# CrosswordMaker vs Smart Tales

The clearest difference is rating: Smart Tales at 4.6 against CrosswordMaker's 1.3. Smart Tales also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (55% vs 24%). CrosswordMaker's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 17). On price, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Smart Tales sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. CrosswordMaker asks for nothing beyond the download.

Smart Tales holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smart Tales has 18K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of CrosswordMaker's written reviews are positive against 55% of Smart Tales's.

CrosswordMaker ships an update every 5 months, Smart Tales every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CrosswordMaker | Smart Tales |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.3 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crosswordmaker/id560662309/reviews) | **[4.6 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tales-learning-games/id1452196861/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | 24.0% of reviews | **54.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#187** |
| Size | 8 MB | 289 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Satoshi Horiguchi](https://appshunter.io/developer/310504293) | [Marshmallow Games SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/955873246) |

## What reviewers say

### CrosswordMaker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crosswordmaker/id560662309)

Design custom crossword puzzles with a flexible grid and cell coloring options. Edit clues in a dedicated view and share your creations with friends via email.

**Highlights:** Create crossword puzzles, Random grid generation, Cell coloring customization, Dedicated clue editor, Share puzzles via email

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Smart Tales

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tales-learning-games/id1452196861)

**Currently charting:** #187 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

This app offers over 2500 interactive educational games and stories for children aged 2-11. It covers reading, writing, STEM, and math, with a focus on personalized learning paths and inclusivity for all learners, including neurodivergent children. Parents can monitor progress and set limits.

**Highlights:** Interactive educational games, Award-winning stories, Math skills development, Reading and vocabulary building, STEM and science exploration, Logic and reasoning challenges, Personalized learning paths

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly | $5.49 | per month |
| Welcome Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Monthly Learning Plan for Kids | $11.99 | per month |
| Monthly Learning Plan for Kids | $14.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Smart Tales Semi Annual | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Smart Tales Quarterly | $34.99 | per 3 months |
| Smart Family Promo | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Promo Subscription | $54.99 | per year |
| SmartTales Yearly Offer Plus | $59.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $71.99 | per year |
| Yearly Learning Plan for Kids | $89.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $89.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $99.99 | per year |
| Printables unlock | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Improved school performance
- 👍 Engaging and fun for kids
- 🤩 Positive impact on child's mood
- 🎉 Great content and creativity
- 💯 Effective learning tool

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Errors and bugs in the app
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Lack of family sharing
- ⚠️ Inappropriate content for kids
- 🤯 Confusing and frustrating user experience

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Incorrect shape identification
- Subscription issues and double charges
- Content not loading properly
- Accessibility features not working as expected

**Requested features**

- More writing and grade-level options
- Improved voice-text synchronization
- Better customization for child's level
- Easier unsubscription process
- Compatibility with family sharing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CrosswordMaker free?

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

### Is Smart Tales free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CrosswordMaker or Smart Tales?

Smart Tales is rated higher. CrosswordMaker averages 1.3 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Smart Tales averages 4.6 from 18K ratings.

### Do CrosswordMaker or Smart Tales have ads?

CrosswordMaker shows ads; Smart Tales does not.

### Which is updated more often, CrosswordMaker or Smart Tales?

CrosswordMaker ships an update every 5 months, and Smart Tales every 3 weeks. Most recently, CrosswordMaker was updated on October 23, 2026 and Smart Tales on October 28, 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.*