# PopWords! vs Upwords

The clearest difference is update cadence: Upwords at every 2 days against PopWords!'s every 3 months. Upwords also leads on chart position (#185 vs unranked). PopWords!'s advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PopWords! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Upwords sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for PopWords! against 4.7 for Upwords. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.6K and 9.3K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of PopWords!'s written reviews are positive against 67% of Upwords's.

PopWords! ships an update every 3 months, Upwords every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PopWords! | Upwords |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (5.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popwords/id472853634/reviews) | **[4.7 (9.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upwords/id588252565/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5.6K | **9.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **85.3% of reviews** | 67.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#185** |
| Size | 34 MB | 91 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sarah Pierce](https://appshunter.io/developer/406813189) | [Lonely Star Software, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284572331) |

## What reviewers say

### PopWords!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popwords/id472853634)

Engage in a fun and addictive word-finding game with multiple play modes. Challenge yourself in timed classic mode, strategic puzzle mode, or a relaxing untimed practice mode. Compete daily and track your progress against others.

**Highlights:** Classic timed word finding, Strategic puzzle mode, Relaxing practice mode, Daily competition, Game Center leaderboards, Track records and averages

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤓 Keeps brain active
- ⏱️ Great daily challenge
- 🧠 Improves vocabulary
- 🕰️ Relaxing way to pass time
- 🏆 Competitive element with leaderboards

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Timer is too fast
- 🤯 Frustrating when game ends prematurely
- 🤖 Questionable word acceptance
- 📢 Disruptive ads
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Daily puzzle not updating
- Game freezes or crashes
- Incorrect scoring/leaderboard issues

**Requested features**

- Add more time options
- Improve word dictionary
- Implement an ad-free version
- Add multi-player mode
- Include a 'hint' feature


### Upwords

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upwords/id588252565)

**Currently charting:** #185 Top Grossing · Word (US App Store)

This word stacking game challenges you to transform existing words by stacking letters on top. Score higher by stacking higher and outsmarting opponents. Play with friends, strangers, or against the computer.

**Highlights:** Stack letters to change words, Score points based on stacking height, Play with friends globally, Challenge computer opponents, Pass & Play mode, In-game chat

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Bundle Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| Premium Bundle Yearly | $11.99 | per year |
| Full Upgrade - Free! | Free | one-time |
| Word Glow | $1.99 | one-time |
| 20 Tokens | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Token Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| 60 Tokens | $4.99 | one-time |
| 125 Tokens | $9.99 | one-time |
| Large Token Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| 260 Tokens | $19.99 | one-time |
| Premium Bundle Lifetime | $34.99 | one-time |
| 610 Tokens | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great online game
- 🤝 Competitive and fun
- 🧠 Keeps the brain active
- 🌐 Connects players globally
- 🕰️ Enjoyable to play daily

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔤 Questionable dictionary
- 🤖 Computer uses invalid words
- 🤑 Expensive for a 50MB app
- 🚫 Rejects valid words
- 💤 Lack of help from developers

**Reported bugs**

- Ads that cannot be closed
- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Login and verification issues
- Incorrect scoring and word validation

**Requested features**

- Option to use British dictionary
- Choice of dictionaries
- Ability to swap more than one letter
- Show opponent's remaining tiles
- Fairer letter distribution


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PopWords! free?

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

### Is Upwords free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PopWords! or Upwords?

Upwords is rated higher. PopWords! averages 4.6 out of 5 from 5.6K ratings, while Upwords averages 4.7 from 9.3K ratings.

### Do PopWords! or Upwords have ads?

Both PopWords! and Upwords show ads.

### Which is updated more often, PopWords! or Upwords?

PopWords! ships an update every 3 months, and Upwords every 2 days. Most recently, PopWords! was updated on October 19, 2026 and Upwords on October 21, 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.*