Comparison

Sudoku vs Cracking the Cryptic

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sudoku

Engage your mind with a comprehensive number puzzle game offering classic Sudoku and over 35 unique variants. Enjoy themed weekly challenges, smart hints, and a clean design for a relaxing yet challenging brain-training experience.

Highlights
  • Classic Sudoku
  • 35+ Sudoku variants
  • Themed Weekly Challenges
  • Smart hints and explanations
  • Minimalist design
  • Multiple difficulty levels
  • Cloud sync
Features
Read full description

Sudoku & Variants by Logic Wiz – Relaxing Brain Training Puzzle Game. Discover the ultimate Sudoku experience with Sudoku & Variants by Logic Wiz – a fun, relaxing, and brain-boosting number puzzle game. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned puzzle master, this app will challenge your logic and sharpen your mind. Enjoy classic Sudoku and explore over 35 unique Sudoku variants, each introducing fresh logic twists — like Killer Sudoku, Diagonal Sudoku, Sandwich Sudoku, Arrow Sudoku, and many more. Take on our Themed Weekly Challenges, where handcrafted puzzle sets revolve around fun, creative topics to keep things fresh and engaging every week. Key Features: • A wide variety of handcrafted puzzles • Classic Sudoku for all skill levels • Over 35 unique Sudoku variants to explore • Fresh logic mechanics with each variant • Weekly Challenges built around fun themes • Smart hints and strategy explanations — no guessing required • Beautiful minimal design for focused play • Six difficulty levels, from Beginner to Master • A perfect mix of relaxation and brain training • Regular updates with new puzzles and variants Popular Variants Include: Killer, Sandwich, Thermo, Diagonal, Jigsaw (Irregular), Arrow, Windoku, Skyscraper, X-Sum, Kropki, German Whisper, Renban, XV, Lockout, Between Lines, Universal, Couples, Twisted Consecutive, and many more. Additional Features: • Multiple variants on a single board • Unique logical solution for every puzzle • Track progress, stats, and accomplishments • Light and Dark modes • Multiple pencil mark styles and notations • Error-checking and solving aids • Cloud sync across devices • Optimized for iPhone and iPad Inspired by puzzle communities like Cracking the Cryptic, Sudoku & Variants by Logic Wiz is ideal for solvers who love clever twists and deep logic — without the need to guess.

About

Cracking the Cryptic

This app offers a curated collection of handcrafted Sudoku puzzles from world-renowned constructors. Explore classic and unique variants, with new puzzle packs released regularly. A free introductory pack is included with download.

Highlights
  • Handcrafted Sudoku puzzles
  • Curated by expert constructors
  • Classic and unique variants
  • Regularly released puzzle packs
  • Free introductory puzzle pack
Features
Read full description

OUR NEWEST PACK – CLASSIC VOLUME #2! Classic sudoku is where it all began, and there is still lots of skill to be deployed to solve classic puzzles, and new techniques to be explored. Nikoli, the Japanese puzzle house, named and popularised sudoku from 1984, and we have commissioned 20 puzzles from them for this Classic Sudoku 2 app. We have also created 20 ourselves, and sourced 20 more from Sam Cappleman-Lynes, the brilliant British sudoku expert. The result is a wonderful 60-puzzle pack which will delight and challenge you. -------------------- Welcome to the brand new Sudoku app from the most popular Sudoku channel, Cracking The Cryptic. Unlike other Sudoku apps, we feature handcrafted and curated puzzles from the world’s best Sudoku constructors. Each collection features puzzles made by various authors that are now familiar names to those who follow the channel. Authors like Phistomefel, Clover, Sam Cappleman-Lynes, Christoph Seeliger, Richard Stolk, jovi_al, Qodec, Prasanna Seshadri and of course, Simon and Mark! Downloading Cracking the Cryptic will give you access to our first free collection – a variety pack by Prasanna Seshadri featuring 7 puzzles inspired from our previous Sudoku apps; Sandwich, Classic, Chess, Thermo, Miracle, Killer and Arrow Sudoku. We also have purchasable packs designed for all skill levels and featuring many unique variants not seen previously. We’ll be releasing more free and paid packs in the future so keep an eye on the app for more Sudoku content from Cracking The Cryptic!

