# Balloony Word vs Cryptogram Mania

The clearest difference is rating: Cryptogram Mania at 5.0 against Balloony Word's 2.3. Cryptogram Mania also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). Balloony Word's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (6 vs 1). On price, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cryptogram Mania sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Balloony Word asks for nothing beyond the download.

Cryptogram Mania holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Balloony Word has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Balloony Word ships an update every 3 months, Cryptogram Mania every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Balloony Word | Cryptogram Mania |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balloony-word/id403683612/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptogram-mania/id6587549325/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 16 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Independent](https://appshunter.io/developer/319125303) | [Gilbert Gonsalves](https://appshunter.io/developer/492123194) |

## What reviewers say

### Balloony Word

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balloony-word/id403683612)

A family-friendly educational word guessing game that helps players practice and expand their vocabulary. Instead of hanging a character, players pop balloons to guess words, making it a fun and safe alternative to traditional hangman games.

**Highlights:** Family-friendly educational game, Balloon popping word guessing, Vocabulary practice, Multiple word lists (Pro), Themed characters and music, Secret hint feature

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cryptogram Mania

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptogram-mania/id6587549325)

Solve encrypted puzzles featuring famous quotes. This game offers 180 free cryptograms, each using a simple substitution cipher to reveal insightful messages. Enjoy a straightforward and engaging word puzzle experience.

**Highlights:** 180 free cryptogram puzzles, Substitution cipher gameplay, Features famous quotes, Simple and engaging puzzles, Suitable for all ages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Puzzle Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 3 | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Balloony Word free?

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

### Is Cryptogram Mania free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Balloony Word or Cryptogram Mania?

Cryptogram Mania is rated higher. Balloony Word averages 2.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Cryptogram Mania averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Balloony Word or Cryptogram Mania have ads?

Neither Balloony Word nor Cryptogram Mania shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Balloony Word or Cryptogram Mania?

Balloony Word ships an update every 3 months, and Cryptogram Mania every 6 weeks. Most recently, Balloony Word was updated on November 1, 2026 and Cryptogram Mania on October 30, 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.*