Comparison

Times Puzzles vs Cryptical

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

Head to head
About

Times Puzzles

Engage your mind with a daily collection of renowned crosswords and logic puzzles. Access a vast archive and enjoy a variety of challenges on the go, anytime and anywhere. Perfect for puzzle enthusiasts seeking a mental workout.

Highlights
  • Daily crosswords and logic puzzles
  • Two-week puzzle archive
  • Play anywhere, anytime
  • Concise, Cryptic, Quick Cryptic crosswords
  • Sudoku, Killer Sudoku, Futoshiki, Kakuro
  • Brain Trainer and Cell Blocks puzzles
Read full description

Updated app store description: Are you a crossword obsessive? Or are you just looking for a daily brain boost? Solve the world-renowned Times Crossword, Sudoku and other puzzles with the new puzzle app from The Times and The Sunday Times. Access hundreds of crosswords and puzzles in our two-week archive, and tackle all the latest puzzles to give your mind a real workout. The app enables you to take on and play our puzzles in one place and on the go, allowing you to play anywhere and at any time. Available puzzles: All Times and Sunday Times crosswords, including: Concise Cryptic Quick Cryptic Jumbo General Knowledge Other puzzles include: Sudoku, Killer Sudoku, Futoshiki, Kakuro, KenKen, Lexica, Polygon, Quintagram, Set Square, Suko, Codeword, Brain Trainer and Cell Blocks How do I access The Times Puzzles? The app is free to download and can be read in one of the following ways: - Monthly in-app subscription to The Times Puzzles - Existing members with a Digital subscription can log-in using their The Times & The Sunday Times username and password Please note: - Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase - Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period - You can manage your subscription and switch off the auto-renewal by accessing your Account Settings after purchase - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable - Free trial offer is for new customers only. - At the end of the free trial offer, you will be charged to your iTunes account automatically unless auto-renew is disabled at least 24 hours before that time. - You can cancel anytime. Cancellation goes into effect at the start of your following billing cycle. - A subscription to Times Puzzles does not include access to any other Times Newspapers Limited products, including but not limited to www.thetimes.co.uk, mobile news content and other apps on non-iOS devices. Full T&Cs can be found at http://www.thetimes.co.uk/static/puzzles-app-terms-and-conditions/ We value your opinion and feedback. Our readers’ views are central to ongoing development and improvements. You can send feedback to us directly by visiting: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/help

About

Cryptical

Features
Read full description

Want a fiendish cryptic crossword? Purchase crosswords by professional newspaper crossword setters and use the simple, expertly designed interface to solve. Need a simpler entry to cryptics? The Cryptical Community has single clues and mini crosswords for free. Look out for the pro submissions! Fancy yourself as a crossword setter? Subscribe and you can share your own creations and join in the discussions in the Cryptical Community. Stuck on a really tough clue? Use free intelligent frontier AI that can give incremental hints to get you moving again. If you still don't understand the wordplay get a clear explanation of how it works with a mini-tutorial. Want to collaborate on a crossword? Invite another crossword fan to join in and solve in real-time together. Use the Brainstorm in-app messaging to discuss wordplay and get in-grid notifications badges on clues. Want to get help on your daily cryptic before the answers are released? Easily capture and upload printed newspaper or magazine crosswords, with or without answers, to use the app's intelligent AI solving tools. Need a break from the cryptic clues? Get an easy or challenging themed non-cryptic crossword to test your general knowledge! Download the app and get solving! Sencha, Vytautus and Linden Privacy Policy: www.crypticalcrosswords.com/privacy Terms of Use: www.crypticalcrosswords.com/terms

Screenshots

Times Puzzles4 screens
Cryptical4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Cryptical at every 5 days against Times Puzzles's every 3 months. Times Puzzles's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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. Times Puzzles sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Cryptical sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Times Puzzles ships an update every 3 months, Cryptical every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Times Puzzles versus Cryptical: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTimes PuzzlesCryptical
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews12.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size64 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTimes Media Limited (Apps)Benjamin Law Smith

Bugs and requests

Times Puzzles

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Puzzles not saving progress
  • Puzzles not marking as completed
  • Crashes and freezes
  • Notifications and settings issues
  • Keyboard problems and poor usability
Show 1 more
  • Puzzles not loading or disappearing

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add Codeword puzzle
  • Improve Sudoku interface
  • Add ability to print puzzles
  • Sync progress across devices
  • Provide more puzzle types

Cryptical

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Times Puzzles

Subscriptions3
  • 7 day trial then monthly fee7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • 7 day trial then monthly fee7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • 7 day trial then monthly fee7 Days trial$6.991 Month
10 purchases

Cryptical

One-time10
  • No. 1C by Linden$0.29
  • No. 2 by Vytautus$0.29
  • No. 3 by Vytautus$0.29
Show 7 more
  • No. 4 by Vytautus$0.29
  • Dogs by Linden$0.29
  • Mammals by Linden$0.29
  • Insects by Linden$0.29
  • No. 6 by Doc$0.49
  • Hint and explanation token top up$0.49
  • Animal-themed (x5) by Linden$0.99

Questions

Is Times Puzzles free?
Times Puzzles is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cryptical free?
Cryptical is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Times Puzzles or Cryptical have ads?
Neither Times Puzzles nor Cryptical shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Times Puzzles or Cryptical?
Times Puzzles ships an update every 3 months, and Cryptical every 5 days. Most recently, Times Puzzles was updated on October 16, 2026 and Cryptical on October 10, 2026.

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