Linux Basics vs CipherQuest
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Linux Basics
Learn essential Linux commands and concepts through an interactive, gamified mobile experience. Gain practical, day-to-day knowledge and discover useful tips presented in a fun and engaging format.
- Interactive learning
- Gamified approach
- Practical daily knowledge
- Cool tips
- Easy to learn
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Our new mobile interactive and gamified approach makes it easy and fun to learn Linux usage from the basic, the app gives practical day to day knowledge and cool tips in a gameful way.
CipherQuest
Learn cybersecurity concepts through interactive puzzles and simulated challenges. Master topics like Linux, cryptography, and web security in a gamified experience with hands-on labs. Progress through skill paths and earn rewards as you capture flags.
- 211 bite-sized challenges
- Simulated terminal and labs
- Learn Linux and command line
- Cryptography and web security
- Digital forensics and recon
- Earn XP and unlock badges
- Offline play
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Cybersecurity, turned into a puzzle game. CipherQuest breaks real security concepts into 211 bite-sized, hands-on challenges you can play anywhere. No setup, no virtual machines, no risk — just you, a simulated terminal, and a flag to capture. Inspired by Capture-The-Flag (CTF) competitions, CipherQuest teaches the concepts security professionals use every day, wrapped in a fast, gamified experience. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - Linux & the command line — ls, cat, grep, find, permissions, file systems - Cryptography — Base64, hex, Caesar, ROT13, Vigenère, Morse, hashing - Web security — SQL injection, XSS, IDOR, CSRF, SSRF, JWT, and the fixes for each - Recon & scanning — port and service discovery, banner reading, open-source intelligence - Digital forensics — log analysis, packet inspection, steganography, file carving - Memory safety — buffer overflows, ASLR, and why modern defenses exist - Reverse engineering, networking fundamentals, and connected-device security INTERACTIVE LABS This isn't multiple choice. Every lab is a self-contained simulation that runs on your device: - A SQL injection console with a schema browser — see exactly why unsanitized input breaks a login - An XSS lab that runs your payload against a fake page so you can watch the flaw happen - An animated port and service scanner - A network map you explore host by host - A password-hash lab that shows why weak passwords fall in seconds - An encoder/decoder tool bench and a fully simulated Linux terminal BUILT TO KEEP YOU LEARNING - Earn XP and level up as you go - Unlock badges and keep daily streaks - Step-by-step tutorials on every challenge — start as a complete beginner - Hints when you're stuck, flags when you win - Slick neon terminal design with satisfying animations 13 skill paths. 211 levels. Easy to expert. FREE TO START Play the first 10 levels free. Unlock all 211 levels and every interactive lab with a single one-time purchase — no subscription, ever. 100% SIMULATED, 100% OFFLINE CipherQuest never connects to, scans, or interacts with any real system. Every "server", "database" and "network" in the app is fictional data generated on your device. The app provides no tools that work against real systems and no content about circumventing the security of any device, platform or operating system. Whether you're studying for a security certification, prepping for CTF competitions, or just curious how digital security actually works, CipherQuest is the most enjoyable way to build the fundamentals. Download CipherQuest and capture your first flag today.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: CipherQuest at 5.0 against Linux Basics's 4.4. Linux Basics's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (50 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
CipherQuest holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Linux Basics has 50 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Linux Basics ships an update every 2 months, CipherQuest monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Linux Basics | CipherQuest |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (50 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 76.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 50 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 39 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Gabi Karasin | Heorhii Kozlovskyi |
Customer experience
Linux Basics
CipherQuest
In-app purchases
Linux Basics
No in-app purchases
CipherQuest
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Linux Basics free?
Is CipherQuest free?
Which has better reviews, Linux Basics or CipherQuest?
Do Linux Basics or CipherQuest have ads?
Which is updated more often, Linux Basics or CipherQuest?
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