Comparison

Upwords vs Word

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Upwords

This word stacking game challenges you to transform existing words by stacking letters on top. Score higher by stacking letters higher, and outsmart opponents in competitive play. Enjoy fast-paced, brain-sharpening fun with friends or against AI.

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
Read full description

UPWORDS – The Stacking Word Game! UPWORDS is the classic 3D crossword game where you don’t just play words… you change them! Stack letters on top of existing words to transform them into new words. Score more points the higher you stack, and outsmart your opponents. Why you’ll love it: - Fun, fast, and endlessly repayable - Play with friends around the world or challenge random opponents - Join a Tournament! - Test yourself against the Computer (4 skill levels) - Pass & Play with family on one device - In-game chat keeps the competition lively UPWORDS is more than just fun — it keeps your brain sharp as you find clever ways to build and stack words. The higher you go, the higher you score! Download today and start stacking your way to victory. -- Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.upwords-app.com/privacy.html

About

Word

Engage in an addictive word puzzle game that challenges your vocabulary and strategic thinking. Discover hidden words across hundreds of levels with progressive difficulty. Enjoy daily brain training and improve your spelling skills.

Highlights
  • Hundreds of levels
  • Three difficulty modes
  • Hint system
  • Letter reveal power-ups
  • Coin rewards and achievements
  • Game Center integration
  • Offline gameplay
Features
Read full description

Challenge Your Mind with Wordzilla - The Ultimate Word Puzzle Game Dive into the addictive world of Wordzilla, where letters come alive and words become your weapon against boredom. This isn't just another word game - it's a brain-training adventure that will keep you coming back for more. How to Play: Form words using the available letters to reveal hidden words on your game board. Each level presents you with a set of mystery words waiting to be discovered. Use strategy and vocabulary skills to uncover them all and advance to the next challenge. Three Exciting Difficulty Levels: Easy Mode: Perfect for beginners with 3-5 letter words Medium Mode: Step up the challenge with 4-6 letter words Hard Mode: Master level gameplay with 5-7 letter words Game Features: Hundreds of carefully crafted levels across three difficulty modes Progressive difficulty that grows with your skills Hint system to help when you're stuck Letter reveal power-ups for strategic gameplay Coin rewards and achievement system Game Center integration with leaderboards and achievements Watch ads for bonus coins In-app purchases for additional coins Clean, intuitive interface designed for all ages Why Players Love Wordzilla: Improves vocabulary and spelling skills Perfect for daily brain training Suitable for players of all ages No internet connection required for gameplay Regular updates with new content Smooth performance on iPhone and iPad Whether you're a word game veteran or just starting your puzzle journey, Wordzilla offers the perfect balance of challenge and fun. Start with easy levels to learn the ropes, then work your way up to become a true word master. Download Wordzilla today and discover why thousands of players are already addicted to this modern twist on word puzzles. For Kate

Screenshots

Upwords4 screens
Word4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Word at none against Upwords's shown. Word also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Upwords's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (9.3K vs 1). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Upwords sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Word sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Word holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Upwords has 9.3K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Upwords ships an update every 2 days, Word every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Upwords versus Word: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUpwordsWord
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (9.3K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings9.3K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLonely Star Software, Inc.james gibbens

Customer experience

Upwords

All ratings9,329 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral3.4%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews519 reviews
Positive60.1%
Neutral9.6%
Negative30.3%

Word

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Upwords

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

Word

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Upwords

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Bundle Monthly7 Days trial$1.491 Month
  • Premium Bundle Yearly7 Days trial$11.991 Year
One-time8
  • Full Upgrade - Free!Free
  • Word Glow$1.99
  • 20 Tokens$1.99
Show 5 more
  • 60 Tokens$4.99
  • 125 Tokens$9.99
  • Large Token Pack$9.99
  • 260 Tokens$19.99
  • Premium Bundle Lifetime$34.99
5 purchases

Word

One-time5
  • Small Coin Pack$0.99
  • Medium Coin Pack$2.99
  • Large Coin Pack$4.99
Show 2 more
  • Mega Coin Pack$9.99
  • Ultimate Coin Pack$19.99

Questions

Is Upwords free?
Upwords is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Word free?
Word is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Upwords or Word?
Word is rated higher. Upwords averages 4.7 out of 5 from 9.3K ratings, while Word averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Upwords or Word have ads?
Upwords shows ads; Word does not.
Which is updated more often, Upwords or Word?
Upwords ships an update every 2 days, and Word every 4 months. Most recently, Upwords was updated on November 3, 2026 and Word on October 21, 2026.

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