# Astraware Crosswords vs Crossword+

The clearest difference is ads: Crossword+ at none against Astraware Crosswords's shown. Crossword+ also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (12K vs 337). Astraware Crosswords's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Astraware Crosswords sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Crossword+ sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Astraware Crosswords holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Crossword+ has 12K ratings behind it against 337, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 82% of Astraware Crosswords's written reviews are positive against 84% of Crossword+'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Astraware Crosswords ships an update every 2 months, Crossword+ every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Astraware Crosswords | Crossword+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (337 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astraware-crosswords/id586165296/reviews)** | [4.5 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-plus/id1330947092/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 337 | **12K** |
| Positive reviews | 81.6% of reviews | **83.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#161** |
| Size | 37 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Astraware Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/392328106) | [PuzzleStar Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/603054453) |

## What reviewers say

### Astraware Crosswords

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astraware-crosswords/id586165296)

Enjoy daily crossword puzzles on the go with this app. It offers free daily and weekly puzzles, with options to purchase additional packs for offline play. A subscription unlocks all puzzles and removes ads.

**Highlights:** Daily quick-style crosswords, Free weekly larger puzzles, Offline puzzle packs, Adjustable difficulty and grid sizes, Global leaderboards, Optional subscription for unlimited access

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Puzzles Plus | $1.99 | per month |
| Puzzles Plus | $2.99 | per 3 months |
| Puzzles Plus | $7.99 | per year |
| Fun-Size Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Family Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Easy Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Vacation Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Ad-free daily puzzles | $4.99 | one-time |
| Deluxe Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Deluxe Pack 2 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Enjoyable crosswords
- 🧠 Keeps mind active
- 🕰️ Good daily challenge
- 💰 Free with optional in-app purchases
- 🔍 Helpful hints and solver features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes after updates
- 📢 Intrusive ads
- 🔍 Obscure or illogical clues
- 🔁 Repetitive puzzles and clues
- 🌐 Some British-centric content for US users

**Reported bugs**

- Puzzle timer issues
- Leaderboard scores not updating properly
- Purchased puzzle packs disappearing after updates

**Requested features**

- More daily puzzles
- Ability to save/resume puzzles
- Customizable difficulty levels
- Offline puzzle packs
- Improved keyboard and input responsiveness


### Crossword+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-plus/id1330947092)

**Currently charting:** #161 Top Free · Word, #169 Top Grossing · Word (US App Store)

Start your day with two new themed crossword puzzles daily, ranging from classic literature to movie magic. Enjoy a satisfying yet gentle challenge, with helpful hints and auto-check features. Solve puzzles offline and adjust text size for a comfortable, ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Two new themed puzzles daily, Over 3,000 puzzles in archive, Helpful hints and AutoCheck, Offline play supported, Ad-free experience, Adjustable text size

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $7.49 | per month |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $37.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $37.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🧠 Brain-stimulating puzzles
- 🎯 Variety of themes and difficulty levels
- ✨ Enjoyable and challenging experience
- 🧠 Helps keep the mind active
- 🕰️ Daily puzzles provide a routine activity

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model can be expensive
- 🐛 Occasional errors in puzzle clues or answers
- 🤔 Some puzzles may be too difficult for casual users
- 🕰️ Limited number of free puzzles per month

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing or crashing issues for some users
- Subscription not always working as expected

**Requested features**

- Search function to find puzzles by topic
- More difficulty levels to cater to all skill levels
- Ability to track progress and stats over time


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Astraware Crosswords free?

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

### Is Crossword+ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Astraware Crosswords or Crossword+?

Astraware Crosswords is rated higher. Astraware Crosswords averages 4.7 out of 5 from 337 ratings, while Crossword+ averages 4.5 from 12K ratings.

### Do Astraware Crosswords or Crossword+ have ads?

Astraware Crosswords shows ads; Crossword+ does not.

### Which is updated more often, Astraware Crosswords or Crossword+?

Astraware Crosswords ships an update every 2 months, and Crossword+ every 10 days. Most recently, Astraware Crosswords was updated on November 1, 2026 and Crossword+ on November 10, 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.*