# Crosswords Plus . vs Astraware Acrostic

The clearest difference is price: Astraware Acrostic at Free against Crosswords Plus .'s $4.99. Astraware Acrostic also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months). Crosswords Plus .'s advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On review sentiment, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Astraware Acrostic is free to download; Crosswords Plus . costs $4.99 up front. Crosswords Plus . sells 5 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.

Crosswords Plus . holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 59 and 53 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Crosswords Plus .'s written reviews are positive against 76% of Astraware Acrostic's.

Crosswords Plus . ships an update every 5 months, Astraware Acrostic every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Crosswords Plus . | Astraware Acrostic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (59 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crosswords-plus/id444922518/reviews)** | [4.5 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astraware-acrostic/id1133591036/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **59** | 53 |
| Positive reviews | **82.8% of reviews** | 76.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 93 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [the binary family](https://appshunter.io/developer/307768703) | [Astraware Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/392328106) |

## What reviewers say

### Crosswords Plus .

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crosswords-plus/id444922518)

Engage with a classic crossword experience where clues are integrated directly into the puzzle grid. Enjoy 1200 unique puzzles across four difficulty levels, designed for both quick breaks and extended challenges. Immerse yourself with customizable interfaces and optional sound effects.

**Highlights:** Clues integrated into the puzzle grid, 1200 unique puzzles, 4 difficulty levels, 3 interface options, Optional sound effects, Customizable grid sizes

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 300 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| 300 Puzzles (easy) | $1.99 | one-time |
| 300 Puzzles (normal) | $1.99 | one-time |
| 300 Puzzles (difficult) | $1.99 | one-time |
| 300 Puzzles (very difficult) | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Enjoyable and challenging puzzles
- 🤓 Helps improve vocabulary and knowledge
- 💡 Variety of difficulty levels
- 🎨 Clean and intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional spelling/definition errors
- 🌍 Some British-centric references/terminology
- 🔍 Difficulty navigating larger puzzles on smaller screens
- 🔁 Repeated clues/puzzles

**Reported bugs**

- Puzzle completion not always recognized properly
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to resize puzzles to fit screen better
- Option to mark errors/incomplete squares
- More frequent puzzle updates
- Scoring/progress tracking system


### 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 Crosswords Plus . free?

Crosswords Plus . costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Astraware Acrostic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Crosswords Plus . or Astraware Acrostic?

Crosswords Plus . is rated higher. Crosswords Plus . averages 4.8 out of 5 from 59 ratings, while Astraware Acrostic averages 4.5 from 53 ratings.

### Do Crosswords Plus . or Astraware Acrostic have ads?

Astraware Acrostic shows ads; Crosswords Plus . does not.

### Which is updated more often, Crosswords Plus . or Astraware Acrostic?

Crosswords Plus . ships an update every 5 months, and Astraware Acrostic every 6 weeks. Most recently, Crosswords Plus . was updated on November 1, 2026 and Astraware Acrostic on October 22, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*