DGT is the name behind official tournament equipment — the clocks and boards used to broadcast top-level chess. The DGT Pegasus is their portable Bluetooth e-board, typically priced around $350–400, that recognises your moves and connects to the DGT app for engine and online play. ChessGaze is a free app that turns the board you already own into a smart board with your phone. They're built for different needs — here's the honest comparison.
| Feature | ChessGaze | DGT Pegasus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | ~$350–400 |
| Hardware you need | Your phone | Dedicated e-board |
| Use the chess set you already own | ✅ | ❌ (play on the DGT board) |
| How it reads the board | Phone camera + AI | In-board piece sensors |
| Record moves & export PGN | ✅ | ✅ |
| Play against Stockfish | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tournament-grade build & DGT ecosystem | ❌ | ✅ |
| Works with DGT clocks / official broadcast | ❌ | ✅ |
| Charging / batteries | None (just your phone) | Battery-powered board |
| Works with any set (wood, plastic, themed) | ✅ | ❌ |
Choose the DGT Pegasus if you want tournament-grade hardware from the brand that powers official broadcasts, tight integration with DGT clocks and the DGT ecosystem, and a dedicated physical e-board — and the ~$350–400 price is worth it to you.
Choose ChessGaze if you'd rather pay nothing, keep the board you already own, and still record every game, export PGN to Lichess or Chess.com, and play Stockfish — just by pointing your phone. It's the free, no-hardware way to digitise your over-the-board games.
See also: ChessGaze vs Chessnut · ChessGaze vs smart chess boards (overview)