# Crossword Light vs Crossword

The clearest difference is rating: Crossword at 4.4 against Crossword Light's 3.0. Crossword also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 53%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Crossword Light sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Crossword sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Crossword holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 54 and 152 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of Crossword Light's written reviews are positive against 70% of Crossword's.

Crossword Light ships an update every 3 months, Crossword every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Crossword Light | Crossword |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (54 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-light/id285702231/reviews) | **[4.4 (152 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword/id1061490811/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 54 | **152** |
| Positive reviews | 52.7% of reviews | **70.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 29 MB | 101 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Stand Alone, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284036527) | [Havos](https://appshunter.io/developer/309789068) |

## What reviewers say

### Crossword Light

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-light/id285702231)

Solve daily crossword puzzles from various newspapers on your mobile device. Get hints, view clues, and track your progress. This light version includes 40 puzzles, with more available in the full version.

**Highlights:** Daily crossword puzzles, Hints available, View clues, Track improvement, Leaderboard, Social media integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aaxword's Easy Themeless Puzzles | $0.99 | one-time |
| Aaxword's Easy Micro Puzzles | $0.99 | one-time |
| MacNamara's Band, Vol. 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Edited by Ben Tausig, vol. 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Ink Well Crosswords, Volume 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Dell Magazines #1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Ridonkulous Crosswords | $1.99 | one-time |
| Jonesin' Crosswords | $2.99 | one-time |
| Brendan Emmett Quigley's Favorites, Vol. 1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Crosswords | $9.99 | one-time |


### Crossword

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword/id1061490811)

Engage with a vast collection of American-style crosswords, featuring adjustable grid sizes and difficulty levels. Enjoy unlimited on-the-fly generated puzzles and utilize helpful tools like validation and a built-in solver. Supports multiple languages and spelling preferences for a personalized experience.

**Highlights:** Adjustable grid zoom and movement, Multiple grid sizes and difficulty levels, On-the-fly grid generation for unlimited play, Thousands of straight and general knowledge clues, US/UK English spelling options, Built-in crossword solver and hints, Crosswords in French, German, and Dutch

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter (no ads) | $4.99 | per year |
| Stack of 1300 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stack of 3000 Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Stack of 8000 coins | $3.99 | one-time |
| Stack of 20000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Crossword Light free?

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

### Is Crossword free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Crossword Light or Crossword?

Crossword is rated higher. Crossword Light averages 3.0 out of 5 from 54 ratings, while Crossword averages 4.4 from 152 ratings.

### Do Crossword Light or Crossword have ads?

Both Crossword Light and Crossword show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Crossword Light or Crossword?

Crossword Light ships an update every 3 months, and Crossword every 5 months. Most recently, Crossword Light was updated on October 23, 2026 and Crossword on November 1, 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.*