# Across Crossword Trainer — Learn how to solve crosswords

> Learn to solve US-style English crosswords with guided practice puzzles. (iPhone/iPad app by Literate Software.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/across-crossword-trainer/id390989290 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Literate Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/390989293)
- Category: Games, Education, Puzzle, Word
- Price: $6.99 with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 129 App Store ratings · 93 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 28 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2010-10-15
- Data updated: 2026-06-09
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/across-crossword-trainer/id390989290/reviews.md

## What is Across Crossword Trainer?

Would you like to learn how to solve crosswords like an expert? This app is what you need.

If you are frustrated with not being able to solve US-style English crosswords from respected newspapers and perhaps even doubting your ability, now there is an app for that.

Join the thousands of people that have used this app to improve their skills enough to be able to solve published crosswords that they once thought were beyond their abilities.

Exquisitely designed for the iPad by the creators of Across Lite, the most widely used crossword solver software since 1995, this crossword skill building kit will help you improve your skills considerably. Not with boring study material or tests - just by solving specially created crosswords.

What it is:
- The most enjoyable and sophisticated crossword solver ever built
- An included collection of 75 crosswords professionally constructed to teach how to solve crosswords with learning notes for each crossword

What it is NOT:
- Crossword solver for Across Lite crosswords available on the web. Install our Across Lite Crosswords app from the store for this.

Using a unique interface that looks like a printed crossword, the app lets you focus on improving your skills even if you have never used a crossword app before.

Crossword solving skills are a combination of ability, technique and practice. The automated help in scanning and selecting clues to solve that captures techniques from expert solvers will help you incorporate those techniques into your solving. 

The carefully and professionally constructed 75 crosswords included in the kit take you through a progression of easy, medium and transitional levels, with increasing levels of word play and themes while familiarizing you with some of the oft-repeated crossword "cliches" that makes solving harder puzzles easier. Brief notes for each crossword provide learning points.

You should be ready to tackle most reputable crosswords by the time you finish the included crosswords. If you need additional crosswords for practice, you can purchase more crosswords from renowned authors from inside the app.

We hope you enjoy this lovingly-crafted app as much as we have enjoyed building it.

## Key features

- Learn crossword solving techniques
- 75 professionally constructed crosswords
- Learning notes for each puzzle
- Progression from easy to advanced levels
- Unique interface like a printed crossword
- Automated help for scanning and selecting clues

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: $6.99.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gaffney's Mini Puzzles | $0.99 | one-time |
| Crosswords You Can Finish | $2.99 | one-time |
| Beguiling Bogglers | $0.99 | one-time |
| Confounding Challenges | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gaffney's Minis Practice Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Jonesin' Omnibus | $2.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Across Crossword Trainer?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 📚 Excellent progressive learning structure from beginner to advanced
- 👍 User-friendly interface that's intuitive and easy to navigate
- 🧠 Effective teaching methodology with helpful hints and tips
- 🎯 Clear cumulative puzzles with step-by-step guidance
- 💰 Great value and reasonable pricing
- 🏆 Comprehensive puzzle collection with multiple difficulty levels
- 📖 Teaches crossword-solving strategies and vocabulary building
- 🎮 Engaging and addictive gameplay experience
- ⚙️ Customizable settings and layout options
- ✅ Real-time feedback on incorrect letters
- 🧩 Smart puzzle construction with interconnected clues
- 🏥 Beneficial for cognitive recovery and mental stimulation

**Cons**

- ⌨️ Unconventional split-keyboard letter entry system is awkward
- 🎯 Inconsistent letter input responsiveness, requires multiple taps
- 🇺🇸 Heavy American bias in clues and references
- 📝 Weak puzzle construction with excessive whitespace
- 🔄 Repetitive clues and answers across puzzles
- 📚 Lacks dictionary definitions for solved words
- 🔧 Letter input on left side of screen sometimes unresponsive
- ⏱️ Tips and hints dole out slowly during progression

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Split keyboard letter input is unreliable and requires excessive tapping
- Letters on left side of screen don't always respond to first tap
- App occasionally jumps to other squares unexpectedly
- Accidental letter taps count as errors against user
- Inconsistent tap detection requiring edge-of-key tapping

**Most requested features**

- More puzzles and expanded content library
- In-game dictionary or definition lookup for educational value
- Traditional keyboard option for letter entry
- Horizontal puzzle orientation support
- Better international/non-American clue options
- Improved letter entry responsiveness and accuracy

## Recent user reviews (10 of 93)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/across-crossword-trainer/id390989290/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Great Trainer

*2026-02-05, version 4.1.2*

Solid interface with cumulative puzzles with clear steps along the way. Great price with solid resources. Recommend. 👍

### 5/5 — Fabulous

*2025-03-12, version 4.1.2*

I have had this app for years and I always enjoy the challenges. I need no other crossword puzzle on my iPad. This is the one!

