# Cracking the Cryptic vs zenkari

The clearest difference is rating: zenkari at 5.0 against Cracking the Cryptic's 4.4. zenkari also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 13) and review sentiment (100% vs 72%). Cracking the Cryptic's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (208 vs 1). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cracking the Cryptic sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. zenkari asks for nothing beyond the download.

zenkari holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cracking the Cryptic has 208 ratings behind it against 1, 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 100% of zenkari's.

Cracking the Cryptic ships an update every 3 weeks, zenkari every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cracking the Cryptic | zenkari |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (208 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zenkari/id6771020293/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **208** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 72.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 234 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Nick Carney](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434235673) | [JEREMY S WEBER](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892162547) |

## 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


### zenkari

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zenkari/id6771020293)

A native Akari puzzle game for iPhone and iPad. Place lanterns to light up the board while avoiding conflicts. Offers various puzzle types, daily challenges, and optional Game Center integration.

**Highlights:** Touch-friendly grids with haptics, Multiple Akari variations, Procedurally generated puzzles, Daily challenge with target time, Optional Game Center integration, Accessibility features

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cracking the Cryptic free?

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

### Is zenkari free?

zenkari is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

zenkari is rated higher. Cracking the Cryptic averages 4.4 out of 5 from 208 ratings, while zenkari averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

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

zenkari shows ads; Cracking the Cryptic does not.

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

Cracking the Cryptic ships an update every 3 weeks, and zenkari every 10 days. Most recently, Cracking the Cryptic was updated on October 14, 2026 and zenkari on September 24, 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.*