Comparison

Learn Cryptic Crosswords vs Kinnu

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

Kinnu

This app offers bite-sized learning content across a wide range of subjects, from psychology and science to history and technology. It utilizes cognitive science and a unique "Memory Shield" technology to help users retain information effectively, making learning engaging and fun.

Highlights
  • Bite-sized, expert-edited content
  • Memory Shield technology for retention
  • Gamified learning sessions
  • Community-driven content development
  • Knowledge Bank progress tracking
  • Interactive, adaptive questions
  • Audio versions of content
Features
Read full description

We built Kinnu to give everyone the power to learn anything they want to, whatever their goals. With Kinnu you can: Follow your curiosity Become the most interesting person in the room Never forget what you’ve learned with our Memory Shield technology Find a cure to doomscrolling on social media Our microlearning app harnesses cognitive science to help you build lasting knowledge across many domains. It’s the product of several years of research from experts in the science of learning. Popular courses: Psychology: Mental Health, Positive Psychology, Superpower Learning, Cognitive Biases Lifeskills: Personal Finance, Persuasion, Communications Health: Science of Sleep, Science of Exercise, Healthy Habits Science: Laws of Physics, Fungi, Astronomy, Quantum Physics, Chemistry, Zoology History: World History, Ancient Civilizations, Near Modern Civilizations, Rome Technology: Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Cybersecurity, Data Science Literature: Poetry, Folklore, 10 Great Novels, Shakespeare Absolutely Random: Dinosaurs, Greek Mythology, Secret Societies and Cults, Video Games Product features: Bite-sized, expert edited content Memory Shield technology – a new method to never forget what you’ve learned Highly addictive gamified learning sessions Community votes on where to take the app next Track your progress and watch your mind grow with the Knowledge Bank Super clean design that makes daily learning a joy Map based design to explore content and conquer new areas Interactive, adaptive questions and games to refresh and retain your knowledge. Audio version of all content to learn on the go What our users say about us: “Literally feel myself getting smarter using this app… the questions wire stuff to my brain when I do the smart session every day.” “Learning has never been this fun. Engaging, interesting, diverse. Kinnu has it all.” “Fun, easy to use. Super fun to have short little bites of education on tons of interesting topics.” “It’s amazing, and it’s enhancing my life.” Do you have an idea about how we could make our app and its content even better? Email us at support@kinnu.xyz - we listen, and we hear you. SUBSCRIPTION This app contains an optional in-app subscription. Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage subscriptions in your App Store account settings. By using this app, you agree to the Kinnu Terms of Use: https://kinnu.xyz/terms Privacy Notice: https://kinnu.xyz/privacy Email: support@kinnu.xyz

Screenshots

Learn Cryptic Crosswords4 screens
Kinnu4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Kinnu at every 6 days against Learn Cryptic Crosswords's every 9 months. Learn Cryptic Crosswords's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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 Kinnu sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 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 Kinnu. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 457 and 516 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 95% of Learn Cryptic Crosswords's written reviews are positive against 87% of Kinnu's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Learn Cryptic Crosswords ships an update every 9 months, Kinnu every 6 days. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Learn Cryptic Crosswords versus Kinnu: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLearn Cryptic CrosswordsKinnu
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (457 ratings) — better4.8 (516 ratings)
Positive reviews95.0% of reviews — better87.2% of reviews
Number of ratings457516 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB101 MB
Age rating+412+
DeveloperTeazelKinnu Limited

Customer experience

Learn Cryptic Crosswords

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

Kinnu

All ratings512 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral2.0%
Negative3.9%
Written reviews297 reviews
Positive87.2%
Neutral4.7%
Negative8.1%

User reviews

Learn Cryptic Crosswords

From 457 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

Kinnu

From 516 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Engaging learning experience
  • 🚀 Efficient micro-learning format
  • 🔒 No ads or subscriptions
  • 💡 Wide range of interesting topics
  • 👍 Gamified learning approach

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
  • 🐛 Syncing and progress issues
  • 🐛 Inaccurate or incomplete information
  • 🐛 AI-generated content quality concerns
  • 🐛 Inability to contact developers

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

Kinnu

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent app crashes
  • Progress and data loss issues
  • Syncing problems
  • Compatibility issues with older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to highlight or take notes
  • More in-depth content and sources
  • Customization options (e.g., dark mode)
  • Ability to connect with others
  • Improved notification and reminder system

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
4 purchases

Kinnu

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly$1.991 Month
One-time3
  • Kinnu Certificate$7.99
  • Kinnu Certificate$14.99
  • Kinnu Certificate$19.99

Questions

Is Learn Cryptic Crosswords free?
Learn Cryptic Crosswords is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Kinnu free?
Kinnu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Learn Cryptic Crosswords or Kinnu?
Learn Cryptic Crosswords is rated higher. Learn Cryptic Crosswords averages 4.8 out of 5 from 457 ratings, while Kinnu averages 4.8 from 516 ratings.
Do Learn Cryptic Crosswords or Kinnu have ads?
Neither Learn Cryptic Crosswords nor Kinnu shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Learn Cryptic Crosswords or Kinnu?
Learn Cryptic Crosswords ships an update every 9 months, and Kinnu every 6 days. Most recently, Learn Cryptic Crosswords was updated on November 3, 2026 and Kinnu on November 3, 2026.

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