# Codenames vs CleverWords

The clearest difference is price: CleverWords at Free against Codenames's $4.99. Codenames's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

CleverWords is free to download; Codenames costs $4.99 up front. Codenames sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and CleverWords sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. 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 4.7 for CleverWords. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 1.1K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of Codenames's written reviews are positive against 63% of CleverWords's.

Codenames ships an update fortnightly, CleverWords every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Codenames | CleverWords |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codenames/id1055650930/reviews)** | [4.7 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cleverwords-team-word-game/id1464627686/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | **66.3% of reviews** | 63.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#9** | — |
| Size | 221 MB | 90 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CGE Digital s.r.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1706267473) | [Misquamicut Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1094945438) |

## What reviewers say

### Codenames

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

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Paid · Board, #12 Top Paid · Puzzle, #111 Top Paid · Games, #182 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


### CleverWords

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cleverwords-team-word-game/id1464627686)

Engage in a fun word game with multiple play modes. Create clues for others to guess, or challenge friends and family in asynchronous multiplayer matches. Compete daily for high scores and bragging rights.

**Highlights:** Solo endless word game, 2-player asynchronous mode, 4-player team mode, Create and guess word clues, Daily guessing challenges, Player rating system

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Regulars (monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Regulars (yearly) | $24.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| Regulars for life | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Great way to connect with friends
- 💡 Variety of game modes
- 🤩 Mindful and challenging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Excessive ads
- 🐛 Matching issues and bugs
- 🤔 Lack of functionality (e.g. no random matchmaking)
- 😡 Cheating and rule violations

**Reported bugs**

- Login and account issues
- Crashes and performance problems
- Inconsistent UI behavior

**Requested features**

- Add new word bank to keep it fresh
- Implement a timer for turns
- Allow deleting or ending games
- Add computer/AI player option
- Improve chat and social features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Codenames free?

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

### Is CleverWords free?

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

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

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

### Do Codenames or CleverWords have ads?

CleverWords shows ads; Codenames does not.

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

Codenames ships an update fortnightly, and CleverWords every 2 months. Most recently, Codenames was updated on November 2, 2026 and CleverWords on November 3, 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.*