# xWord Stacks vs CryptoMagic

The clearest difference is rating: CryptoMagic at 5.0 against xWord Stacks's 3.0. CryptoMagic also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. xWord Stacks sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. CryptoMagic asks for nothing beyond the download.

CryptoMagic holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.

xWord Stacks ships an update fortnightly, CryptoMagic every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | xWord Stacks | CryptoMagic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xword-stacks/id1522711223/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptomagic/id6762321267/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **3** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 74 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lam Nguyen](https://appshunter.io/developer/843676921) | [Thornware, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893817690) |

## What reviewers say

### xWord Stacks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xword-stacks/id1522711223)

This app offers a collection of seven distinct word puzzle games, including letter stacking, word linking, and crosswords. Enjoy daily challenges, track your progress, and utilize optional hints to enhance your gameplay.

**Highlights:** Seven word puzzle games, Letter stacking and word linking, Crossword and word sorting challenges, Daily puzzles, Progress saving, Optional hints

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1.000 gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy 2.400 gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy 5.200 gems | $3.99 | one-time |
| Buy 8.400 gems | $5.99 | one-time |
| 18.000 gems | $11.99 | one-time |


### CryptoMagic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptomagic/id6762321267)

Engage your mind with a classic cryptogram puzzle game. Decode scrambled quotes by matching letters, aiming for accuracy to earn stars. Unlock new puzzle books by playing, with hints available to help you solve challenging ciphers.

**Highlights:** Cryptogram puzzle gameplay, Unlockable puzzle books, Star ratings based on accuracy, Daily play streaks, Hint system for assistance, No account required

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is xWord Stacks free?

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

### Is CryptoMagic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, xWord Stacks or CryptoMagic?

CryptoMagic is rated higher. xWord Stacks averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while CryptoMagic averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do xWord Stacks or CryptoMagic have ads?

Both xWord Stacks and CryptoMagic show ads.

### Which is updated more often, xWord Stacks or CryptoMagic?

xWord Stacks ships an update fortnightly, and CryptoMagic every 4 days. Most recently, xWord Stacks was updated on November 7, 2026 and CryptoMagic on November 5, 2026.

---

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