Sudoku vs Sudoku Kensei
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sudoku
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A classic sudoku game. Free and no ads!
Sudoku Kensei
This app helps you understand and solve Sudoku puzzles with visual hints and advanced techniques. It offers features like a camera scanner for printed puzzles and smart candidate management. Customize your experience with various display options.
- Visual Sudoku technique finders
- Camera puzzle scanner
- Smart candidate management
- Advanced fish pattern finders (Pro)
- Customizable display and entry methods
- Save, export, and share puzzles (Pro)
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Sudoku Kensei is a powerful Sudoku game and teacher designed to help you understand and solve puzzles — not just fill in the boxes. SOLVE SMARTER WITH VISUAL FINDERS Turn on any finder and the board lights up with color-coded hints. Naked Singles, Hidden Singles, Box Exclusions, Naked Pairs, Triples, Quads, and more — each technique is highlighted so you can see the logic, not just the answer. Finders never solve for you; they show you where to look. ADVANCED FISH PATTERNS (PRO) Tackle the toughest grids with X-Wing, Swordfish, and Jellyfish finders. Each pattern is highlighted with color-coded cells and backgrounds. Select a digit on the keypad to isolate one fish at a time — perfect for studying and learning advanced technique. SCAN ANY PUZZLE Point your camera at a printed book, magazine, or on-screen puzzle, or scan from an existing photo or screen capture of a puzzle. Review recognized digits before solving, and correct any misreads with a tap. SMART CANDIDATE MANAGEMENT Show all pencil marks with one tap. Automatic candidate tracking eliminates impossible values as you solve. Pro users can convert naked singles one at a time or all at once with the built-in solvers. SAVE, EXPORT & SHARE Save in-progress games and pick up where you left off. Pro version includes ability to import and export any puzzle as a QR code to share with friends. MAKE IT YOURS Choose custom colors for your answers, scanned clues, candidates, and highlights. Adjust font sizes, pick cell-first or keypad-first entry, and configure display preferences to match how you like to work. FREE & PRO The free version includes 10 free puzzle scans, all basic finders through naked and hidden pairs, and candidate customization. Upgrade once to unlock: • Fishy pattern finders: X-Wing, Swordfish, Jellyfish • Advanced multiples: Triples, Quads, Quintets • Convert Next Singles and Convert All Singles solvers • Unlimited puzzle scans • Import/Export puzzles • Additional pro features (and more coming soon!)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sudoku at none against Sudoku Kensei's 1. Sudoku also leads on iOS requirement (14.3 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Sudoku Kensei sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Sudoku asks for nothing beyond the download.
Sudoku ships an update every 2 weeks, Sudoku Kensei monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sudoku | Sudoku Kensei |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.3 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.3 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 翌璠 张 | David Shapiro |
In-app purchases
Sudoku
No in-app purchases
Sudoku Kensei
- Pro Features$0.99









