# Sudoku 101 (Free)

> Beginner-friendly Sudoku game, generator, solver, and multi-step logic tutor. (iPhone/iPad app by John Huang.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-101-free/id293537451 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [John Huang](https://appshunter.io/developer/310762710)
- Category: Games, Entertainment, Board, Puzzle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 3.25/5 from 4 App Store ratings · 37 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 8.0 · 11 MB
- Languages: English, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese
- Released: 2008-10-17
- Data updated: 2026-07-05
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-101-free/id293537451/reviews.md

## What is Sudoku 101 (Free)?

Wondering what the hype is about Sudoku?

This is the introductory course for Sudoku, ideal for beginners. It is a Sudoku game, a generator, a solver, and a teacher/tutor.

First, it is a real Sudoku game.

- Puzzle generator for unlimited play, at the difficulty level appropriate for beginners.
- Clean and simple game board, so you can focus on the playing instead of being distracted by colors and/or graphics.
- Ability to enter the game manually, copy from books, newspaper, or other Sudoku game software.
- Tap on a clue to highlight potential locations, tap again to go back to normal viewing.
- Automatic or manual pencil marks, which can be switched on and off during the play with one tap.
- Automatically save the game when you leave, continue when you come back.
- Option to use either symmetrical or non-symmetrical Sudoku boards.
- Option to show error.

Even more, it is your private tutorial. It teaches you the logic and pattern of Sudoku, with its multi-step teaching system. All of the techniques are human logic, not computer brutal force.

- When you are stuck, tap "Teach me". It highlights certain cells of interest.
- Tap again, it will tell you the technique to look for in those cells. A "What is..." buttons also shows up. You can look up the meaning of this technique.
- Tap again, it will show you the logic. Which candidate is of interest, why, and how it helps you to solve a cell, or to remove digits from possible candidates.
- Tap again, it updates the board, ready for the next step.

During the course of Sudoku 101, you will go through the following levels:
- Learning Basics: This level is for the absolute beginner. It uses Sudoku boards which be solved by the Full House.
- Easy: At this level, the puzzles can be solved with Full House, Naked Single, Hidden Single, and occasional pairs.
- Moderate: You will learn Naked Pair, Hidden Pair, and Locked Candidates.

Check out the screenshots to see how the teaching works.

Not enough for you? Ready for more challenge? Please check out our Sudoku 401, with advanced teaching including Hidden and Naked Trip and Quad, Fishes (X-Wing, Swordfish, Jellyfish, Squirmbag, Fishy Cycle), Finned Fishes (Finned X-Wing, Swordfish, Jellyfish, Squirmbag, Sashimi Fish, and Turbot Fish), XY-Wing, XYZ-Wing, WXYZ-Wing, and ALS.

## Key features

- Beginner-focused Sudoku puzzles
- Unlimited puzzle generation
- Multi-step logic teaching system
- Human logic-based techniques
- Automatic game saving
- Optional pencil marks and error display

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Level 4: Challenging | $1.99 | one-time |
| Level 5: Difficult | $3.99 | one-time |
| Level 6: Expert | $5.99 | one-time |
| Level 7: Extreme | $7.99 | one-time |
| Level 8: Brain Freeze | $9.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 37)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-101-free/id293537451/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Doesn’t open

*2026-06-22, version 3.0.8*

Immediately crashes on iPhone 16 Pro.

### 4/5 — The Best

*2023-07-16, version 3.0.8*

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this app before now. I have had this app for it's entire lifetime in the app store. I've tried over 30 different apps trying to find the best sudoku for me and THIS IS IT! It's simple and clean interface, ease of use, multiple levels of difficulty, and way to enter your own puzzles. It even has a tutorial to show you tips and strategies for solving the more difficult puzzles. I love everything about app and I'm so glad it's still available for download.

There is one con: when starting a new game, some answers from the previous puzzle will remain and need to be manually removed.

