# Knotwords vs Molecano

The clearest difference is rating: Knotwords at 4.8 against Molecano's 4.3. Knotwords also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (8.1K vs 109). Molecano's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 73%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Knotwords sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year and Molecano sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Knotwords holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Knotwords has 8.1K ratings behind it against 109, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of Knotwords's written reviews are positive against 85% of Molecano's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Knotwords ships an update every 10 days, Molecano every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Knotwords | Molecano |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (8.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knotwords/id1598756238/reviews)** | [4.3 (109 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/molecano/id6450759588/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.1K** | 109 |
| Positive reviews | 73.1% of reviews | **85.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 507 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.6 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zach Gage](https://appshunter.io/developer/294263418) | [Thomas Young](https://appshunter.io/developer/866420356) |

## What reviewers say

### Knotwords

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knotwords/id1598756238)

A daily word puzzle game that challenges you to arrange letters into valid words across and down. Its minimal design and intuitive progression make it an engaging and accessible brain teaser.

**Highlights:** Minimalist and elegant design, Logic-based word puzzles, Daily challenges, Intuitive progression system, Valid word arrangement

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Knotwords Pro subscription | $4.99 | per year |
| Full Game | $11.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great game
- 👍 Fun and challenging
- 🚀 Simple but engaging
- 👍 Unique concept
- 👍 Addictive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Buggy cursor/input issues
- 🐛 Slow performance
- 🐛 Questionable word choices
- 🔋 Battery drain

**Reported bugs**

- Puzzles with missing/incorrect squares
- Incorrect words being accepted
- Puzzles not properly credited as completed
- Hints not matching the correct answers

**Requested features**

- Ability to turn off haptic feedback
- Improved cursor/input behavior
- Cloud sync across devices
- Difficulty settings
- Ability to see definitions of completed words


### Molecano

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/molecano/id6450759588)

Embark on a word-based adventure to help a mole navigate volcanic landscapes. String words together to create bridges and collect food across challenging lava-filled levels. This unique puzzle game offers a relaxing experience with a cool soundtrack and unlockable characters.

**Highlights:** Unique word puzzle gameplay, 500+ levels, Unlockable characters, Chill soundtrack, Word-based bridge creation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Unique and innovative word puzzle concept
- 🎨 Charming art style and visual design
- 🎵 Calming, relaxing lo-fi music
- 😌 Relaxing and stress-relieving gameplay
- 👥 Collectible characters from other games

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Too many ads despite being fewer than competitors
- 💰 Expensive ad removal cost
- 🐢 Slow character movement animation
- 📱 Game map too small on phone screens
- 🎮 Becomes repetitive after extended play

**Reported bugs**

- Level 137 - character won't move after placing letters
- Level 311 - multiple reports of unsolvable/broken level
- Level 339 - reported as extremely difficult/possibly broken
- Level 480 - appears to have no solution
- Level 464 - reported as impossible to pass

**Requested features**

- More levels beyond level 500
- Larger game map for mobile devices
- Ability to rotate words 360 degrees
- Replay previous completed levels
- Game Center/cloud save compatibility


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Knotwords free?

Knotwords is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Molecano free?

Molecano is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Knotwords or Molecano?

Knotwords is rated higher. Knotwords averages 4.8 out of 5 from 8.1K ratings, while Molecano averages 4.3 from 109 ratings.

### Do Knotwords or Molecano have ads?

Molecano shows ads; Knotwords does not.

### Which is updated more often, Knotwords or Molecano?

Knotwords ships an update every 10 days, and Molecano every 3 weeks. Most recently, Knotwords was updated on September 24, 2026 and Molecano on September 23, 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.*