# Dear Reader vs Crossword Jam+

The clearest difference is rating: Crossword Jam+ at 4.8 against Dear Reader's 4.5. Crossword Jam+ also leads on ratings volume (18K vs 572) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). Dear Reader's advantage is review sentiment (68% vs 59%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Crossword Jam+ holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Crossword Jam+ has 18K ratings behind it against 572, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 68% of Dear Reader's written reviews are positive against 59% of Crossword Jam+'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Dear Reader ships an update every 3 months, Crossword Jam+ every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dear Reader | Crossword Jam+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (572 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dear-reader/id1470280172/reviews) | **[4.8 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-jam-plus/id6448909510/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 572 | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | **68.4% of reviews** | 58.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 387 MB | 218 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Local No. 12](https://appshunter.io/developer/1169662930) | [PlaySimple Games Pte Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1189416142) |

## What reviewers say

### Dear Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dear-reader/id1470280172)

Engage with classic literature through unique word puzzles. Unscramble passages, unlock new books, and complete challenges to discover special abilities. This game transforms beloved stories into interactive wordplay experiences.

**Highlights:** Play with over 130 classic books, Unlock dozens of wordplay puzzle types, Acquire new books from a rotating selection, Earn Rare Books by completing goals, Embark on Research missions for abilities, Solve daily word challenges

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Engaging word puzzles
- 📚 Variety of classic books
- 👍 Relaxing gameplay
- 💡 Unique concept of 'playing books'
- 🤓 Helps improve reading and language skills

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🤔 Heavily abridged book excerpts
- 🙄 Repetitive daily challenges
- 💰 Expensive rare books

**Reported bugs**

- Game progress being deleted
- Inability to exit the library
- Crashes when trying to purchase rare books

**Requested features**

- Add more modern and popular book titles
- Option to read full unabridged books
- Dark mode
- Ability to report typos and errors
- More varied and engaging goals/achievements


### Crossword Jam+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-jam-plus/id6448909510)

Engage your mind with a word search and crossword-style puzzle game. Connect letters to form words, discover new vocabulary, and enjoy beautiful scenic backgrounds. Daily challenges and progressive difficulty keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.

**Highlights:** Crossword-style word puzzles, Daily word challenges, Vocabulary improvement, Stunning background scenery, Offline play, Sync game progress

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 No ads or in-app purchases
- 📚 Educational and improves vocabulary
- 🕹️ Fun way to pass time

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔁 Repetitive word choices
- 🤔 Inconsistent dictionary
- 🤯 Frustrating daily challenges
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches in recent updates

**Reported bugs**

- Spinner/wheel feature not working
- Dictionary lookup not functioning
- Daily challenge progress not saving
- Audio issues when opening the app

**Requested features**

- Difficulty settings to increase challenge
- Ability to report missing words
- Improved sync across devices
- Option to listen to own music while playing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dear Reader free?

Dear Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Crossword Jam+ free?

Crossword Jam+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Dear Reader or Crossword Jam+?

Crossword Jam+ is rated higher. Dear Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 572 ratings, while Crossword Jam+ averages 4.8 from 18K ratings.

### Do Dear Reader or Crossword Jam+ have ads?

Neither Dear Reader nor Crossword Jam+ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dear Reader or Crossword Jam+?

Dear Reader ships an update every 3 months, and Crossword Jam+ every 5 weeks. Most recently, Dear Reader was updated on September 17, 2026 and Crossword Jam+ on September 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.*