitHub stars)
  • Written in Shell
Valheim Server Docker details

Frequently asked questions

Is Lichess or Valheim Server Docker better?

Neither is universally better. Lichess has the larger community, while Valheim Server Docker is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.

Are Lichess and Valheim Server Docker free and open-source?

Yes. Lichess is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Valheim Server Docker under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Lichess and Valheim Server Docker with Docker?

Lichess: yes. Valheim Server Docker: yes.

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