# Typeshift vs Word Forward

The clearest difference is price: Typeshift at Free against Word Forward's $2.99. Typeshift also leads on ratings volume (497 vs 11). Word Forward's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Typeshift is free to download; Word Forward costs $2.99 up front. Typeshift sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Word Forward asks for nothing beyond the download.

Word Forward holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Typeshift has 497 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of Typeshift's written reviews are positive against 76% of Word Forward's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Typeshift | Word Forward |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [4.3 (497 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/typeshift/id1084762137/reviews) | **[4.5 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-forward/id1454290016/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **497** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 49.3% of reviews | **76.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#111** |
| Size | 72 MB | 122 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) | [Thalamus Digital Publishing Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476360840) |

## What reviewers say

### Typeshift

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/typeshift/id1084762137)

This word puzzle game challenges you to unscramble letters within stacked words to form new words in the center row. It offers daily challenges with global leaderboards and special clue-based puzzles. Unlock additional content and remove ads with in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Anagram and word search mechanics, Shift letter columns to spell words, Daily challenges with leaderboards, Special clue puzzles, Unlockable puzzle packs, Themes and statistics

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chocolate Puzzle Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Peppermint Puzzle Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pecan Clue Puzzle Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Walnut Clue Puzzle Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Parmesan Clue Puzzle Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Umami Clue Puzzle Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pistachio Clue Puzzle Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Starter Bundle | $1.99 | one-time |
| Sophomore Bundle | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gumshoe Clue Bundle | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Challenging and fun
- 👍 Unique and innovative game concept
- ⭐ Great brain workout
- 🎨 Elegant and minimalistic design
- 📚 Helps expand vocabulary

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🔍 Obscure/uncommon words used
- 🔇 Intrusive ads
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- ⚠️ Compatibility issues with newer devices

**Reported bugs**

- Puzzle timer inaccuracies
- Purchased content not restoring properly
- Letters not registering correctly
- Puzzles not displaying properly on some devices

**Requested features**

- More clue puzzles and puzzle packs
- Option to reset/replay completed puzzle packs
- Sync progress across devices
- Support for British/Australian English
- Built-in dictionary with better word definitions


### Word Forward

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-forward/id1454290016)

**Currently charting:** #111 Top Paid · Word (US App Store)

This word puzzle game challenges players to clear a 5x5 grid by forming words. It requires strategic use of every letter tile to solve 500 unique puzzles, offering an endlessly challenging brain teaser.

**Highlights:** Spell words by tracing lines, Swap letters with tokens, Jumble tiles for new letters, Change letters with modifiers, Eliminate tiles with bombs, Solve 500 puzzles

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Typeshift free?

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

### Is Word Forward free?

Word Forward costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Typeshift or Word Forward?

Word Forward is rated higher. Typeshift averages 4.3 out of 5 from 497 ratings, while Word Forward averages 4.5 from 11 ratings.

### Do Typeshift or Word Forward have ads?

Typeshift shows ads; Word Forward does not.

### Which is updated more often, Typeshift or Word Forward?

Typeshift ships an update every 6 weeks, and Word Forward every 6 weeks. Most recently, Typeshift was updated on October 16, 2026 and Word Forward on October 15, 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.*