# Strands WordBox Word Search vs SpanThread

The clearest difference is ads: Strands WordBox Word Search at none against SpanThread's shown. Strands WordBox Word Search also leads on ratings volume (934 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). SpanThread's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (daily vs weekly). 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 34 one-off in-app purchases and SpanThread sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SpanThread 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 934 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Strands WordBox Word Search ships an update weekly, SpanThread daily. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Strands WordBox Word Search | SpanThread |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (934 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strands-wordbox-word-search/id1599797505/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spanthread/id6816379796/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **934** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 88.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 25 MB | 142 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [James Ormond](https://appshunter.io/developer/1138609968) | [Hayden Fuhrer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1840724376) |

## 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 (34)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Offer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Technology 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Food 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Mathematics 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Animals 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Geography | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sports 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Letter A | $0.99 | one-time |
| Colors 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Marvel | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ssssssss | $0.99 | one-time |
| Entertainment 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| -ing | $0.99 | one-time |
| Rhyme Time | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1,000 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| New Player Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Impossible 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hard 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Casual 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| 10,000 Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| 10,000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1,000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $6.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $7.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $8.99 | one-time |
| 3,000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 100,000 Coins | $11.99 | one-time |
| 8,000 Coins | $24.99 | one-time |
| 17,000 Coins | $49.99 | 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


### SpanThread

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spanthread/id6816379796)

A vibrant puzzle game where players untangle layered strings by strategically cutting them in the correct order. It offers a variety of game modes, from handcrafted levels to competitive matches, challenging logic and precision.

**Highlights:** 1,000 handcrafted levels, Daily Board challenges, Live Versus matches, Time Attack mode, Perfect Cuts mode, Endless mode, Unlockable themes and sounds

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | 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 SpanThread free?

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

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

SpanThread is rated higher. Strands WordBox Word Search averages 4.7 out of 5 from 934 ratings, while SpanThread averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

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

SpanThread shows ads; Strands WordBox Word Search does not.

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

Strands WordBox Word Search ships an update weekly, and SpanThread daily. Most recently, Strands WordBox Word Search was updated on October 27, 2026 and SpanThread on October 26, 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.*