Comparison

CODENAMES companion vs Taboo

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CODENAMES companion

This digital assistant enhances the physical board game by generating random key cards and providing an in-game timer. It streamlines setup and offers new grid configurations for a dynamic gameplay experience.

Highlights
  • Random Key Card Generator
  • Customizable Grid Setup
  • In-Game Timer
  • Device Sharing
  • Multi-Device Sync
Features
Read full description

This is a companion app, not a standalone game! To use this app, you’ll need a physical copy of Codenames, Codenames: Pictures, or Codenames: Duet. The Codenames Companion app is the official digital assistant for your favorite word association board game. Whether you're playing with friends or family, this app helps streamline your setup and brings new options to set up the grid. Features: Random Key Card Generator Set your preferences and generate unique key cards for every round. No two games will ever be the same! In-Game Timer Add some tension and keep things fast-paced. Set a custom time limit for players’ turns and keep everyone on their toes. Device Sharing or Sync Use one device for both spymasters, or sync across multiple devices using a simple code. Choose your preferred way.

About

Taboo

A word-guessing party game where teams compete to describe words without using forbidden terms. Play remotely with friends via video chat and customize game settings for endless fun.

Highlights
  • Video chat integration
  • Team-based word guessing
  • Customizable game settings
  • Ad-free gameplay
  • Multiple language support
  • Themed card decks
Features
Read full description

Can you describe an APPLE without using the words RED, FRUIT, PIE, CIDER or CORE? Taboo is the ultimate brain-teasing, word-twisting adult party game. Play with video chat and throw a house party on your phone! Split into two teams and take it in turns to describe the words on the cards. Your team has to guess as many as possible before the timer runs out. If you use a taboo word by mistake, the other team will buzz and you’ll lose a point. Think fast and talk your way to victory! HOW TO PLAY TABOO: 1. Start a game and invite your friends. 2. Split into two teams and name your team. 3. The app chooses a Clue-giver for each team. Each team then takes their turn! 4. The Clue-giver draws a card. The Clue-giver must describe the word without saying any of the words on the card. 5. Team B will buzz if the Clue-giver says a taboo word! 6. Your team must guess as many words as possible before the time runs out. FEATURES - FULLY CUSTOMISABLE – Decide the number of players, rounds, how many turns per round and how many skips are allowed. - AD-FREE GAME – Have fun with zero ads to distract you. - COMPLETE STARTER CARD DECK – Includes cards from the original game. Expand your game further with additional themed decks! - FULLY TRANSLATED – Available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Greek, Polish and Hindi. Get the perfect party game on your mobile now!

Screenshots

CODENAMES companion4 screens
Taboo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: CODENAMES companion at Free against Taboo's $1.99. CODENAMES companion also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (49% vs 37%). Taboo's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 3.2) and ratings volume (4.7K vs 55). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

CODENAMES companion is free to download; Taboo costs $1.99 up front. Taboo sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. CODENAMES companion asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Taboo holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Taboo has 4.7K ratings behind it against 55, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 49% of CODENAMES companion's written reviews are positive against 37% of Taboo's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CODENAMES companion ships an update every 2 months, Taboo monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
CODENAMES companion versus Taboo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCODENAMES companionTaboo
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating3.2 (55 ratings)4.9 (4.7K ratings) — better
Positive reviews49.1% of reviews — better37.2% of reviews
Number of ratings554.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#3 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size140 MB272 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCGE Digital s.r.o.Marmalade Game Studio Limited

Customer experience

CODENAMES companion

All ratings55 ratings
Positive50.9%
Neutral9.1%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews57 reviews
Positive49.1%
Neutral8.8%
Negative42.1%

Taboo

All ratings4,680 ratings
Positive97.5%
Neutral1.3%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews242 reviews
Positive37.2%
Neutral14.0%
Negative48.8%

Bugs and requests

CODENAMES companion

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Taboo

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Game stopped in the middle to ask for payment
  • Video chat feature not working
  • App not optimized for high refresh rate displays

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more cards in the base version
  • Allow customization of game rules
  • Implement a stats/history section
  • Support more than 2 teams

In-app purchases

None

CODENAMES companion

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Taboo

One-time10
  • Mystery Mix Pack 1$1.99
  • Generations Gen Z Pack$1.99
  • Unlock Taboo Premium$2.99
Show 7 more
  • Midnight Night Out Pack$2.99
  • Midnight Bedroom Pack$2.99
  • Ready to Roast$6.49
  • Sports and Games Pack$7.99
  • Welcome Offer$9.99
  • Midnight Deck$9.99
  • Word Bonanza Bundle$19.99

Questions

Is CODENAMES companion free?
CODENAMES companion is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Taboo free?
Taboo costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CODENAMES companion or Taboo?
Taboo is rated higher. CODENAMES companion averages 3.2 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while Taboo averages 4.9 from 4.7K ratings.
Do CODENAMES companion or Taboo have ads?
Neither CODENAMES companion nor Taboo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CODENAMES companion or Taboo?
CODENAMES companion ships an update every 2 months, and Taboo monthly. Most recently, CODENAMES companion was updated on November 2, 2026 and Taboo on November 3, 2026.

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