# Area Quiz vs Cracking the Cryptic

The clearest difference is rating: Area Quiz at 4.9 against Cracking the Cryptic's 4.4. Cracking the Cryptic's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Area Quiz sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Cracking the Cryptic sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Area Quiz holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cracking the Cryptic has 208 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of Area Quiz's written reviews are positive against 72% of Cracking the Cryptic's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Area Quiz ships an update every 5 months, Cracking the Cryptic every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Area Quiz | Cracking the Cryptic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/area-quiz-geometry-problems/id1003534704/reviews)** | [4.4 (208 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **208** |
| Positive reviews | 63.0% of reviews | **72.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 117 MB | 234 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wasabi Applications](https://appshunter.io/developer/643579130) | [Nick Carney](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434235673) |

## What reviewers say

### Area Quiz

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/area-quiz-geometry-problems/id1003534704)

This math quiz app offers geometry puzzles and brain teasers with five difficulty levels. It helps improve logic, IQ, and mental math skills through engaging challenges. Draw notes, use hints, and share progress while enjoying offline play.

**Highlights:** Five difficulty levels, Unlock levels by solving, Draw notes on screen, Hints available, Offline play, Share progress

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All Hints | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ads Free | $1.99 | one-time |


### Cracking the Cryptic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934)

This app offers a curated collection of handcrafted Sudoku puzzles from world-renowned constructors. Explore classic and unique variants, with new puzzle packs released regularly. A free introductory pack is included with download.

**Highlights:** Handcrafted Sudoku puzzles, Curated by expert constructors, Classic and unique variants, Regularly released puzzle packs, Free introductory puzzle pack

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CTC Worms - James Sinclair | $0.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Marty Sears | $0.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Zetamath | $1.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Blobz | $1.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Michael Lefkowitz | $1.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Phistomefel | $1.99 | one-time |
| GAS Volume #1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| GAS Volume #2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| CTC Approachable Sudoku #1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Domino Sudoku Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lines Variety Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Classic Volume #2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| CTC Fog Pack #1 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best sudoku app
- 👍 Great variety of puzzles
- 👍 Excellent user interface
- 👍 Challenging and fun puzzles
- 👍 Constant updates with new puzzles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Hints are often incorrect or unhelpful
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes, especially after updates
- 🔋 Battery draining issues
- 🔒 Too many in-app purchases required to access content

**Reported bugs**

- Puzzle progress and purchases disappearing after updates
- Incorrect rules or hints in certain puzzles
- Crashes and freezes, especially on older devices or Macs
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between portrait and landscape modes

**Requested features**

- Add more color options for pencil marking and highlighting
- Implement a way to clear progress or start puzzles from scratch
- Integrate all CTC apps into a single app for better organization
- Add keyboard support, especially on Mac
- Improve the quality and clarity of hints


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Area Quiz free?

Area Quiz is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Cracking the Cryptic free?

Cracking the Cryptic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Area Quiz or Cracking the Cryptic?

Area Quiz is rated higher. Area Quiz averages 4.9 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Cracking the Cryptic averages 4.4 from 208 ratings.

### Do Area Quiz or Cracking the Cryptic have ads?

Area Quiz shows ads; Cracking the Cryptic does not.

### Which is updated more often, Area Quiz or Cracking the Cryptic?

Area Quiz ships an update every 5 months, and Cracking the Cryptic every 3 weeks. Most recently, Area Quiz was updated on October 12, 2026 and Cracking the Cryptic on October 14, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*