### 5/5 — Always first-rate!

*2024-11-19, version 4.1.2*

Far and away, the best crossword apps extant.  Thank you!

### 5/5 — Love This App!

*2024-03-15, version 4.1.2*

This is the perfect app for learning how to work crossword puzzles. It gently guides you from beginner to advanced with enough material  to feel comfortable doing more advanced puzzles.

### 5/5 — Enjoyable App

*2024-03-14, version 4.1.2*

An easy to use app that gets your brain thinking. If you aren’t sure of a word it’s easy to select a letter and try and find the correct one.

### 5/5 — Excellent Crossword App!

*2024-02-16, version 4.1.2*

This is a great app for crossword lovers! And the training is very helpful for new solvers! Now I just need more puzzles!

### 5/5 — Good app

*2024-02-03, version 4.1.2*

Skip a letter feature is a little unpredictable, but I've enjoyed working the puzzles and learning crosswordese. The application is easy to use and more puzzles are available through in-app store. Plenty to get started with in the initial product. Definitely good for vocabulary building and word association skills.

### 5/5 — Helpful for a beginner

*2023-02-01, version 4.1.1*

I had tried easy crossword puzzles since I had never done them but just found them boring. This app is helping me learn how to solve them and that’s what I need.

### 5/5 — Well Made...

*2020-04-13, version 4.1.1*

app. I especially appreciate that there are easy ones for this neophyte.

### 5/5 — Absolutely love this game

*2019-10-14, version 4.0.3*

Teaches you alot.

## Frequently asked questions about Across Crossword Trainer

### What does the Across Crossword Trainer app do?

This app is designed to teach you how to solve US-style English crosswords like an expert. It provides a collection of 75 specially constructed crosswords with learning notes to help you develop your skills and confidence in tackling published puzzles.

### What are the key features of this crossword app?

The app includes 75 professionally designed crosswords that progress in difficulty, offering learning points and notes for each. It features a unique interface that mimics a printed crossword and provides automated help to guide you through solving techniques used by expert solvers.

### Is this app free to use?

The app itself is free to download and includes a substantial collection of 75 crosswords. However, you can purchase additional crossword packs from renowned authors within the app if you wish to continue practicing with more puzzles.

### What kind of crosswords does this app focus on?

This app specifically focuses on teaching how to solve US-style English crosswords, often found in respected newspapers. It is not designed for solving crosswords from Across Lite available on the web; for that, you would need a separate app.

### Who is the target audience for Across Crossword Trainer?

The app is intended for anyone who wants to learn or improve their crossword solving abilities. This includes beginners who have never solved crosswords before, as well as those who find themselves frustrated by published puzzles and want to build their skills.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.1.2 — 2023-08-08

Maintenance update for iOS 16. Optimized for all iPad screen sizes.

### 4.1.1 — 2020-04-02

Minimum iOS required raised to 11.x, since new updates to the App Store will not run on older (32-bit)  iPads with iOS 10 or earlier.

People with older iPads should see the last known running version v 4.1 available to them for install.

### 4.1 — 2020-01-05

Minor UI fixes for iOS 13 compatibility

### 4.0.3 — 2017-12-28

> Changed to Across Lite V4 Solving platform underneath with:
       (V4.0.3 is a maintenance release with minor fixes)
    + iOS 11 compatibility
    + Refreshed interface for easier content browsing, faster solving and customization
    + Multiple virtual keyboards in both orientations for left-handed and right-handed people
    + Expanded external keyboard functionality
    + Screen optimization for each iPad Pro size

> Trainer content changes:
    + Minor editing of learning notes, an error in solution corrected
    + Puzzles converted to Across Lite PUZv3 format with style-formatted clues

### 4.0.2 — 2017-12-20

Note: After installing this app, if you find the included crosswords missing, restart app by double pressing home button, sliding the app snapshot up to stop it and starting the app again from home screen. All crosswords will then become visible. This is only required the first time after you install. Will be fixed in an update.
> Changed to Across Lite V4 Solving platform underneath with:
       (V4.0.2 is a maintenance release with minor fixes)
    + iOS 11 compatibility
    + Refreshed interface for easier content browsing, faster solving and customization
    + Multiple virtual keyboards in both orientations for left-handed and right-handed people
    + Expanded external keyboard functionality
    + Screen optimization for each iPad Pro size

> Trainer content changes:
    + Minor editing of learning notes, an error in solution corrected
    + Puzzles converted to Across Lite PUZv3 format with style-formatted clues

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## More apps by Literate Software

- [Across Lite Crosswords](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/across-lite-crosswords/id480513184)

All apps by Literate Software: https://appshunter.io/developer/390989293

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-09.*