Screenshots

Sudoku4 screens
Cracking the Cryptic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Cracking the Cryptic at none against Sudoku's shown. Cracking the Cryptic also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). Sudoku's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (88% vs 72%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Sudoku sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Cracking the Cryptic sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sudoku holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sudoku has 1.6K ratings behind it against 208, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Sudoku's written reviews are positive against 72% of Cracking the Cryptic's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sudoku ships an update fortnightly, Cracking the Cryptic every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Sudoku versus Cracking the Cryptic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSudokuCracking the Cryptic
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (1.6K ratings) — better4.4 (208 ratings)
Positive reviews88.4% of reviews — better72.1% of reviews
Number of ratings1.6K — better208
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size193 MB234 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLogic-WizNick Carney

Customer experience

Sudoku

All ratings1,611 ratings
Positive95.3%
Neutral1.6%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews456 reviews
Positive88.4%
Neutral2.4%
Negative9.2%

Cracking the Cryptic

All ratings208 ratings
Positive84.1%
Neutral6.3%
Negative9.6%
Written reviews147 reviews
Positive72.1%
Neutral13.6%
Negative14.3%

User reviews

Sudoku

From 1.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great solving experience
  • 🚀 One of the very best
  • 👍 Excellent app design
  • 👍 Challenging and fun puzzles
  • 👍 Comprehensive tutorial

Room to improve

  • 💸 Too many ads
  • 💸 Ads interrupt gameplay
  • 🐛 Some puzzles have multiple solutions
  • 🐛 Hints not always accurate

Cracking the Cryptic

From 208 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Best sudoku app
  • 👍 Great variety of puzzles
  • 👍 Excellent user interface
  • 👍 Challenging and fun puzzles
  • 👍 Constant updates with new puzzles

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Hints are often incorrect or unhelpful
  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes, especially after updates
  • 🔋 Battery draining issues
  • 🔒 Too many in-app purchases required to access content

Bugs and requests

Sudoku

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Puzzle #427 on hard mode has issues
  • Ads pause background audio

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to highlight individual pencil marks
  • Option to reset completed puzzles
  • Custom rule sets for user-created puzzles
  • Improved dark mode visibility

Cracking the Cryptic

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Puzzle progress and purchases disappearing after updates
  • Incorrect rules or hints in certain puzzles
  • Crashes and freezes, especially on older devices or Macs
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between portrait and landscape modes

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more color options for pencil marking and highlighting
  • Implement a way to clear progress or start puzzles from scratch
  • Integrate all CTC apps into a single app for better organization
  • Add keyboard support, especially on Mac
  • Improve the quality and clarity of hints

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Sudoku

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Premium Annual$9.991 Year
One-time3
  • Premium Lifetime Promotion$20.99
  • Premium Lifetime Special$20.99
  • Premium Lifetime$24.99
13 purchases

Cracking the Cryptic

One-time13
  • CTC Worms - James Sinclair$0.99
  • CTC Worms - Marty Sears$0.99
  • CTC Worms - Zetamath$1.99
Show 10 more
  • CTC Worms - Blobz$1.99
  • CTC Worms - Michael Lefkowitz$1.99
  • CTC Worms - Phistomefel$1.99
  • GAS Volume #1$2.99
  • GAS Volume #2$2.99
  • CTC Approachable Sudoku #1$2.99
  • Domino Sudoku Pack$4.99
  • Lines Variety Pack$4.99
  • Classic Volume #2$4.99
  • CTC Fog Pack #1$4.99

Questions

Is Sudoku free?
Sudoku is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cracking the Cryptic free?
Cracking the Cryptic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sudoku or Cracking the Cryptic?
Sudoku is rated higher. Sudoku averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Cracking the Cryptic averages 4.4 from 208 ratings.
Do Sudoku or Cracking the Cryptic have ads?
Sudoku shows ads; Cracking the Cryptic does not.
Which is updated more often, Sudoku or Cracking the Cryptic?
Sudoku ships an update fortnightly, and Cracking the Cryptic every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sudoku was updated on September 24, 2026 and Cracking the Cryptic on September 21, 2026.

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