# Crossword Explorer+ vs Knotwords+

The clearest difference is rating: Crossword Explorer+ at 4.9 against Knotwords+'s 3.8. Crossword Explorer+ also leads on monetization model (free vs paid) and ratings volume (2.3K vs 121). Knotwords+'s advantage is review sentiment (48% vs 22%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Crossword Explorer+ holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Crossword Explorer+ has 2.3K ratings behind it against 121, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 22% of Crossword Explorer+'s written reviews are positive against 48% of Knotwords+'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Crossword Explorer+ ships an update every 3 months, Knotwords+ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Crossword Explorer+ | Knotwords+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-explorer-plus/id1551764376/reviews)** | [3.8 (121 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knotwords-plus/id6449983614/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.3K** | 121 |
| Positive reviews | 22.4% of reviews | **48.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 266 MB | 185 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 13.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PlaySimple Games Pte Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1189416142) | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) |

## What reviewers say

### Crossword Explorer+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-explorer-plus/id1551764376)

Engage your mind with daily crossword puzzles and trivia. Access thousands of puzzles with new themes each day to expand your vocabulary and general knowledge. Play anytime, anywhere on your iOS device.

**Highlights:** Daily new puzzles, Thousands of puzzles available, Variety of daily themes, Hints for difficult words, Vocabulary and general knowledge improvement

**Features:** With Apple Arcade

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Relaxing and fun gameplay
- 🚀 Smooth and intuitive controls
- 💡 Bite-sized crossword puzzles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Puzzles too easy and repetitive
- 📍 Heavily US-centric content
- 🔍 Lack of difficulty options or progression
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes reported

**Reported bugs**

- Black screen on startup
- Incorrect answers and spelling errors
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Add difficulty settings or skip easy levels
- Improve crossword variety and reduce repetition
- Optimize for landscape mode on iPad
- Implement cloud save/sync across devices


### Knotwords+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knotwords-plus/id6449983614)

A minimalist word puzzle game where you arrange letters to form valid words across and down. The game offers a guided progression, making challenging puzzles become easier as you play.

**Highlights:** Minimalist design, Elegant logic puzzle, Arrange letters to form words, Guided progression, Daily word fix

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Enjoyable and challenging gameplay
- 🚀 Addictive and engaging
- 🧠 Exercises vocabulary and problem-solving skills

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Cursor/input issues and unintuitive navigation
- 🤔 Obscure or questionable word choices
- 🔍 Unhelpful or unclear hints/definitions
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💾 Save/progress issues

**Reported bugs**

- Puzzle progress not saving properly
- Cursor jumping to unexpected cells
- Incorrect or nonsensical word definitions

**Requested features**

- Ability to create custom levels or puzzles
- Option to turn off haptic feedback
- Improved sync/progress tracking across devices
- More intuitive cursor/input controls
- Better hint system and word definitions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Crossword Explorer+ free?

Crossword Explorer+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Knotwords+ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Crossword Explorer+ or Knotwords+?

Crossword Explorer+ is rated higher. Crossword Explorer+ averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2.3K ratings, while Knotwords+ averages 3.8 from 121 ratings.

### Do Crossword Explorer+ or Knotwords+ have ads?

Neither Crossword Explorer+ nor Knotwords+ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Crossword Explorer+ or Knotwords+?

Crossword Explorer+ ships an update every 3 months, and Knotwords+ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Crossword Explorer+ was updated on September 23, 2026 and Knotwords+ on September 14, 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.*