# Coded Word Search vs Sternzy

The clearest difference is ads: Sternzy at none against Coded Word Search's shown. Sternzy also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 months). Coded Word Search's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Coded Word Search sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Sternzy sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Coded Word Search against 5.0 for Sternzy. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

Coded Word Search ships an update every 3 months, Sternzy every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Coded Word Search | Sternzy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coded-word-search/id1526085085/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sternzy-water-sort/id6775494205/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 186 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ROSE METAL PRODUCTS, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526085087) | [David Stern](https://appshunter.io/developer/6771868079) |

## What reviewers say

### Coded Word Search

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coded-word-search/id1526085085)

This game offers a unique twist on word searches by encrypting every letter. Players must find words to decipher the code and solve puzzles, earning in-game currency for hints. Progress through levels and increase your in-game score by completing numerous challenges.

**Highlights:** Encrypted letter puzzles, Code-cracking gameplay, In-game hint system, Progress tracking (Cred), Multiple difficulty levels

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Play Untimed | $0.99 | one-time |
| 50K Keys | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| 200K Keys | $2.99 | one-time |
| 500K Keys | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1M  Keys | $6.99 | one-time |
| 10M Keys | $19.99 | one-time |
| 100M Keys | $99.99 | one-time |


### Sternzy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sternzy-water-sort/id6775494205)

A relaxing color-sorting puzzle game featuring cute cats. Pour colored liquids between tubes until each tube contains a single color. Enjoy endless, challenging levels with special twists and a playful feline theme.

**Highlights:** Endless, ever-harder levels, Calm, satisfying one-handed gameplay, Playful cat theme, Special level twists, Earn credits for hints, No timers or pressure, Offline play

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 4 Credits | $0.99 | one-time |
| $1 Coffee Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| $2 Coffee Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| 28 Credits | $3.99 | one-time |
| $5 Coffee Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| $10 Coffee Tip | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Coded Word Search free?

Coded Word Search is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Sternzy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Coded Word Search or Sternzy?

Coded Word Search and Sternzy are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Coded Word Search or Sternzy have ads?

Coded Word Search shows ads; Sternzy does not.

### Which is updated more often, Coded Word Search or Sternzy?

Coded Word Search ships an update every 3 months, and Sternzy every 2 days. Most recently, Coded Word Search was updated on November 3, 2026 and Sternzy on October 31, 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.*