Comparison

Cracking the Cryptic vs Sudoku Classic

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Cracking the Cryptic

This app offers a curated collection of handcrafted Sudoku puzzles from world-renowned constructors. Explore classic and unique variants, with new puzzle packs released regularly. A free introductory pack is included with download.

Highlights
  • Handcrafted Sudoku puzzles
  • Curated by expert constructors
  • Classic and unique variants
  • Regularly released puzzle packs
  • Free introductory puzzle pack
Features
Read full description

OUR NEWEST PACK – CLASSIC VOLUME #2! Classic sudoku is where it all began, and there is still lots of skill to be deployed to solve classic puzzles, and new techniques to be explored. Nikoli, the Japanese puzzle house, named and popularised sudoku from 1984, and we have commissioned 20 puzzles from them for this Classic Sudoku 2 app. We have also created 20 ourselves, and sourced 20 more from Sam Cappleman-Lynes, the brilliant British sudoku expert. The result is a wonderful 60-puzzle pack which will delight and challenge you. -------------------- Welcome to the brand new Sudoku app from the most popular Sudoku channel, Cracking The Cryptic. Unlike other Sudoku apps, we feature handcrafted and curated puzzles from the world’s best Sudoku constructors. Each collection features puzzles made by various authors that are now familiar names to those who follow the channel. Authors like Phistomefel, Clover, Sam Cappleman-Lynes, Christoph Seeliger, Richard Stolk, jovi_al, Qodec, Prasanna Seshadri and of course, Simon and Mark! Downloading Cracking the Cryptic will give you access to our first free collection – a variety pack by Prasanna Seshadri featuring 7 puzzles inspired from our previous Sudoku apps; Sandwich, Classic, Chess, Thermo, Miracle, Killer and Arrow Sudoku. We also have purchasable packs designed for all skill levels and featuring many unique variants not seen previously. We’ll be releasing more free and paid packs in the future so keep an eye on the app for more Sudoku content from Cracking The Cryptic!

About

Sudoku Classic

Engage your mind with a classic logic puzzle game. Offers beautifully crafted boards across multiple difficulty levels, with smart hints to guide your progress. Track your performance and enjoy a seamless experience with cloud sync.

Highlights
  • Beautiful handcrafted boards
  • 6 playing levels
  • Smart hints
  • Weekly Challenge
  • Cloud Sync
  • Performance tracking
  • Unlimited Undo/Redo
Features
Read full description

Classic Sudoku by Logic Wiz is a free entertaining logic game and brain training app, joining a family of Sudoku and Logic games developed by Logic Wiz. The puzzles are beautifully handcrafted and divided into 6 playing levels from Beginner to Master. The app comes with a great interface and tools for novice and professional solvers. Smart hints show the next logical step to overcome hurdles and help you become a better player. The Logic Wiz Sudoku free app was chosen as the Best Sudoku app and the Best Brain Training app. About Sudoku: Sudoku is a logic number game. The objective is to fill a 9x9 board with the digits 1 to 9, so that no digit appears twice in a row, column and 3x3 box. Puzzle Features: * Beautiful handcrafted boards. * Unique solution to each puzzle. * All boards designed and created by Logic-Wiz. Game Features: * Smart Hints to help and teach. * Weekly Challenge. * Gallery game view. * Play multiple games concurrently. * Cloud Sync - Synchronize your progress over multiple devices. * Keep Screen Awake. * Light and Dark Theme. * Sticky digit mode. * Remaining cells of a digit. * Select multiple cells at once. * Select multiple cells at distributed locations of the board. * Multiple pencil marks styles. * Double notation. * Auto remove pencil marks. * Highlight matching digits and pencil marks. * Multiple error modes. * Performance tracking for each puzzle. * Statistics and Accomplishments. * Unlimited Undo/Redo. * Various cell marking options- highlights and symbols * Track and improve solving time. * Board preview. * Reset Level * Mobile Phones and Tablets.

