# Operation Santa vs Cryptogram

The clearest difference is price: Cryptogram at Free against Operation Santa's $0.99. Cryptogram also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 37 months) and ratings volume (773 vs 1). Operation Santa's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Cryptogram is free to download; Operation Santa costs $0.99 up front. Cryptogram sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Operation Santa asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Operation Santa against 4.9 for Cryptogram. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cryptogram has 773 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Operation Santa's written reviews are positive against 67% of Cryptogram's.

Operation Santa ships an update every 37 months, Cryptogram every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Operation Santa | Cryptogram |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/operation-santa/id483735912/reviews)** | [4.9 (773 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptogram-word-puzzle-master/id6670599725/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **773** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 37 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 10 MB | 178 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Mike Hempfling](https://appshunter.io/developer/422781074) | [Guru Future Holding Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1693569117) |

## What reviewers say

### Operation Santa

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/operation-santa/id483735912)

Help Santa deliver presents by launching them into chimneys. Master power and angle to overcome Christmas obstacles as you progress through increasingly challenging levels. Get the gifts delivered on time!

**Highlights:** Physics-based present launching, Adjustable power and angle, Overcome Christmas obstacles, Multiple challenging levels, Simple tap-and-drag controls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cryptogram

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptogram-word-puzzle-master/id6670599725)

This game challenges your logic and vocabulary by having you decipher encoded quotes. Use contextual clues and letter patterns to reveal hidden messages and learn English expressions. Enjoy endless puzzles and a mental workout anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Decode hidden messages, Decrypt letter substitution ciphers, Use contextual clues, Reveal encoded phrases, Utilize hints for assistance, Vast library of quotes, Offline gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Decades of Hits | $5.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads Permanently | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and engaging gameplay
- 💡 Variety of word puzzles
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay experience
- 👍 Aesthetically pleasing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Difficulty distinguishing numbers
- 🐛 Ads not removed despite paid option
- 🐛 Ads covering gameplay elements
- 🐛 Small font and text size

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to progress to next level
- Ads preventing access to game modes

**Requested features**

- Option to turn off auto-scroll
- Move ads off the gameplay area


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Operation Santa free?

Operation Santa costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Cryptogram free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Operation Santa or Cryptogram?

Operation Santa is rated higher. Operation Santa averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Cryptogram averages 4.9 from 773 ratings.

### Do Operation Santa or Cryptogram have ads?

Cryptogram shows ads; Operation Santa does not.

### Which is updated more often, Operation Santa or Cryptogram?

Operation Santa ships an update every 37 months, and Cryptogram every 2 weeks. Most recently, Operation Santa was updated on October 4, 2026 and Cryptogram on October 23, 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.*