Comparison

SpellTower+ vs 4 Pics 1 Word+

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

Head to head
About

SpellTower+

This word game challenges players to clear rising letter tiles by forming words. It offers multiple game modes, including classic and new puzzle variations, with strategic gameplay and bonus tiles to increase word values. Compete with others through leaderboards and track your progress with detailed statistics.

Highlights
  • Word formation gameplay
  • Rising tile mechanic
  • Multiple game modes
  • Bonus tiles
  • Highscores and leaderboards
  • Detailed statistics
Features
Read full description

The original best-selling mobile word game, reimagined! Pick your words wisely! As you play, more tiles rise from the bottom of the screen! It'll take all of your lexicological wits, and tactical know-how to keep your columns down. If any letters make it to the top row, it's game over. Classic modes Daily Tower, Tower, Puzzle, Rush and Zen are all back and packed with brand new BONUS TILES that double (or more!) word values. Joining them is the brand new Search mode, plus ExPuzzle, Double Puzzle, Bubble Puzzle, and Blitz mode! That’s eleven modes in all! Plus iCloud Backup, Highscores reported for games even while in-progress, detailed statistics for every mode, Game Center leaderboards, and achievements. ————————— It’s pretty wild to be revisiting my first hit game, SpellTower. I can't believe it's almost 10 years since it released. The first iPhones it ran on had a 3.5 inch screen and 320 x 480 resolution! I literally did a double-take at that resolution when I looked it up. A funny part about having a hit game is people talk to you about it. With SpellTower I heard about grandparents playing the game every morning to keep their minds sharp, parents playing it with their kids, expectant mothers playing it to get through morning sickness, and countless sightings of strangers playing it on subways, planes — even elevators. I got into games because I wanted to connect with people in a positive way. I wanted to help people think critically and come away with more than they arrived with. Games felt like a way to do this on a huge scale, but the stories I heard from SpellTower players taught me that games do so much more for people than I ever expected. I’m deeply grateful that SpellTower has been able to be something special for so many people, and I think that’s why so many people have shared it with friends, loved ones, and strangers on elevators. Even though SpellTower is a game I made, it’s really barely mine anymore. The experiences and love I had for the game has been outstripped by its audiences a thousandfold. I thought a lot about all the experiences that people have had with the game when I was designing this new version. I hope it gives everyone who’s loved the game a reason to pick it back up again and share it amongst their friends and family. -zach

About

4 Pics 1 Word+

This word puzzle game presents four images that share a common word. Solve thousands of levels to train your brain and improve vocabulary. Enjoy uninterrupted, pure puzzle fun without ads or in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • Four pictures, one word puzzles
  • Thousands of levels
  • Brain training and vocabulary improvement
  • No ads or in-app purchases
  • Playable solo or with friends
Features
Read full description

The Arcade edition of the #1 hit game! No ads, no in-app purchases—just pure puzzle fun. 4 pictures that have 1 word in common: Can you solve the puzzle? Experience the global puzzle phenomenon like never before. Based on the classic hit enjoyed by over 400 million players worldwide, this Plus edition brings you the pure, uninterrupted joy of 4 Pics 1 Word. GAMEPLAY YOU KNOW AND LOVE The rules are simple, but the fun is endless. Look at four pictures and find the one word that connects them all. • Countless Puzzles: From easy to tricky, thousands of levels are waiting for you. • Brain Training: We add fresh puzzles continuously for you to improve your vocabulary and spelling skills. • Pure Fun: Enjoy the game without ads and in-app purchases. PLAY TOGETHER Whether you're playing solo during a commute or solving puzzles together on the couch, 4 Pics 1 Word is the perfect game to play with friends and family. Gather around the screen and solve the puzzles together. SIMPLE AND ADDICTIVE No registration, no complicated rules: Just start playing and have fun! Look at the four pictures, find out what they have in common, and win. Join the fun and see why everyone loves this game!

Screenshots

SpellTower+4 screens
4 Pics 1 Word+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: 4 Pics 1 Word+ at 4.6 against SpellTower+'s 3.8. 4 Pics 1 Word+ also leads on monetization model (free vs paid) and update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). SpellTower+'s advantage is review sentiment (40% vs 22%) and iOS requirement (13.6 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

4 Pics 1 Word+ holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 470 and 613 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 40% of SpellTower+'s written reviews are positive against 22% of 4 Pics 1 Word+'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SpellTower+ ships an update monthly, 4 Pics 1 Word+ every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SpellTower+ versus 4 Pics 1 Word+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpellTower+4 Pics 1 Word+
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (470 ratings)4.6 (613 ratings) — better
Positive reviews39.6% of reviews — better21.5% of reviews
Number of ratings470613 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.6 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size123 MB117 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZach GageLOTUM GmbH

Customer experience

SpellTower+

All ratings467 ratings
Positive63.4%
Neutral16.9%
Negative19.7%
Written reviews250 reviews
Positive39.6%
Neutral29.2%
Negative31.2%

4 Pics 1 Word+

All ratings502 ratings
Positive88.4%
Neutral6.2%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews93 reviews
Positive21.5%
Neutral10.8%
Negative67.7%

Bugs and requests

SpellTower+

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Syncing issues with leaderboards and scores
  • Crashes and freezes on certain devices
  • Unresponsive controls and UI elements

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add dictionary definitions for found words
  • Improve word challenge system
  • Allow customization of fonts and colors
  • Expand word library to include more languages

4 Pics 1 Word+

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

SpellTower+

No in-app purchases

None

4 Pics 1 Word+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SpellTower+ free?
SpellTower+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is 4 Pics 1 Word+ free?
4 Pics 1 Word+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SpellTower+ or 4 Pics 1 Word+?
4 Pics 1 Word+ is rated higher. SpellTower+ averages 3.8 out of 5 from 470 ratings, while 4 Pics 1 Word+ averages 4.6 from 613 ratings.
Do SpellTower+ or 4 Pics 1 Word+ have ads?
Neither SpellTower+ nor 4 Pics 1 Word+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SpellTower+ or 4 Pics 1 Word+?
SpellTower+ ships an update monthly, and 4 Pics 1 Word+ every 3 days. Most recently, SpellTower+ was updated on October 21, 2026 and 4 Pics 1 Word+ on October 28, 2026.

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