# Codenames vs Penguin Airlines

The clearest difference is price: Penguin Airlines at Free against Codenames's $4.99. Penguin Airlines also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Codenames's advantage is chart position (#9 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Penguin Airlines is free to download; Codenames costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Codenames ships an update fortnightly, Penguin Airlines every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Codenames | Penguin Airlines |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codenames/id1055650930/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | **#9** | — |
| Size | 221 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CGE Digital s.r.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1706267473) | [jorge Juan Barroso Carmona](https://appshunter.io/developer/1654615608) |

## What reviewers say

### Codenames

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

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Paid · Board, #10 Top Paid · Puzzle, #94 Top Paid · Games, #143 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:** none

**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


### Penguin Airlines

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penguin-airlines/id6444422872)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Codenames free?

Codenames costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Penguin Airlines free?

Penguin Airlines is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Codenames or Penguin Airlines have ads?

Neither Codenames nor Penguin Airlines shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Codenames or Penguin Airlines?

Codenames ships an update fortnightly, and Penguin Airlines every 3 weeks. Most recently, Codenames was updated on September 26, 2026 and Penguin Airlines on September 19, 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.*