Comparison

Word Forward vs Sparrows

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

Head to head
About

Word Forward

This word puzzle game challenges players to clear a 5x5 grid by forming words. It requires strategic use of every letter tile to solve 500 unique puzzles, offering an endlessly challenging brain teaser.

Highlights
  • Spell words by tracing lines
  • Swap letters with tokens
  • Jumble tiles for new letters
  • Change letters with modifiers
  • Eliminate tiles with bombs
  • Solve 500 puzzles
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The #1 Word Game! Played by millions! “Equally a brain-teaser and a brain-pleaser” - MacWorld “An excellent buy for solo players” - TechRadar “A really fun and well-executed word game” - PocketGamer Beautifully simple. Endlessly challenging. Word Forward is the word puzzle game where every choice matters. Can you use all of the letters in the 5x5 grid to make words disappear and clear the board? Word Forward isn’t about spelling the longest words or the most clever - it’s about carefully using every tile to declare victory in 500 puzzles. It requires cunning and strategy -- Word Forward is a brain teaser that will really make you think! • SPELL words by tracing a line between tiles in any direction, including diagonally • SWAP any two letters on the grid by using a SWAP TOKEN, earned during gameplay • JUMBLE the tiles on the grid to replace all the letters with new ones when all else fails • CHANGE the letter on a tile to any other letter you choose using the SWAP MODIFIER • ELIMINATE stubborn tiles with BOMBS to get yourself out of a tight spot The latest brain-tingling puzzle game from the creators of Block Droppin Blitz.

About

Sparrows

This word puzzle game combines mahjong tile mechanics with spelling challenges. Spell words from letter tiles to earn points, advance through levels, and master various game modes. Enjoy a relaxing or challenging experience with daily goals and power-ups.

Highlights
  • Level progression with star ratings
  • Multiple game modes (Timed, Moves, Puzzle)
  • Score multipliers for strategic play
  • Power-ups to boost scores
  • Daily goals and objectives
  • Relaxing puzzle mode without a timer
Features
Read full description

Sparrows – mahjong tiles meet wordplay! Spell words from letter tiles, earn score multipliers, and conquer challenging puzzles. Advance through levels, earn 1–3 stars, and master increasingly tricky boards. Multiple game modes – Timed, Moves, and Puzzle – keep gameplay fresh and engaging. Key Features: • Level Progression & Star Ratings: Tackle boards and earn 1–3 stars for top performance. • Game Modes: Timed, Moves, and Puzzle for varied challenges. • Score Multipliers: Double and triple letter/word tiles reward strategic play. • Power-Ups: Boost your score and overcome tough boards. • Daily Goals: Complete new objectives each day to stay challenged. • Relaxing, no timer needed – play at your own pace in Puzzle mode. • Plays great on iPhone and iPad. Relax or Compete: Whether you want a calm puzzle session or a fast-paced challenge, Sparrows offers a rewarding word game experience for every player. Download Sparrows Now! Start your wordplay journey, master each board, and enjoy endless mahjong-meets-wordplay fun!

Screenshots

Word Forward4 screens
Sparrows4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Sparrows at Free against Word Forward's $2.99. Sparrows also leads on ratings volume (781 vs 11). Word Forward's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, update cadence and device support 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

Sparrows is free to download; Word Forward costs $2.99 up front. Sparrows sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. Word Forward asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Word Forward against 4.6 for Sparrows. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sparrows has 781 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of Word Forward's written reviews are positive against 58% of Sparrows's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Word Forward ships an update every 6 weeks, Sparrows every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Word Forward versus Sparrows: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWord ForwardSparrows
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (11 ratings)4.6 (781 ratings) — better
Positive reviews76.5% of reviews — better58.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11781 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#108 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.2
Further details — not scored
Size122 MB506 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThalamus Digital Publishing Ltd.Fluffy Dog Studio

Customer experience

Word Forward

All ratings11 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive76.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative23.5%

Sparrows

All ratings781 ratings
Positive89.6%
Neutral5.6%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews69 reviews
Positive58.0%
Neutral17.4%
Negative24.6%

Bugs and requests

Word Forward

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Sparrows

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Game crashes on launch for some users
  • Word search mode has incorrect timer display
  • Inability to exit certain game modes
  • Shuffling feature sometimes malfunctions
  • Newly unlocked words not recognized

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add option to retry/reset word search puzzles
  • Implement a way to contact developers for missing words
  • Introduce a multiplayer mode to compete with friends
  • Provide more customization options for the UI
  • Improve the algorithm for letter distribution

In-app purchases

None

Word Forward

No in-app purchases

14 purchases

Sparrows

One-time14
  • 2,500 Feathers$0.99
  • 15,000 points$1.99
  • 5,000 points$1.99
Show 11 more
  • Unlock Endless Mode$1.99
  • 5,000 Feathers$1.99
  • Unlock Full Game$2.99
  • 10,000 Feathers$3.49
  • Getting Started$3.99
  • 50,000 points$4.99
  • No Ads (30 Days)$4.99
  • 150,000 points$6.99
  • Now we're talking!$7.99
  • 25,000 Feathers$7.99
  • 100,000 Feathers$23.99

Questions

Is Word Forward free?
Word Forward costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sparrows free?
Sparrows is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Word Forward or Sparrows?
Sparrows is rated higher. Word Forward averages 4.5 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Sparrows averages 4.6 from 781 ratings.
Do Word Forward or Sparrows have ads?
Sparrows shows ads; Word Forward does not.
Which is updated more often, Word Forward or Sparrows?
Word Forward ships an update every 6 weeks, and Sparrows every 5 weeks. Most recently, Word Forward was updated on October 29, 2026 and Sparrows on October 30, 2026.

Other comparisons