Screenshots

Cracking the Cryptic4 screens
Sudoku Classic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Cracking the Cryptic at none against Sudoku Classic's shown. Cracking the Cryptic also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). Sudoku Classic's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (91% vs 72%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Cracking the Cryptic sells 13 one-off in-app purchases and Sudoku Classic sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sudoku Classic holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 208 and 391 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Cracking the Cryptic's written reviews are positive against 91% of Sudoku Classic's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cracking the Cryptic ships an update every 3 weeks, Sudoku Classic every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 21, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Cracking the Cryptic versus Sudoku Classic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCracking the CrypticSudoku Classic
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (208 ratings)4.8 (391 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.1% of reviews90.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings208391 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size234 MB192 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNick CarneyLogic-Wiz

Customer experience

Cracking the Cryptic

All ratings208 ratings
Positive84.1%
Neutral6.3%
Negative9.6%
Written reviews147 reviews
Positive72.1%
Neutral13.6%
Negative14.3%

Sudoku Classic

All ratings391 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral1.3%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews107 reviews
Positive90.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.3%

User reviews

Cracking the Cryptic

From 208 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Best sudoku app
  • 👍 Great variety of puzzles
  • 👍 Excellent user interface
  • 👍 Challenging and fun puzzles
  • 👍 Constant updates with new puzzles

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Hints are often incorrect or unhelpful
  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes, especially after updates
  • 🔋 Battery draining issues
  • 🔒 Too many in-app purchases required to access content

Sudoku Classic

From 391 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Excellent user interface
  • 💡 Helpful strategy tips and tutorials
  • 🚀 Smooth gameplay experience
  • 🎨 Beautiful puzzle design
  • 🔍 Variety of difficulty levels

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent ads that disrupt gameplay
  • 🔍 Inconsistent puzzle availability
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 🤔 Confusing hint explanations

Bugs and requests

Cracking the Cryptic

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Puzzle progress and purchases disappearing after updates
  • Incorrect rules or hints in certain puzzles
  • Crashes and freezes, especially on older devices or Macs
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between portrait and landscape modes

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more color options for pencil marking and highlighting
  • Implement a way to clear progress or start puzzles from scratch
  • Integrate all CTC apps into a single app for better organization
  • Add keyboard support, especially on Mac
  • Improve the quality and clarity of hints

Sudoku Classic

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Puzzles disappearing from the library
  • Ads that cannot be closed or skipped

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to import custom puzzles
  • Save and resume unfinished puzzles
  • Progress tracking and statistics
  • Offline mode for no ads

In-app purchases

13 purchases

Cracking the Cryptic

One-time13
  • CTC Worms - James Sinclair$0.99
  • CTC Worms - Marty Sears$0.99
  • CTC Worms - Zetamath$1.99
Show 10 more
  • CTC Worms - Blobz$1.99
  • CTC Worms - Michael Lefkowitz$1.99
  • CTC Worms - Phistomefel$1.99
  • GAS Volume #1$2.99
  • GAS Volume #2$2.99
  • CTC Approachable Sudoku #1$2.99
  • Domino Sudoku Pack$4.99
  • Lines Variety Pack$4.99
  • Classic Volume #2$4.99
  • CTC Fog Pack #1$4.99
3 purchases

Sudoku Classic

One-time3
  • Logic Wiz Classic Sudoku promo$5.59
  • Logic Wiz Classic Sudoku Spec.$5.59
  • Logic Wiz Classic Sudoku$6.99

Questions

Is Cracking the Cryptic free?
Cracking the Cryptic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sudoku Classic free?
Sudoku Classic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Cracking the Cryptic or Sudoku Classic?
Sudoku Classic is rated higher. Cracking the Cryptic averages 4.4 out of 5 from 208 ratings, while Sudoku Classic averages 4.8 from 391 ratings.
Do Cracking the Cryptic or Sudoku Classic have ads?
Sudoku Classic shows ads; Cracking the Cryptic does not.
Which is updated more often, Cracking the Cryptic or Sudoku Classic?
Cracking the Cryptic ships an update every 3 weeks, and Sudoku Classic every 2 weeks. Most recently, Cracking the Cryptic was updated on September 21, 2026 and Sudoku Classic on September 21, 2026.

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