# Word Forward vs Dead Letters

The clearest difference is price: Dead Letters at Free against Word Forward's $2.99. Dead Letters also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 weeks). Word Forward's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#113 vs unranked). On ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Dead Letters is free to download; Word Forward costs $2.99 up front. Dead Letters sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Word Forward asks for nothing beyond the download.

Dead Letters holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Word Forward's written reviews are positive against 100% of Dead Letters's.

Word Forward ships an update every 6 weeks, Dead Letters every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Word Forward | Dead Letters |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-forward/id1454290016/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dead-letters/id6449654469/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **11** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 76.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#113** | — |
| Size | 122 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thalamus Digital Publishing Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476360840) | [Lobo Concepts LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1058513180) |

## What reviewers say

### Word Forward

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-forward/id1454290016)

**Currently charting:** #113 Top Paid · Word (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Dead Letters

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dead-letters/id6449654469)

Engage your mind with a unique word puzzle game set in a vibrant synth-wave world. Uncover hidden 4-letter words from 8-letter puzzles, utilizing power-ups and daily challenges. Immerse yourself in retro visuals and an electrifying soundtrack.

**Highlights:** Synth-wave electronic theme, Mind-teasing word puzzles, Power-ups for assistance, Daily challenges, Synth-wave soundtrack

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Word Forward free?

Word Forward costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dead Letters free?

Dead Letters is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Word Forward or Dead Letters?

Dead Letters is rated higher. Word Forward averages 4.5 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Dead Letters averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Word Forward or Dead Letters have ads?

Neither Word Forward nor Dead Letters shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Word Forward or Dead Letters?

Word Forward ships an update every 6 weeks, and Dead Letters every 4 days. Most recently, Word Forward was updated on October 15, 2026 and Dead Letters on October 17, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*