Kakuro vs Einstein Challenge
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Kakuro
Fill empty squares with numbers 1-9 so that each block sums to the clue on its left or top. No number can be repeated within a block. This logic puzzle offers endless fun and sharpens cognitive skills.
- Fill empty squares to match sum clues
- No number repetition within blocks
- 200 free puzzles and weekly bonus
- Multiple difficulty levels
- Zoom and pencilmark features
- Graphic puzzle progress previews
- Dark Mode support
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Fill empty squares so each block sums up to the number on its left or on its top. Each puzzle consists of a blank grid with sum-clues in various places. The object is to fill all empty squares using numbers 1 to 9 so the sum of each horizontal block equals the clue on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top. In addition, no number may be used in the same block more than once. Kakuro are addictive logic puzzles best described as number-crosswords. Using pure logic and simple add/subtract calculations, these fascinating puzzles offer endless fun and intellectual entertainment to puzzle fans of all skills and ages. The game includes zoom for easier solving of large puzzles, as well as helpful features such as showing possible sum combinations in a block, showing the sum remainder of a block, and using pencilmarks to make temporary placement of numbers in the grid. To help see the puzzle progress, graphic previews in the puzzle list show the progress of all puzzles in a volume as they are being solved. A Gallery view option provides these previews in a larger format. For more fun, Kakuro contains no ads and includes a Weekly Bonus section providing an extra free puzzle each week. PUZZLE FEATURES • 200 free Kakuro puzzle samples • Extra bonus puzzle published free each week • Multiple difficulty levels from very easy to extremely hard • Grid sizes up to 22x22 • Also includes 5-grid Samurai Kakuro • Puzzle library continuously updates with new content • Manually selected, top quality puzzles • Unique solution for each puzzle • Hours of intellectual challenge and fun • Sharpens logic and improves cognitive skills GAMING FEATURES • No ads • Unlimited check puzzle • Unlimited hints • Show errors during gameplay • Unlimited Undo and Redo • Pencilmarks feature for solving hard puzzles • Autofill pencilmarks mode • Show Sum Combinations feature • Show Sum Remainder feature • Concurrently playing and saving multiple puzzles • Puzzle filtering, sorting and archiving options • Dark Mode support • Graphic previews showing puzzles progress as they are being solved • Enlarge, reduce, move puzzle for easy viewing • Portrait and landscape screen support (iPad only) • Track puzzle solving times • Backup & restore puzzle progress to iCloud ABOUT Kakuro have also become popular under other names such as Kakkuro, Cross Sums and Tashizan Cross. Similar to Sudoku, Hashi and Slitherlink, the puzzles are solved using logic alone. All puzzles in this app are produced by Conceptis Ltd. - the leading supplier of logic puzzles to printed and electronic gaming media all over the world. On average, more than 20 million Conceptis puzzles are solved each day in newspapers, magazines, books and online as well as on smartphones and tablets across the world. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.conceptispuzzles.com/index.aspx?uri=info/doc/220
Einstein Challenge
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It's thought that Albert Einstein in the last century, released the following challenge: In one street there are five houses with different colours. In each one of them, live a person from different nationality. Each one of these people likes a different drink and smokes a brand of cigarettes different from the others. in addition, each one has a different kind of pet. The question is: "who is the owner of the fish". Follow the tips to find the answer.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Kakuro at Free against Einstein Challenge's $0.99. Kakuro also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 39 months) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). Einstein Challenge's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On device support 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
Kakuro is free to download; Einstein Challenge costs $0.99 up front. Kakuro sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Einstein Challenge asks for nothing beyond the download.
Kakuro ships an update every 4 months, Einstein Challenge every 39 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kakuro | Einstein Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (2K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 93.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 39 months |
| Ads | No | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Conceptis Ltd. | Joao Silva |
Bugs and requests
Kakuro
Reported bugs
2 issues- Some puzzles claim incorrect solutions are correct
- Weekly bonus puzzles not refreshing properly on iOS 17
Requested features
3 requests- Ability to highlight and add pencil marks to multiple cells in one operation
- Help feature to learn advanced solving techniques
- Option to auto-fill pencil marks after using hints without overwriting existing marks
Einstein Challenge
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Kakuro
- Medium Snacks 1$0.99
- Hard Snacks 1$0.99
- Easy Variety 1$1.99
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- Medium Variety 1$1.99
- Hard Variety 1$1.99
- Big & Medium 1$1.99
- Big & Tough 1$1.99
- Big Challenges 1$1.99
- Medium Variety - Large 1$2.99
- Hard Variety - Large 1$2.99
Einstein Challenge
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Kakuro free?
Is Einstein Challenge free?
Which is updated more often, Kakuro or Einstein Challenge?
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