# Word Forward vs Squish Garden

The clearest difference is price: Squish Garden at Free against Word Forward's $2.99. Squish Garden also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and update cadence (daily vs every 6 weeks). Word Forward's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On device support there is nothing between them.

Squish Garden is free to download; Word Forward costs $2.99 up front. Squish Garden sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Word Forward asks for nothing beyond the download.

Squish Garden holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Word Forward has 11 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Word Forward ships an update every 6 weeks, Squish Garden daily. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Word Forward | Squish Garden |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-forward/id1454290016/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/squish-garden/id6818043203/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **11** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 76.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#114** | — |
| Size | 122 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Thalamus Digital Publishing Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476360840) | [Sunny Nagra](https://appshunter.io/developer/914709960) |

## What reviewers say

### Word Forward

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

**Currently charting:** #114 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


### Squish Garden

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/squish-garden/id6818043203)

Merge colorful jellies to grow larger blooms and clear space before the jar fills. Compete for high scores, tackle daily challenges, or duel friends in this satisfying puzzle game.

**Highlights:** Jelly merging mechanic, Classic, Daily, and Journey modes, Multiplayer duels, Global leaderboards, Customizable settings (sound, haptics, motion), Optional cosmetic purchases

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 Garden Rescues | $1.99 | one-time |
| Moonlight Garden | $2.99 | one-time |
| 15 Garden Rescues | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Word Forward free?

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

### Is Squish Garden free?

Squish Garden is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Word Forward or Squish Garden?

Squish Garden is rated higher. Word Forward averages 4.5 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Squish Garden averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Word Forward or Squish Garden have ads?

Squish Garden shows ads; Word Forward does not.

### Which is updated more often, Word Forward or Squish Garden?

Word Forward ships an update every 6 weeks, and Squish Garden daily. Most recently, Word Forward was updated on October 26, 2026 and Squish Garden on October 25, 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.*