Comparison

Learn Cryptic Crosswords vs Sylvi

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

Sylvi

Practice foreign languages with AI penpals who provide tutor-level feedback on every message. Learn essential phrases, build vocabulary, and stay motivated with friends. Offers a free trial before subscription.

Highlights
  • AI penpals for language practice
  • Real-time message correction and explanation
  • Vocabulary building and memorization tools
  • Practice with friends
  • Streak preservation
  • Flashcards and leaderboard
Features
Read full description

AI penpals that feel like native friends. Tutor-level feedback on every single message. That's Sylvi. You can even pick a penpal with the exact accent you want to have. French (France and Canada) Spanish (Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico, etc) German Italian Portuguese (Portugal and Brazil) English (UK, US, Australia) More languages coming soon - follow our journey on @sylvi_app Too shy to talk to a native speaker? Practice with AI penpals who know you well enough to ask about your day. Every message you send is corrected and explained in real time - not just flagged, but actually taught, so when the real moment comes, you're ready for it. - Learn the phrases you need, for the life you lead Build your vocabulary by saving words important to you. Test yourself daily to memorise them. - Stay accountable with friends Practice with your friends regardless of what language they're learning or what level they're at. "I've used a lot of different language apps... but Sylvi has been the one I've been having the most success with growth-wise. At least from what my tutor tells me." Can't bear to lose your streak? We won't tell. If you've got a streak you can't bear to lose, message us at support@sylvi.ai and we'll transfer it straight to Sylvi. Try us free for 1 week, then pick a subscription that works for you. "I know grammar. I know all of these vocabularies, but you're kind of stuck in the middle of like - how do I become comprehensible? Then I found Sylvi" - Amira, UK "I could say, 'I'm going to the cinema today'. Then if I do Sylvi tomorrow, my penpal will come back and say, 'so what film did you see at the cinema?'. I love the continuity. It's so clever." - James, US

Screenshots

Learn Cryptic Crosswords4 screens
Sylvi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Sylvi at every 3 days against Learn Cryptic Crosswords's every 9 months. Learn Cryptic Crosswords's advantage is review sentiment (95% vs 83%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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 Sylvi sells 24 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 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 4.7 for Sylvi. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 457 and 338 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 95% of Learn Cryptic Crosswords's written reviews are positive against 83% of Sylvi's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Learn Cryptic Crosswords ships an update every 9 months, Sylvi every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Learn Cryptic Crosswords versus Sylvi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLearn Cryptic CrosswordsSylvi
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (457 ratings) — better4.7 (338 ratings)
Positive reviews95.0% of reviews — better83.2% of reviews
Number of ratings457 — better338
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB143 MB
Age rating+412+
DeveloperTeazelSylvi Ltd

Customer experience

Learn Cryptic Crosswords

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

Sylvi

All ratings335 ratings
Positive92.5%
Neutral1.5%
Negative6.0%
Written reviews214 reviews
Positive83.2%
Neutral2.3%
Negative14.5%

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

Sylvi

From 338 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent language learning tool
  • 👍 Engaging and interactive
  • 🤖 Helpful AI assistant
  • 💬 Great for practicing conversations
  • 📈 Noticeable improvement in language skills

Room to improve

  • 💰 Subscription required for full access
  • 🔒 Limited free features
  • 🌐 Lack of language options
  • 🐛 Technical issues with speech recognition
  • 🕰️ Repetitive lessons

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

Sylvi

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Frequent app crashes
  • Subscription issues
  • Inconsistent user experience

Requested features

5 requests
  • Expand language options
  • Improve free version features
  • Implement more personalized learning
  • Add more advanced conversation scenarios
  • Improve speech recognition accuracy

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
24 purchases

Sylvi

Subscriptions24
  • Sylvi Lite (Monthly)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Sylvi Lite (Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • Sylvi Pro (Monthly)$6.991 Month
Show 21 more
  • Sylvi Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Sylvi Lite (Monthly)$6.991 Month
  • Monthly14 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Monthly7 Days trial$13.991 Month
  • Sylvi Pro (Monthly)$14.991 Month
  • Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • 3 months14 Days trial$19.993 Months
  • Sylvi Lite (Annual)14 Days trial$23.991 Year
  • Sylvi Lite (Annual)$23.991 Year
  • Monthly7 Days trial$24.991 Month
  • Sylvi Lite (Annual)$35.991 Year
  • 3 months14 Days trial$39.993 Months
  • 3 months7 Days trial$39.993 Months
  • Annual14 Days trial$49.901 Year
  • Annual7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Sylvi Pro (Annual)14 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Sylvi Pro (Annual)$59.991 Year
  • Sylvi Pro (Annual)$79.991 Year
  • Annual14 Days trial$83.901 Year
  • Annual7 Days trial$89.991 Year
  • Annual7 Days trial$129.991 Year

Questions

Is Learn Cryptic Crosswords free?
Learn Cryptic Crosswords is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sylvi free?
Sylvi is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Learn Cryptic Crosswords or Sylvi?
Learn Cryptic Crosswords is rated higher. Learn Cryptic Crosswords averages 4.8 out of 5 from 457 ratings, while Sylvi averages 4.7 from 338 ratings.
Do Learn Cryptic Crosswords or Sylvi have ads?
Neither Learn Cryptic Crosswords nor Sylvi shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Learn Cryptic Crosswords or Sylvi?
Learn Cryptic Crosswords ships an update every 9 months, and Sylvi every 3 days. Most recently, Learn Cryptic Crosswords was updated on October 29, 2026 and Sylvi on October 30, 2026.

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