# CWC – CrossWord Creator > A utility for creating custom crossword puzzles of any shape. (iPhone/iPad app by Russell Harper.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cwc-crossword-creator/id581673729 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Russell Harper](https://appshunter.io/developer/581673732) - Category: Utilities, Education - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 3.70/5 from 7 App Store ratings · 7 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.0 · 0 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2013-02-10 - Data updated: 2026-06-02 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cwc-crossword-creator/id581673729/reviews.md ## What is CWC? CWC stands for CrossWord Creator. This is a utility to help you create crosswords. For professionals: by handling the hard parts of designing the crossword grid, finding words to fit the entries, and numbering and setting up the clues. For casual users: just provide the words you want to use and CWC will lay them out for you! Some features of CWC: • design your crossword grid – can be any shape! • or enter the words you want to use! • pick the word list from which to select the words – from basic to advanced • run as many crosswords as you want at one time – ideal for professionals • optional on-line interface for your convenience • check the status of your crosswords at any time Using CWC, you can create professional quality crosswords in under an hour, and casual quality crosswords in minutes! Optionally, you can provide key entries, even just single letters, and it will find a crossword to match. For education providers, an on-line interface is available for your students to create crosswords. And a cool tech detail: CWC uses a High Performance Computing Cloud to do the hard work. ## Key features - Design custom crossword grids - Generate puzzles from word lists - Automated word fitting - Clue numbering and setup - Create multiple crosswords simultaneously - Optional online interface ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | +5 | $0.99 | one-time | | +10 | $1.99 | one-time | | +20 | $2.99 | one-time | | +50 | $4.99 | one-time | | +10 | $0.99 | one-time | | +20 | $1.99 | one-time | | +50 | $3.99 | one-time | | +100 | $5.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (7 of 7) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cwc-crossword-creator/id581673729/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Too limited from the GitGo *2020-05-25* That 15x15 grid limit is a problem on Sunday, folks. ---ecs **Developer response:** Just FYI, the online version now supports 25x25. To get to it, go to Get More Crosswords on your iPhone or iPad, then enter an email address and select Pro. You’ll get an email with a link to online. We revised the backend to improve the success rate for larger crosswords while keeping the same computing limits. As a professional, you’re probably using it by sending multiple and picking the best of, so you might be happy to find out that we’re topping up every day now, so no need to buy crosswords any more. Hope you like the changes! —————————————— A version which supports 25 x 25 crosswords is in planning, but the limiting UX factor is the size of the mobile screen. It’s already pushing the limit with 15 x 15. We do have a corresponding web interface linked to CWC which would be ideal to support 25 x 25, but precisely no one uses it! Related to this is that for large crosswords, the entries tend to include more phrases as opposed to single words. We’re currently investigating what’s available with respect to these kinds of word lists. Besides that, there are very different computational requirements in generating a 25 x 25 puzzle vs a 15 x 15 one, so we may need to revise our business model. In summary, we’re working on it! ### 1/5 — I don’t know what to say other than.. *2020-05-19* I have ‘submitted’ a crossword by mistake and now whenever I open the app it crashes. Also, where do I go to add the text in? Because I cannot find it whatsoever. **Developer response:** Sorry to hear about that. This is the first time I’ve heard about this problem. Did you by chance register with an email or school? I might be able to use that to identify your account and delete the crossword that’s causing your CWC to crash. As far as where to enter just the words, next to the Submit button is a yellow star, tap that. It will open a simple dialog to type or paste words. ### 5/5 — Nice crossword app - just a question *2018-06-16* How do I save crosswords in progress? Thanks again for the app! **Developer response:** You're welcome! Right now it doesn't have that feature, but an upcoming version will allow you to save in progress, and resubmit. The latest feature lets you create crosswords from lists of words you provide. ### 1/5 — Not even worth a free download *2016-09-23* Completely inoperative **Developer response:** We apologize, there was an extended service interruption to the cloud servers which we didn't detect in a timely manner. You likely downloaded CWC at that time. We are redesigning the backend to limit the effects of these kinds of interruptions. ### 1/5 — Worst money ever spent *2015-08-14* I feel robbed!!! **Developer