# Strands WordBox Word Search vs ShiftFive

The clearest difference is ads: Strands WordBox Word Search at none against ShiftFive's shown. Strands WordBox Word Search also leads on ratings volume (935 vs 6) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). ShiftFive's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 88%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Strands WordBox Word Search sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and ShiftFive sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ShiftFive holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Strands WordBox Word Search has 935 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Strands WordBox Word Search's written reviews are positive against 100% of ShiftFive's.

Strands WordBox Word Search ships an update weekly, ShiftFive monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Strands WordBox Word Search | ShiftFive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (935 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strands-wordbox-word-search/id1599797505/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftfive/id6502816034/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **935** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 88.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 25 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [James Ormond](https://appshunter.io/developer/1138609968) | [Braxton Smallwood](https://appshunter.io/developer/1732527885) |

## What reviewers say

### Strands WordBox Word Search

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strands-wordbox-word-search/id1599797505)

Engage your mind with a challenging word search game featuring over 2,000 free puzzles. Enhance spelling and vocabulary, compete with friends, and track progress on a live leaderboard. Enjoy distraction-free gameplay with various modes and unlimited practice.

**Highlights:** Over 2,000 free puzzles, Enhance spelling and vocabulary, Play solo or challenge friends, Live leaderboard, Classic, Themed, and Frenzy modes, Unlimited gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rhyme Time | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1,000 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hard 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Casual 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| 1,000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $6.99 | one-time |
| 3,000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 8,000 Coins | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎉 Fun and challenging
- 👍 Customizable theme settings
- 🔒 Option to opt out of ads
- 💡 Variety of difficulty levels
- 🧠 Brain-stimulating gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Inappropriate ads
- 🐛 Occasional performance issues
- 🤔 Lack of explanations/help
- 🤷‍♀️ Repetitive word choices

**Reported bugs**

- Daily puzzle streak broken when completed before midnight
- Landscape mode not working on some devices
- App freezing or slowing down after extended use

**Requested features**

- More free play puzzles
- Ability to sync progress across devices
- Option to disable hints/clues
- Larger font size for higher levels


### ShiftFive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftfive/id6502816034)

Engage in a strategic letter elimination game where you guess a five-letter word. Utilize color-coded feedback to eliminate letters and score points. Unlock rewards and themed word packs for extended gameplay.

**Highlights:** Strategic letter elimination, Color-coded feedback system, Daily Classic and Daily Shift modes, Unlockable rewards, Themed Word Packs, Scoring based on efficiency

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| It's Spooky Word Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gettin' Swoll Word Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pass the Popcorn Word Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Feels Word Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Nom Nom Word Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Feel the Beat Word Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| To Be Young Word Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| It's a Zoo Word Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| On the Go Word Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| 10 Word Packs+Unlimited+No Ads | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Strands WordBox Word Search free?

Strands WordBox Word Search is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ShiftFive free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Strands WordBox Word Search or ShiftFive?

ShiftFive is rated higher. Strands WordBox Word Search averages 4.7 out of 5 from 935 ratings, while ShiftFive averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Strands WordBox Word Search or ShiftFive have ads?

ShiftFive shows ads; Strands WordBox Word Search does not.

### Which is updated more often, Strands WordBox Word Search or ShiftFive?

Strands WordBox Word Search ships an update weekly, and ShiftFive monthly. Most recently, Strands WordBox Word Search was updated on November 7, 2026 and ShiftFive on November 4, 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.*