Comparison

Learn Cryptic Crosswords vs Chessable

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

Chessable

Master chess openings, tactics, and endgames with a science-backed system. Learn from top players and retain moves through spaced repetition. Track your progress and join a community of players improving their game.

Highlights
  • Spaced repetition system
  • 1,000+ chess courses
  • Learn from top players
  • MoveTrainer® for practice
  • Offline mode (PRO)
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

Master Chess Like a Grandmaster Chessable is the science-backed way to learn chess openings, tactics, and endgames—and actually remember them. Used by beginners and Grandmasters alike, our spaced repetition system ensures you’ll never forget a move again. What Makes Chessable Unique? • 1,000+ Courses – Learn from Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, Judit Polgar and other top players, who help you understand each move—not just memorize them. • Spaced Repetition – Train smarter with MoveTrainer®. • Offline Mode – Download courses and study anytime, anywhere (PRO feature). • From First Moves to Mastery – Learn opening repertoires, crush endgames, and dominate tactics. Why Chessable Works… • Backed by Science: Our method is based on cognitive research for long-term mastery. • Trusted by 2 million+ Players: Join a community of chess improvers leveling up their game. • Progress You Can Feel: Track your improvement with stats and streaks. Don’t Just Take Our Word For It… • • • • • "Want to work on an opening repertoire? Check. Want to improve your endgame? Check. Want to dominate in the middle game? Check." - HeyBinet! • • • • • "The MoveTrainer is the real benefit. This allows you to practice the moves and see the variations set up and play out in real time." - Mazurekphoto If you like Chessable, try Chessable PRO for 7 days free! Upgrade for: • Access to 300+ short courses • Unlimited Variation Preview - get a sample of any paid course you want! • Full offline training - No Wifi? No problem. Monthly and yearly subscriptions are available in the app. Terms of Use: https://www.chessable.com/terms/ Terms of use for auto-renewable subscriptions: Your subscription will be charged to your Apple account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew (at the duration selected) unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Current subscription may not be canceled during the active subscription period; however, you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes account settings after purchase. Privacy policy: https://www.chessable.com/privacy/ Find us on… Team: http://www.chessable.com/about Twitter: http://twitter.com/chessable Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chessable YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/chessable

Screenshots

Learn Cryptic Crosswords4 screens
Chessable4 screens

Verdict

The call

Learn Cryptic Crosswords and Chessable both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 95% of Learn Cryptic Crosswords's written reviews are positive against 50% of Chessable's. Chessable's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (5.9K vs 448). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 Chessable sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Learn Cryptic Crosswords against 4.8 for Chessable. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chessable has 5.9K ratings behind it against 448, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 95% of Learn Cryptic Crosswords's written reviews are positive against 50% of Chessable's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Learn Cryptic Crosswords ships an update every 9 months, Chessable every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Learn Cryptic Crosswords versus Chessable: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLearn Cryptic CrosswordsChessable
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (448 ratings)4.8 (5.9K ratings)
Positive reviews95.0% of reviews — better49.7% of reviews
Number of ratings4485.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB55 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperTeazelChess.com

Customer experience

Learn Cryptic Crosswords

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

Chessable

All ratings5,892 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral1.4%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews334 reviews
Positive49.7%
Neutral10.5%
Negative39.8%

User reviews

Learn Cryptic Crosswords

From 448 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Excellent step-by-step guide
  • 🚀 Comprehensive and informative
  • 💡 Interactive and engaging learning
  • 👍 Helpful and clear explanations
  • 👍 Structured and logical progression

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional technical issues
  • 🔒 Lack of cross-device progress sync
  • 💰 Paywall after initial free content

Chessable

From 5.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent learning tool
  • 📚 Comprehensive chess courses
  • 🧠 Effective spaced repetition
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 🎥 Helpful video instruction

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔍 Limited search and navigation
  • 📵 Lack of offline access
  • 🔒 Issues with paid subscription
  • 🖥️ Inferior to web version

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

Chessable

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inconsistent login and account issues
  • Unreliable offline functionality
  • Glitches with move tracking and progress
  • Video playback problems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Analysis board and opening explorer
  • Ability to customize font size
  • Landscape mode support
  • Improved video playback controls
  • Syncing progress across devices

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
2 purchases

Chessable

Subscriptions2
  • Chessable Monthly Membership$11.991 Month
  • Chessable Annual Membership$74.991 Year

Questions

Is Learn Cryptic Crosswords free?
Learn Cryptic Crosswords is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chessable free?
Chessable is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Learn Cryptic Crosswords or Chessable?
Learn Cryptic Crosswords and Chessable are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 448 and 5.9K ratings respectively.
Do Learn Cryptic Crosswords or Chessable have ads?
Neither Learn Cryptic Crosswords nor Chessable shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Learn Cryptic Crosswords or Chessable?
Learn Cryptic Crosswords ships an update every 9 months, and Chessable every 3 weeks. Most recently, Learn Cryptic Crosswords was updated on September 23, 2026 and Chessable on September 26, 2026.

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