# Upwords vs Word Master

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Word Master at none against Upwords's 12. Word Master also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 68%). Upwords's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months) and chart position (#197 vs unranked). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Upwords sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Word Master asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Upwords against 4.8 for Word Master. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9.2K and 19K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 68% of Upwords's written reviews are positive against 78% of Word Master's.

Upwords ships an update every 2 days, Word Master every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Upwords | Word Master |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (9.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upwords/id588252565/reviews) | **[4.8 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-master-classic/id979597990/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9.2K | **19K** |
| Positive reviews | 67.7% of reviews | **78.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#197** | — |
| Size | 91 MB | 108 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lonely Star Software, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284572331) | [Luis Gualandi](https://appshunter.io/developer/979597989) |

## What reviewers say

### Upwords

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

**Currently charting:** #197 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


### Word Master

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-master-classic/id979597990)

This app offers a classic crossword board game experience with offline play. It features AI opponents, customizable boards, and tools to help you improve your vocabulary and strategy. Play against the computer or friends, and learn new words with definitions.

**Highlights:** Offline play, Play against AI, Pass 'n Play with friends, Challenge mode for high scores, Word definitions, Customizable board layouts, Word validation and scoring

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Minimal ads
- 🧠 Helps improve vocabulary
- 🕹️ Classic Scrabble gameplay
- 🎨 Customizable board layouts
- 🔍 Ability to look up word definitions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Questionable word acceptance
- 🤖 Biased AI opponent
- 🔊 Loud and intrusive ads
- 🔒 Lack of online multiplayer
- 📉 Battery drain issues

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezing and crashing
- Ads that cannot be closed

**Requested features**

- Online multiplayer mode
- More challenging AI difficulty level
- Option to use different dictionaries
- Landscape mode for tablets
- Ability to track win/loss record


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Upwords free?

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

### Is Word Master free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Upwords or Word Master?

Word Master is rated higher. Upwords averages 4.7 out of 5 from 9.2K ratings, while Word Master averages 4.8 from 19K ratings.

### Do Upwords or Word Master have ads?

Both Upwords and Word Master show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Upwords or Word Master?

Upwords ships an update every 2 days, and Word Master every 2 months. Most recently, Upwords was updated on September 25, 2026 and Word Master on September 26, 2026.

---

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