# Cracking the Cryptic vs VariantDoku

The clearest difference is rating: VariantDoku at 4.8 against Cracking the Cryptic's 4.4. VariantDoku also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Cracking the Cryptic's advantage is ratings volume (208 vs 6) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cracking the Cryptic sells 13 one-off in-app purchases and VariantDoku sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

VariantDoku holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cracking the Cryptic has 208 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Cracking the Cryptic's written reviews are positive against 75% of VariantDoku's.

Cracking the Cryptic ships an update every 3 weeks, VariantDoku weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cracking the Cryptic | VariantDoku |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (208 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934/reviews) | **[4.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/variantdoku-variant-sudoku/id6763799102/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **208** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 72.1% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 234 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nick Carney](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434235673) | [Uladzislau Artsemyeu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1853525975) |

## What reviewers say

### Cracking the Cryptic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CTC Worms - James Sinclair | $0.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Marty Sears | $0.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Zetamath | $1.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Blobz | $1.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Michael Lefkowitz | $1.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Phistomefel | $1.99 | one-time |
| GAS Volume #1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| GAS Volume #2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| CTC Approachable Sudoku #1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Domino Sudoku Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lines Variety Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Classic Volume #2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| CTC Fog Pack #1 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### VariantDoku

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/variantdoku-variant-sudoku/id6763799102)

This app offers a vast library of over 1,800 logic puzzles, including various Sudoku variants. It features interactive tutorials for learning new puzzle types and tools to aid in solving without guesswork. Enjoy a calm, ad-free experience with progress tracking and customizable interface options.

**Highlights:** 1,800+ variant and zero-givens puzzles, Logic-checked puzzles with unique solutions, Daily puzzle with leaderboard, Interactive tutorials for all variants, Advanced solving tools (notes, colors, symbols), Progress tracking and streaks, Dark mode and calm interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Variant+ Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Variant+ Annual | $24.99 | per year |
| Variant+ Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cracking the Cryptic free?

Cracking the Cryptic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is VariantDoku free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Cracking the Cryptic or VariantDoku?

VariantDoku is rated higher. Cracking the Cryptic averages 4.4 out of 5 from 208 ratings, while VariantDoku averages 4.8 from 6 ratings.

### Do Cracking the Cryptic or VariantDoku have ads?

Neither Cracking the Cryptic nor VariantDoku shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cracking the Cryptic or VariantDoku?

Cracking the Cryptic ships an update every 3 weeks, and VariantDoku weekly. Most recently, Cracking the Cryptic was updated on October 18, 2026 and VariantDoku on October 7, 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.*