response:** Did you attempt to make a purchase and it didn't succeed? We have since learned of a longstanding problem at Apple's servers, such that some users may have paid for crosswords they didn't receive. If this has happened to you, let us know at cwc (at) russell-harper.com and we will credit you the crosswords you were attempting to purchase plus some extra for your troubles. ### 3/5 — Not simple enough for me *2013-05-23* I was looking for a way to put a list of words down and then the app would fit them into the puzzle. This one does not do that. You have to make your words fit together into the puzzle yourself. It also looks like you only get 3 grids before you have to buy more **Developer response:** Due to popular demand, we've added a new feature in v1.3 to create crosswords based on a list of words you provided. Hope you like it! Regarding only three grids, at the beginning we weren't sure what the usage would be, and because server time costs us money, we erred on the side of caution. We have since increased the initial limit to ten. ### 5/5 — Awesome app! *2013-02-12* This is great for NYC train trips! Very easy to use and it's fun to be able to choose the designs. ## Frequently asked questions about CWC ### How does CWC help create crosswords? CWC automates the difficult aspects of crossword design, including grid layout, word fitting, and clue numbering. It allows users to either design their grid or provide words, and the app will construct the puzzle. ### Can CWC create crosswords of any shape? Yes, CWC allows users to design crossword grids in any shape they desire, offering flexibility beyond standard rectangular layouts. ### Is CWC suitable for professional crossword creators? Yes, CWC is designed for professionals by handling complex grid design and word fitting, enabling the creation of professional-quality crosswords in under an hour. It also supports running multiple crosswords simultaneously. ### What devices does CWC support? CWC is available for iPhone and iPod devices, as indicated by its supported devices list. ### How often is CWC updated? The latest version of CWC was released on April 18, 2022, indicating it receives periodic updates to maintain functionality and performance. ### What is the user rating for CWC? CWC has a rating of 3.7 stars based on 7 user ratings, suggesting a generally positive but mixed user reception. ### Does CWC have ads? No, CWC does not contain advertisements, as indicated by the 'hasAds' flag being false. ### Can students use CWC for creating crosswords? Yes, an online interface is available for students to create crosswords, making it a useful tool for education providers. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.9.6 — 2022-04-18 - rebuilt for iOS 15 - added night mode support - crosswords topped up daily (weekly for EP), no need to buy! - can now abort crosswords before running, i.e. when queued - better success rate with larger crosswords, Pro on-line now supports up to 25×25 - reduced S/ES/ING bias for word endings ### 1.9.5 — 2019-12-03 Added support in the “Words Only” interface for accessibility text sizes. ### 1.9 — 2019-11-04 Added paste functionality so you can copy from a website or other source and paste the text into the “words only” interface. ### 1.8 — 2019-06-25 • new feature to create crosswords from words you provide! (actually in v1.3, but that was less than a week ago!) • can now send crosswords right away (don’t have to wait for the HPCC to finalize) • improved UI/UX with “Get More Crosswords” ### 1.7 — 2019-06-23 • new feature to create crosswords from words you provide! • improved UI/UX for Accessibility | Larger Text XXL text size ## Apps similar to CWC | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Family Tree Photo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/family-tree-photo/id1425610974) | 4.7 (2,247) | Free | Utilities | | [Wordapp : Crossword Maker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordapp-crossword-maker/id6499512501) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Utilities | | [Knitting Chart](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knitting-chart/id1251317736) | 4.3 (1,246) | Free | Utilities | | [Reach — Progressive Organizing](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reach-progressive-organizing/id1433809365) | 4.4 (65) | Free | Utilities | | [Quick Family Tree](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quick-family-tree/id1447075049) | 3.9 (749) | Free | Utilities | | [MultiTimer: Multiple timers](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/multitimer-multiple-timers/id973421278) | 4.7 (15,483) | Free | Utilities | ## More apps by Russell Harper - [Group Tracker ⊚](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/group-tracker/id858739714) - [Door Alert](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/door-alert/id1076093852) All apps by Russell Harper: https://appshunter.io/developer/581673732 ## Related topics [crossword puzzle maker](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/crossword-puzzle-maker) · [crossword creator](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/crossword-creator) --- *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 2026-06-02.*