### 5/5 — Simple & Uncluttered

*2020-03-22, version 3.0.8*

I tried a few other sudoku apps and they gave up to much game space to decorative theme elements. The free levels are a match for me. You can pay a little to learn to get better. 

The best feature is being able to input your own game. If you see one in a magazine you can put it in the app. Very cool.

### 4/5 — A great introduction to Sudoku

*2018-12-19, version 3.0.8*

Excellent tutorials, a particularly crisp, clean and uncluttered display. 
Well worth upgrading to Sudoku 401, but if you do, don’t discard 101. I usually leave the newspaper offerings 1 cell short of completion so I can check my solution against their’s and having both 101 & 401 gives me a spare app.
My only grumble is that the entry box jumps all over the screen on the iPad instead of staying in the empty space to one side. It tends to slow the game down.

### 5/5 — Best one yet!

*2016-02-14, version 3.0.7*

This is still the best sudoku app I have found in the app store (and I have downloaded more that 15 of them). I like the simplicity of the design, the UI for entering numbers, and the hint/tutor features. Auto pencil marks are also wonderful!

### 5/5 — The best sudoku app ever

*2015-10-24, version 3.0.6*

This is it. Not only does it provide games to play, at varying levels, but it will help you learn how to play. AND you can even enter a puzzle from somewhere else and work that! It doesn't get any better.

### 5/5 — Sudoku 101 is great

*2015-09-18, version 3.0.5*

Many many choices, and a very comfortable interface.

### 5/5 — Love playing it

*2015-09-08, version 3.0.4*

The free levels are challenging enough for me and if someone asks me how to play it's nice having the built in instruction. And when I mess up one in the newspaper I can copy it into the program and get some help.

### 1/5 — Stopped working after update

*2015-08-11*

Hasn't worked properly for a while but has become unusable after update to ios8

### 1/5 — Disappointing

*2015-08-10, version 2.0.2*

For a long time, I enjoyed playing a daily game of sudoku with this app. I'd hoped the update would fix the issue with the puzzle not announcing when it was solved. Instead, it forced manually entering a puzzle.

I don't mind the pay-in-game tutorials, but losing the puzzle generator is a total failure.

## Frequently asked questions about Sudoku 101 (Free)

### What does Sudoku 101 do?

Sudoku 101 is an introductory Sudoku application that functions as a game, puzzle generator, solver, and a step-by-step tutor. It aims to teach beginners the logic and patterns of Sudoku using human reasoning rather than brute force.

### How does the teaching system work?

When you are stuck, the 'Teach me' feature highlights cells of interest. Tapping again reveals the technique to look for, with an option to learn its meaning. Further taps explain the logic behind the technique and update the board for the next step.

### What are the learning levels available?

The app offers three learning levels: 'Learning Basics' for absolute beginners using Full House techniques, 'Easy' which includes Full House, Naked Single, Hidden Single, and occasional pairs, and 'Moderate' introducing Naked Pair, Hidden Pair, and Locked Candidates.

### Is this app free to use?

Yes, the app is free to download and use, offering a free Sudoku game and introductory teaching. It may include in-app purchases for additional content or features.

### What kind of Sudoku puzzles can I play?

The app generates unlimited Sudoku puzzles specifically at a difficulty level appropriate for beginners. You can also manually enter puzzles from other sources, and choose between symmetrical or non-symmetrical board options.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.0.8 — 2016-04-18

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Minor color changes

### 3.0.7 — 2016-01-09

Fixed an issue with loading in-app purchases.

### 3.0.6 — 2015-09-18

Fixed broken "Continue Game".

### 3.0.5 — 2015-09-10

Show difficult level on navigation bar.

### 3.0.4 — 2015-09-04

Minor bug fixes.

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| [Sudoku & Solver!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-and-solver/id1438884235) | — | Free | Games |

## More apps by John Huang

- [Air Photo Wifi Printing](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/air-photo-wifi-printing/id301897647)
- [Circio IRC](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circio-irc/id1538460130)

All apps by John Huang: https://appshunter.io/developer/310762710

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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 2026-07-05.*