Comparison

Crossword+ vs Crossword Explorer

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

Head to head
About

Crossword+

Start your day with two new themed crossword puzzles daily, ranging from classic literature to movie magic. Enjoy a satisfying yet gentle challenge, with helpful hints and auto-check features. Solve puzzles offline and adjust text size for a comfortable, ad-free experience.

Highlights
  • Two new themed puzzles daily
  • Over 3,000 puzzles in archive
  • Helpful hints and AutoCheck
  • Offline play supported
  • Ad-free experience
  • Adjustable text size
Features
Read full description

Start your day with a crossword and a smile! Whether you’re a novice solver or a seasoned veteran, we’ve designed Crossword+ so that players of all abilities can enjoy solving our crosswords! We release new crosswords every day and every single crossword in the app has a unique theme. For example, Monday’s crossword is music related, and Friday’s crossword is movie related. Even if you don’t know anything about the topic, you’ll still be attempt the crossword as the theme words are sprinkled into the crossword among other clues. So look forward to testing and expanding your knowledge of movies, music, food, books and much, much more! Why Crossword+? * Two new themed puzzles every single day (one maxi and one mini) * Over 3,000 puzzles in our ever-growing collection * Helpful hints when you need a little extra help * Catches mistakes as you type with our AutoCheck function * 100% ad-free. Just you and the puzzle * Works offline * Adjustable text size for readability Join over 500,000 solvers who've made Crossword Plus part of their routine. Is Crossword+ good for beginners? Yes! Crossword+ is designed for solvers of all abilities. Start with our daily mini crosswords, make use of instant error checking, and use hints whenever you're stuck. We aim to make our clues challenging enough to be satisfying, but accessible enough to keep you moving forward. How does it compare to other crossword apps? We designed Crossword Plus to be simple, intuitive, and accessible to everyone. While there are many excellent crossword apps available, we focus on delivering a clean, distraction-free solving experience that feels natural. Is every puzzle themed? Yes! Every single crossword in Crossword+ is built around a unique theme. What kinds of themes do you feature? Everything from Trivia Delights and Hollywood Hits to Tasty Treats and beyond! With over 3,000 themed puzzles in our archive, there’s lots to explore and new topics every day. Can I use Crossword+ offline? Yes! Download puzzles and solve them anywhere! On planes, trains, or wherever your internet connection isn't reliable. Do you have free crossword puzzles? We publish a new free 5×5 mini crossword every day. We offer a subscription which gives you access to full-size maxi puzzles and our extensive archive. Does Crossword+ have ads? No. We're ad-free. Is Crossword+ good for seniors? Yes! The app automatically respects your device's text size settings. Additionally, you can zoom in on any puzzle grid for additional magnification. Can crosswords help with vocabulary? Definitely. Regular crossword solving strengthens vocabulary, reinforces spelling, and improves word recall. All while having fun. Is this an American or British crossword? Both! We use vocabulary and spelling that works for solvers on both sides of the Atlantic, making our puzzles accessible to a global audience. Does Crossword Plus include easy and hard crossword puzzles? We focus on a single, balanced difficulty level that appeals to most solvers. You can make puzzles easier or more challenging by toggling hints and assistance features on or off. Can I use Crossword+ for quick puzzles? Perfect for it! Our daily 5×5 mini crossword is designed for a quick mental break which is ideal when you just want a few minutes of crossword fun. Does Crossword+ offer hints or help with clues? Yes! Every clue comes with an optional hint to nudge you in the right direction. Fair warning: using a hint adds 30 seconds to your completion time. LICENSED APPLICATION END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Crossword Explorer

Engage your mind with a vast collection of daily crossword puzzles. Offers endless challenges, daily rewards, and progress tracking. Customize your experience with themes and utilize hints to improve your wordplay skills.

Highlights
  • Endless crossword puzzles
  • Daily challenges and rewards
  • Progress tracking and achievements
  • Customizable themes and backgrounds
  • Hints and tips for assistance
  • Educational vocabulary building
Features
Read full description

Are you ready to embark on a journey of brain-boosting fun? Immerse yourself in the captivating world of wordplay with Crossword Puzzle Explorer, the definitive crossword puzzle experience that's not only fun but also educational! Best of all, this game is completely free to play! Whether you're a seasoned crossword enthusiast looking for a new challenge or someone just beginning their crossword journey, Crossword Puzzle Explorer has something special for you. Dive into our vast crossword puzzle collection, featuring a diverse range of themes, sizes, and difficulty levels. There's a puzzle for every mood and skill level. Key Features - Endless Puzzles: Challenge yourself with an impressive collection of thousands of crossword puzzles that span the spectrum from easy to expert. Whether you have a few minutes or hours to spare, Crossword Explorer always has a puzzle to keep your mind in tip-top shape. - Daily Challenges: Are you up for a daily challenge? Crossword Puzzle Explorer offers fresh crossword puzzles every day. Solve them to earn fantastic rewards, hone your crossword-solving skills, and prove your word mastery. - Track Your Progress: Keep tabs on your crossword conquests! Unlock a variety of achievements as you conquer crossword after crossword and climb the ranks of wordplay greatness. - Themes & Customization: Make your crossword-solving experience uniquely yours! Explore a delightful selection of themes and beautiful backgrounds! - Hints & Tips: No one likes getting stuck on a tricky word or clue. That's why we've got you covered with a range of hints and tips to nudge you in the right direction. Keep the crossword-solving momentum going and conquer those challenging puzzles! - Educational Fun: Enhance your vocabulary, sharpen your language skills, and boost your knowledge while having an absolute blast! Don't miss out on the crossword puzzle adventure of a lifetime. Download Crossword Puzzle Explorer now and start exploring the world of words like never before. Challenge yourself, have fun, and let your word-play journey begin! Write back to us with any issues or suggestions, we are all ears! Privacy Policy & Terms of Use: https://playsimple.in/privacy

