# Crostix vs Astraware Acrostic

The clearest difference is ads: Crostix at none against Astraware Acrostic's shown. Crostix also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Astraware Acrostic's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (53 vs 9). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Crostix sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Astraware Acrostic sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Crostix holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Astraware Acrostic has 53 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Crostix's written reviews are positive against 76% of Astraware Acrostic's.

Crostix ships an update every 4 months, Astraware Acrostic every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Crostix | Astraware Acrostic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crostix/id317783630/reviews)** | [4.5 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astraware-acrostic/id1133591036/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **53** |
| Positive reviews | **81.3% of reviews** | 76.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 78 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brian Mountford](https://appshunter.io/developer/317783633) | [Astraware Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/392328106) |

## What reviewers say

### Crostix

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crostix/id317783630)

Engage with word puzzles where letters from answers form a hidden quote. This free version offers sample puzzles and hints, with options to unlock more content through in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Automatic letter placement, Hint system for letters or words, Score tracking based on hints, Adjustable font size, Device rotation support

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Crostix Book Two | $1.99 | one-time |
| Crostix Book Three | $1.99 | one-time |
| Crostix Book Four | $1.99 | one-time |
| Crostix Book Five | $1.99 | one-time |
| Guest Author: Gordon Frakes | $1.99 | one-time |
| Crostix Book Six | $1.99 | one-time |
| Crostix Book Eight | $1.99 | one-time |
| Crostix Book Nine | $1.99 | one-time |
| Crostix Free Book Seven | $1.99 | one-time |
| Crostix Big Book | $2.99 | one-time |


### Astraware Acrostic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astraware-acrostic/id1133591036)

Solve word clues to uncover a vertical target word. Enjoy quick puzzles perfect for short breaks, with daily and weekly challenges. Features include helpful hints and global leaderboards.

**Highlights:** Solve word clues to find a vertical target word, 50 built-in free puzzles, Daily and weekly new puzzles, Global leaderboard competition, Vowel/consonant highlighting, Helpful hints available

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Puzzles Plus | $1.99 | per month |
| Puzzles Plus | $2.99 | per 3 months |
| Puzzles Plus | $7.99 | per year |
| Easy Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tough Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ad-Free Daily Puzzles | $2.99 | one-time |
| Deluxe Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Calendar Pack 2017 | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Crostix free?

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

### Is Astraware Acrostic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Crostix or Astraware Acrostic?

Crostix is rated higher. Crostix averages 4.8 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Astraware Acrostic averages 4.5 from 53 ratings.

### Do Crostix or Astraware Acrostic have ads?

Astraware Acrostic shows ads; Crostix does not.

### Which is updated more often, Crostix or Astraware Acrostic?

Crostix ships an update every 4 months, and Astraware Acrostic every 6 weeks. Most recently, Crostix was updated on November 6, 2026 and Astraware Acrostic on November 2, 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.*