Comparison

Learn Cryptic Crosswords vs Assimil

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Learn Cryptic Crosswords

Master the art of cryptic crosswords with this interactive guide. It breaks down clue types, offers step-by-step learning through six chapters, and includes practice exercises and puzzles to build your solving skills.

Highlights
  • Step-by-step clue explanations
  • Interactive exercises
  • Practice puzzles
  • Skill development guidance
  • Reference tools
Features
Read full description

Learn how to solve cryptic crosswords with this interactive app, starting with the basic ideas and easiest types of clue. Learn cryptic crosswords consists of six chapters that take you step by step through every aspect of solving cryptic clues. How each type of clue works is clearly explained and supported by examples, with simple diagrams to illustrate key ideas. Each topic is followed by interactive exercises and practice clues designed to reinforce the learning points, and each chapter ends with a practice puzzle to consolidate your learning. The final chapter explains how to develop your solving skills further. It ends with a selection of newspaper puzzles and is followed by an extensive set of reference tools to use when solving. Cryptic crosswords are fun to do and give the brain a good work out, exercising the memory and thinking skills, making new connections and extending vocabulary and general knowledge. Learn cryptic crosswords will lead you to an enjoyable and stimulating new pastime.

About

Assimil

Master a new language in 100 days with an immersive, interactive method. Gain confidence for everyday and professional communication, reaching B2 or C1 proficiency. Includes native speaker audio, dialogues, and grammar explanations.

Highlights
  • 100-day language mastery
  • Interactive lessons
  • Native speaker audio
  • Immersive dialogues
  • Grammar explanations
  • Review lessons
Features
Read full description

Make a new language part of your everyday life with the Assimil method. Learn progressively through natural dialogues, real-life situations and recordings by native speakers. From the very first lessons, you encounter the language in context rather than as isolated words and rules. Start with the first 7 lessons to discover the method, then continue at your own pace. Lesson by lesson, build your listening and reading skills and become more confident using the language in everyday situations. Courses available for English speakers include French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Korean, Chinese and Brazilian Portuguese. Since 1929, Assimil has helped generations of learners discover new languages. Already used one of the previous Assimil apps? Sign in with the same email address to find your courses again. Have an Assimil pack? Use the “Delivery code” option in the app to activate your course.

Screenshots

Learn Cryptic Crosswords4 screens
Assimil4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Learn Cryptic Crosswords at 95% against Assimil's 32%. Learn Cryptic Crosswords also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (457 vs 31). Assimil's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 9 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Learn Cryptic Crosswords sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Assimil sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Learn Cryptic Crosswords holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Learn Cryptic Crosswords has 457 ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 95% of Learn Cryptic Crosswords's written reviews are positive against 32% of Assimil's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Learn Cryptic Crosswords ships an update every 9 months, Assimil every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Learn Cryptic Crosswords versus Assimil: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLearn Cryptic CrosswordsAssimil
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (457 ratings) — better4.4 (31 ratings)
Positive reviews95.0% of reviews — better32.4% of reviews
Number of ratings457 — better31
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.615 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB137 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperTeazelHOLIWAVE

Customer experience

Learn Cryptic Crosswords

All ratings448 ratings
Positive97.1%
Neutral1.1%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews119 reviews
Positive95.0%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.4%

Assimil

All ratings31 ratings
Positive87.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.9%
Written reviews182 reviews
Positive32.4%
Neutral13.2%
Negative54.4%

Bugs and requests

Learn Cryptic Crosswords

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Menu button freezing the app
  • Inability to fill in answers directly

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to take notes within the app
  • Integrated anagram solver and reference tools
  • Option to skip ahead to practice puzzles

Assimil

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Learn Cryptic Crosswords

One-time3
  • Discount price$2.99
  • Access to every chapter2 variants$3.99
  • Access to every chapter$4.99
10 purchases

Assimil

One-time10
  • Assimil French$41.99
  • Assimil Espagnol$41.99
  • Assimil German$44.99
Show 7 more
  • Assimil Italian$44.99
  • Assimil Brazilian Portuguese$44.99
  • Assimil Chinese$44.99
  • Assimil Japanese$44.99
  • Assimil Russian$44.99
  • Assimil Spanish$44.99
  • Korean$44.99

Questions

Is Learn Cryptic Crosswords free?
Learn Cryptic Crosswords is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Assimil free?
Assimil is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Learn Cryptic Crosswords or Assimil?
Learn Cryptic Crosswords is rated higher. Learn Cryptic Crosswords averages 4.8 out of 5 from 457 ratings, while Assimil averages 4.4 from 31 ratings.
Do Learn Cryptic Crosswords or Assimil have ads?
Neither Learn Cryptic Crosswords nor Assimil shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Learn Cryptic Crosswords or Assimil?
Learn Cryptic Crosswords ships an update every 9 months, and Assimil every 4 days. Most recently, Learn Cryptic Crosswords was updated on November 3, 2026 and Assimil on November 4, 2026.

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