# Upwords vs Word

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Upwords | Word |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (9.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upwords-fun-with-words/id588252565/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-zilla/id6747300689/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9.3K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 60.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 51 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lonely Star Software, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284572331) | [james gibbens](https://appshunter.io/developer/1820693723) |

## What reviewers say

### Upwords

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

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| 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 |
| 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 |

**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


### Word

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-zilla/id6747300689)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Coin Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Coin Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Large Coin Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Mega Coin Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate Coin Pack | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*