# Codenames vs Cypher

The clearest difference is price: Cypher at Free against Codenames's $4.99. Cypher also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 66%) and update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly). Codenames's advantage is ratings volume (1.1K vs 14) and chart position (#7 vs unranked). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Cypher is free to download; Codenames costs $4.99 up front. Codenames sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Cypher sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Codenames against 4.6 for Cypher. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Codenames has 1.1K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of Codenames's written reviews are positive against 88% of Cypher's.

Codenames ships an update fortnightly, Cypher every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Codenames | Cypher |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codenames/id1055650930/reviews)** | [4.6 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cypher-covert-word-game/id1450912146/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 66.3% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | — |
| Size | 221 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CGE Digital s.r.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1706267473) | [Pitou Technologies, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/990789831) |

## What reviewers say

### Codenames

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codenames/id1055650930)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Paid · Puzzle, #9 Top Paid · Board, #75 Top Paid · Games, #110 Top Paid (US App Store)

Engage in a strategic word game of deduction and teamwork. Give one-word clues to help your team guess associated words before the opposing team. Enjoy a blend of casual fun and deep thinking with turn-based multiplayer matches.

**Highlights:** Turn-based multiplayer, One-word clue system, Teamwork and deduction, Multiple game modes, Spymaster and Operative roles, Logic and creativity challenges

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Krycí jména: Duet | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and intuitive gameplay
- 🎨 Excellent visual design
- 💰 Good value for money
- 🕹️ Engaging single-player modes
- 🤝 Enjoyable multiplayer experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Long wait times for other players
- 🌐 Connectivity issues and server problems
- 🌍 Cultural differences and language barriers
- 🔒 Restrictive clue-giving rules
- 🤖 Jury system allowing questionable words

**Reported bugs**

- Initial launch with only Czech language support
- Occasional app crashes and server disconnections

**Requested features**

- Add Codenames Duet mode
- Implement AI/bot players for faster games
- Allow custom word packs and themes
- Add a 'speed mode' for faster gameplay
- Improve the jury system to maintain game integrity


### Cypher

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cypher-covert-word-game/id1450912146)

A secret word guessing game where players use a single word and a number to communicate clues. Connect with friends locally or stream the game to a larger screen for group play.

**Highlights:** Single word and number clues, Local multiplayer, Apple TV streaming, Secret word guessing

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large tip | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Codenames free?

Codenames costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Cypher free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Codenames or Cypher?

Codenames is rated higher. Codenames averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Cypher averages 4.6 from 14 ratings.

### Do Codenames or Cypher have ads?

Neither Codenames nor Cypher shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Codenames or Cypher?

Codenames ships an update fortnightly, and Cypher every 3 days. Most recently, Codenames was updated on October 18, 2026 and Cypher on October 8, 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.*