# Crosswords Classic vs Word Master

The clearest difference is rating: Word Master at 4.9 against Crosswords Classic's 3.4. Word Master also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 14) and price ($4.99 vs $9.99). Crosswords Classic's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On update cadence, ads, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Crosswords Classic costs $9.99 and Word Master $4.99 up front. Crosswords Classic sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. Word Master asks for nothing beyond the download.

Word Master holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Word Master has 4K ratings behind it against 73, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Crosswords Classic's written reviews are positive against 87% of Word Master's.

Crosswords Classic ships an update every 3 months, Word Master every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Crosswords Classic | Word Master |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **$4.99** |
| Rating | [3.4 (73 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crosswords-classic/id284036524/reviews) | **[4.9 (4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-master-pro/id980016643/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 73 | **4K** |
| Positive reviews | 68.7% of reviews | **86.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #27 | **#14** |
| Size | 10 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stand Alone, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284036527) | [Luis Gualandi](https://appshunter.io/developer/979597989) |

## What reviewers say

### Crosswords Classic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crosswords-classic/id284036524)

**Currently charting:** #27 Top Paid · Word (US App Store)

Play daily crossword puzzles from various newspapers directly on your device. Download new puzzles, get hints, track your progress, and even sync with a Mac version. Offers a vast library of puzzles and competitive features.

**Highlights:** Daily puzzle downloads, Hints and clue lookups, Solve time tracking, Mac sync functionality, Extensive puzzle sources, US and UK cryptic puzzles, Ink or pencil entry modes

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aaxword's Easy Themeless Puzzles | $0.99 | one-time |
| MacNamara's Band Vol. 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Ben Tausig's Editorial Favorites, Vol, 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Matt Gaffney's Easy/Medium Crosswords | $1.99 | one-time |
| Dell Magazine #1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Ridonkulous Crosswords | $1.99 | one-time |
| Liz Gorski's Crossword Nation:  Vol. 1, No. 1-20 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Matt Gaffney's Book Crosswords | $1.99 | one-time |
| Jonesin' Crosswords | $2.99 | one-time |
| Brendan Emmett Quigley's Favorites Volume 1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Matt Gaffney's Music Crosswords | $2.99 | one-time |
| Jonesin' Crosswords #2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Brendan Emmett Quigley's Favorites Volume 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| You Can't Do That in a Crossword | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive app
- 👍 Excellent user interface
- 💡 Wide variety of crossword puzzles
- 🚀 Seamless puzzle downloading
- 👍 Customizable settings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Limited Australian/UK content
- 🔍 Difficulty selecting specific squares
- 🔍 Keyboard interferes with puzzle view
- 🔍 Inconsistent formatting and layout

**Reported bugs**

- Puzzles disappearing after updates
- Inability to download new puzzles
- Incorrect letter highlighting issues
- Keyboard and toolbar overlap problems

**Requested features**

- Add more Australian and UK crossword sources
- Improve keyboard handling and layout
- Implement a night mode or dark theme
- Allow deleting/hiding completed puzzles
- Provide better syncing between devices


### Word Master

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-master-pro/id980016643)

**Currently charting:** #14 Top Paid · Word, #74 Top Paid · Board (US App Store)

This is a challenging word game that lets you build words from letter tiles on a board. Play against AI or friends offline, improve your vocabulary with definitions, and customize your game experience with various board layouts and features.

**Highlights:** Offline play, Play against AI, Pass 'n Play multiplayer, Challenge mode, Word definitions, Customizable board layouts, Hints for valid words

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Crosswords Classic free?

Crosswords Classic costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Word Master free?

Word Master costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Crosswords Classic or Word Master?

Word Master is rated higher. Crosswords Classic averages 3.4 out of 5 from 73 ratings, while Word Master averages 4.9 from 4K ratings.

### Do Crosswords Classic or Word Master have ads?

Neither Crosswords Classic nor Word Master shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Crosswords Classic or Word Master?

Crosswords Classic ships an update every 3 months, and Word Master every 2 months. Most recently, Crosswords Classic was updated on October 26, 2026 and Word Master on October 26, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Crosswords Classic or Word Master?

Crosswords Classic currently peaks at #27 in the App Store charts, and Word Master at #14. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*