# CleverWords vs Action Codenames

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CleverWords at 63% against Action Codenames's 0%. CleverWords also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 1). Action Codenames's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CleverWords sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Action Codenames asks for nothing beyond the download.

CleverWords holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CleverWords has 1.1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of CleverWords's written reviews are positive against 0% of Action Codenames's.

CleverWords ships an update every 2 months, Action Codenames every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CleverWords | Action Codenames |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cleverwords-team-word-game/id1464627686/reviews)** | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/action-codenames/id6748104731/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **63.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 90 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Misquamicut Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1094945438) | [梦成 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1821210608) |

## What reviewers say

### CleverWords

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cleverwords-team-word-game/id1464627686)

Engage in a fun word game with multiple play modes. Create clues for others to guess, or challenge friends and family in asynchronous multiplayer matches. Compete daily for high scores and bragging rights.

**Highlights:** Solo endless word game, 2-player asynchronous mode, 4-player team mode, Create and guess word clues, Daily guessing challenges, Player rating system

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Regulars (monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Regulars (yearly) | $24.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| Regulars for life | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Great way to connect with friends
- 💡 Variety of game modes
- 🤩 Mindful and challenging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Excessive ads
- 🐛 Matching issues and bugs
- 🤔 Lack of functionality (e.g. no random matchmaking)
- 😡 Cheating and rule violations

**Reported bugs**

- Login and account issues
- Crashes and performance problems
- Inconsistent UI behavior

**Requested features**

- Add new word bank to keep it fresh
- Implement a timer for turns
- Allow deleting or ending games
- Add computer/AI player option
- Improve chat and social features


### Action Codenames

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/action-codenames/id6748104731)

A fast-paced, team-based word association game for parties and gatherings. Players give and guess clues based on a 5x5 grid of words, aiming to identify their team's secret words before the opposing team or hitting a losing card. Offers offline play and multiple languages.

**Highlights:** Team-based word association gameplay, 5x5 grid of secret words, Spymaster clue-giving mechanic, Offline play support, Multilingual options, Built-in rules and strategy tips

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CleverWords free?

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

### Is Action Codenames free?

Action Codenames is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CleverWords or Action Codenames?

CleverWords is rated higher. CleverWords averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Action Codenames averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do CleverWords or Action Codenames have ads?

CleverWords shows ads; Action Codenames does not.

### Which is updated more often, CleverWords or Action Codenames?

CleverWords ships an update every 2 months, and Action Codenames every 3 weeks. Most recently, CleverWords was updated on October 29, 2026 and Action Codenames on October 28, 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.*