# Sudoku 101 (Free) — user reviews

> 37 indexed App Store user reviews of Sudoku 101 (Free) by John Huang, rated 3.25/5 from 4 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-101-free/id293537451/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-101-free/id293537451.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 1 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 1

## Newest reviews (11 of 37)

### 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.

### 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.

### 3/5 — App lock up in iOS 8

*2015-06-25, version 0*

In iOS 8 sudoku 101 and sudoku 401 don't function. Anything other that number entry crashes app.  No ability to email or teach. App locks up when you press any button

### 2/5 — Buggy since I updated to iOS 8

*2014-10-19, version 0*

I like this app - its layout is  simple and functional. However, since I've updated to iOS 8, once I finish a puzzle, the app freezes. Doesn't tell me I've finished and won't let me return to the menu to start another game. 

Also - unrelated to the above issue - prior to updating my operating system, I was never able to use the app when I was on the phone. I could open the app but not solve a puzzle.

### 4/5 — Anything Goes

*2011-12-11, version 0*

This is the best Sudoku app that I have found here -- all the core essentials without all the gaudy glitz. My only complaint (and the reason for deducting one star) is that once you have entered a number into all the vacant cells (with Show Error set to OFF) you get the "Congratulations! You have solved the puzzle" message NO MATTER HOW INCORRECT YOUR "SOLUTION" MAY BE! In my opinion it would better at the end stage to give a message saying that the solution is incorrect, even if the specific error(s) is/are not identified, rather than having a situation where anything goes.

### 4/5 — Good game, one glitch

*2010-10-27, version 0*

The app store won't let me "report a problem" so I have to leave it here, this is a great game, very easy to understand tutorial, however, with autopencil on to use the tutorials there is an issue with pressing the wrong number. I was trying to put 2 in R8C9 but accidentally hit 5; 5 was already in R9C9 but when I corrected my mistake 5 came up as an autopencil mark in R8C8. It happened twice while I was playing (in different areas of the board) but other times when I hit the wrong number it didn't happen... Other than that it's a great learning tool for new sudoku players

### 4/5 — Bug report

*2010-02-17, version 0*

The only thing I don't like is you can enter any numbers you want in any puzzle, whether they are right or wrong, after you have filled in the entire puzzle with numbers you get a message congratulating you for having solved it.

### 5/5 — Good teaching app + good solver

*2009-04-10, version 0*

I've played a few Sudoku apps on the iPhone, but this one's my favorite. Here's why:

1. It's got a nice, simple uncluttered interface, yet still has all the things you'd expect it to do, like auto or manual pencil marks.
2. The teaching mode is actually pretty helpful and has taught me a few tricks I wouldn't have otherwise known. The gimmick of the college course outline is a little too cute, but that doesn't get in the way of the actual teaching mode.
3. It's got a solver, so I can put in a puzzle from the paper or a book and get hints on it if I want.
4. The best feature. The price! (can't beat free)

### 4/5 — Almost perfect

*2009-03-26, version 0*

I think this is the most usable out of the sudoku apps. My only complaint is that is has no timer!

### 5/5 — Very good

*2009-01-02, version 0*

Very good!

### 5/5 — Great App for the right price

*2008-11-20, version 0*

Great app for fans of Sudoku, especially newer players looking to learn more about the game.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Doesn’t open

*2026-06-22, version 3.0.8*

Immediately crashes on iPhone 16 Pro.

### 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.

### 1/5 — No game anymore

*2015-08-06, version 2.0.2*

Newest version no longer provides a game to play (you must enter it yourself). It only provides a basic tutorial, which I don't need. This app is dead to me now.

### 1/5 — Problem w IS8

*2014-09-24, version 0*

Since update to iOS 8 the game never end

### 1/5 — Flawed -- allows mistakes to end a game

*2010-04-10, version 0*

Try this -- If you are two squares away from completing a puzzle, reverse your answers.  This invalidates the rows and columns that those particular answers are in, yet the game still says that you've completed the game.  I've duplicated this in both easy and medium difficulty in the free version.

I do like the interface and quick startup, but this problem really bugs me.

### 1/5 — sudoku

*2009-10-07, version 0*

Will not open

### 1/5 — Werid

*2009-03-07, version 0*

Not cool lame the worst

### 1/5 — The puzzles are all not complete

*2008-10-21, version 0*

a lot of puzzles are not complete you have to use hints

### 2/5 — Sudoku 101

*2014-12-14, version 0*

Have been a fan of this for ages - then along came IOS8. What a disaster. Just locks up all the time - sooo wrist-slittingly frustrating esp if using the enter it yourself function. :-(

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 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.

### 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.

### 5/5 — Please update!

*2014-11-30, version 0*

I love this app. It's one of the first apps I downloaded when I first got an iPhone way back when. However, since the new IOS there have been several bugs that make it almost impossible to play. I looked for a new Sudoku app, but none of them are as good as this one used to be. Please update!

### 5/5 — Best Sudoku App

*2012-05-25, version 0*

The user interface is nice and simple. Easy to see numbers and no quirky display that so many of the other applications seem to focus.

All the other apps seem to have me focus on the grunt work. Thus takes that away from me so I can focus on wining the game.

The hilighting shows you right away which squares are available. I'm surprised so many applications do not have this.

The auto pencil feature fills them in for me, but let's me remove pencil marks when I want.

Removing those two Chores means the game is harder, but solvable. Requiring brain work rather than dotting the eyes.

The help is a wonderful feature and has helped me improve my game.

This was so good that I'm bought the next version (sudoku 401) even at the $8 price tag.

### 5/5 — Not pretty, but effective

*2010-12-29, version 0*

I love the way this gives you smart hints when you get stuck. It highlights a square, then tells you which technique to use, then explains the technique, giving you chances to fill it in yourself at each step.

I used this app to get past a place I got stuck in another sudoku app. I can't wait to input a black belt sudoku book puzzle that I got stuck on! I love the way it teaches you!

For a pretty sudoku app without the training, see Mighty Mighty Good Games' app. It still has the auto pencil marks, which save so much effort.

### 5/5 — One of the best

*2009-11-12, version 0*

Display is one of the best - soft on the eye. The pencil entries are always the same font size (unlike some) and can be auto-filled. 
Particularly like being able to input your own puzzle - great help when tackling a tough one from the newspaper! 
The teaching aids are also nicely integrated.

### 5/5 — GREAT APP

*2009-09-14, version 0*

What a good app Sudoku 101 is! The interface is clean and clear and the instructions are superb. I learned to play the puzzle on this app, loved it, so downloaded several of the top rated. Still, it is this app I return to time and again. I intend to buy their paid version.  

So many free versions of an app seem to be nothing more than an ad for the paid version. Not Sudoku 101. While some app developers omit key options in a free version hoping to sell their other app, leaving the user feeling frustrated, this developer does not. Instead, enticement comes from the user's desire for harder puzzels after learning and solving those in this app. 

If you are new to Sudoku, get this app. If you already play & want more instruction, get this app. All these puzzles are solvable and fun. 

This is a GENEROUS free version and I appreciate the positive ethics and motives of this developer. Had I paid for this app, I would not feel cheated. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

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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.*