Screenshots

Crossword+4 screens
Crossword Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Crossword+ at 83% against Crossword Explorer's 35%. Crossword+ also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks). Crossword Explorer's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (69K vs 12K). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and chart position 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. Crossword+ sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Crossword Explorer sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Crossword Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Crossword Explorer has 69K ratings behind it against 12K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Crossword+'s written reviews are positive against 35% of Crossword Explorer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Crossword+ ships an update every 10 days, Crossword Explorer every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Crossword+ versus Crossword Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCrossword+Crossword Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (12K ratings)4.9 (69K ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.5% of reviews — better35.2% of reviews
Number of ratings12K69K — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#127#58 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB374 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperPuzzleStar LimitedPlaySimple Games Pte Ltd

Customer experience

Crossword+

All ratings11,465 ratings
Positive86.8%
Neutral6.9%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews527 reviews
Positive83.5%
Neutral4.2%
Negative12.3%

Crossword Explorer

All ratings65,289 ratings
Positive99.1%
Neutral0.4%
Negative0.5%
Written reviews551 reviews
Positive35.2%
Neutral18.0%
Negative46.8%

User reviews

Crossword+

From 12K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🧠 Brain-stimulating puzzles
  • 🎯 Variety of themes and difficulty levels
  • ✨ Enjoyable and challenging experience
  • 🧠 Helps keep the mind active
  • 🕰️ Daily puzzles provide a routine activity

Room to improve

  • 💰 Subscription model can be expensive
  • 🐛 Occasional errors in puzzle clues or answers
  • 🤔 Some puzzles may be too difficult for casual users
  • 🕰️ Limited number of free puzzles per month

Crossword Explorer

From 69K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and challenging
  • 👍 Keeps the mind sharp
  • 🎉 Great game
  • ✨ Enjoyable puzzles

Room to improve

  • 🔍 Repetitive clues and answers
  • 🔋 Battery drain issues
  • 💰 Too many ads, expensive to remove
  • 🐛 Frequent freezing and crashes
  • 🤯 Annoying audio ads during gameplay

Bugs and requests

Crossword+

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Freezing or crashing issues for some users
  • Subscription not always working as expected

Requested features

3 requests
  • Search function to find puzzles by topic
  • More difficulty levels to cater to all skill levels
  • Ability to track progress and stats over time

Crossword Explorer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Coins not properly awarded after completing puzzles
  • Ads still shown even after purchasing ad-free version
  • Cursor moves on its own during gameplay

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow viewing of completed puzzles
  • Add more puzzle categories and themes
  • Improve accessibility for visually impaired
  • Reduce cost of ad-free subscription

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Crossword+

Subscriptions8
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Monthly$7.491 Month
  • Monthly$9.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Yearly1 Year trial$37.991 Year
  • Yearly7 Days trial$37.991 Year
  • Yearly1 Year trial2 variants$39.991 Year
  • Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
11 purchases

Crossword Explorer

One-time11
  • Basic Piggy!$1.49
  • Pack of 300 coins$2.99
  • Mini Coin Pack$3.99
Show 8 more
  • Pack of 550 coins$4.99
  • Bronze Piggy!$5.99
  • Regular Coin Pack$6.99
  • Pack of 1150 coins$9.99
  • Silver Piggy!$9.99
  • Bestselling Pack$12.99
  • Pack of 2400 coins$19.99
  • Jumbo Coin Pack$25.99

Questions

Is Crossword+ free?
Crossword+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Crossword Explorer free?
Crossword Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Crossword+ or Crossword Explorer?
Crossword Explorer is rated higher. Crossword+ averages 4.5 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while Crossword Explorer averages 4.9 from 69K ratings.
Do Crossword+ or Crossword Explorer have ads?
Crossword Explorer shows ads; Crossword+ does not.
Which is updated more often, Crossword+ or Crossword Explorer?
Crossword+ ships an update every 10 days, and Crossword Explorer every 5 weeks. Most recently, Crossword+ was updated on October 30, 2026 and Crossword Explorer on October 30, 2026.
Which is more popular, Crossword+ or Crossword Explorer?
Crossword+ currently peaks at #127 in the App Store charts, and Crossword Explorer at #58. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons