# Word Chums! vs Upwords

The clearest difference is update cadence: Upwords at every 2 days against Word Chums!'s every 4 months. Word Chums!'s advantage is review sentiment (88% vs 67%) and chart position (#66 vs #198). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Word Chums! sells 10 one-off in-app purchases 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 — 4.8 for Word Chums! against 4.7 for Upwords. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24K and 9.2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of Word Chums!'s written reviews are positive against 67% of Upwords's.

Word Chums! ships an update every 4 months, Upwords every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Word Chums! | Upwords |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-chums/id517840944/reviews)** | [4.7 (9.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upwords/id588252565/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **24K** | 9.2K |
| Positive reviews | **88.3% of reviews** | 67.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#66** | #198 |
| Size | 200 MB | 91 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PeopleFun, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/517840947) | [Lonely Star Software, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284572331) |

## What reviewers say

### Word Chums!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-chums/id517840944)

**Currently charting:** #66 Top Grossing · Word, #148 Top Grossing · Board (US App Store)

Engage in a classic word-building puzzle game with a unique twist. Compete with friends or AI, customize characters, and expand your vocabulary with an integrated dictionary. Offers a deep and rewarding experience for word game enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** 2-4 player games, Play versus friends, random opponents, and computer Chumbots, Customizable Chum characters, Integrated dictionary with word definitions, Weekly leaderboard competitions, Hints and best-word challenges

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 500 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1,100 Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Get 2,200 Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Starter Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| 3,000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Premium Upgrade | $4.99 | one-time |
| 6,500 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 13,000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 17,500 Coins | $24.99 | one-time |
| 40,000 Coins | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💖 Love the game
- 👍 Fun to play
- 🧠 Keeps mind active
- 🤝 Ability to play with friends
- 🎨 Customizable characters

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🗣️ Censorship of chat messages
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🔍 Dictionary issues - missing common words
- 🔁 Too many ads that interrupt gameplay
- 🔔 Notification issues

**Reported bugs**

- Ads that cannot be closed
- Incorrect game statistics and leaderboards
- Crashes and freezes after updates

**Requested features**

- Improved dictionary and word acceptance
- More ways to earn in-game currency
- Better matchmaking and opponent selection
- Group chat/messaging features
- Parental controls for younger players


### Upwords

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

**Currently charting:** #198 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 Word Chums! free?

Word Chums! 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, Word Chums! or Upwords?

Word Chums! is rated higher. Word Chums! averages 4.8 out of 5 from 24K ratings, while Upwords averages 4.7 from 9.2K ratings.

### Do Word Chums! or Upwords have ads?

Both Word Chums! and Upwords show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Word Chums! or Upwords?

Word Chums! ships an update every 4 months, and Upwords every 2 days. Most recently, Word Chums! was updated on October 3, 2026 and Upwords on October 3, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Word Chums! or Upwords?

Word Chums! currently peaks at #66 in the App Store charts, and Upwords at #198. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*