# Astraware CodeWords vs Codeword Unlimited

The clearest difference is update cadence: Astraware CodeWords at every 6 weeks against Codeword Unlimited's every 4 months. Codeword Unlimited's advantage is ratings volume (1.8K vs 162) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Astraware CodeWords sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Codeword Unlimited sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Astraware CodeWords against 4.7 for Codeword Unlimited. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Codeword Unlimited has 1.8K ratings behind it against 162, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 87% of Astraware CodeWords's written reviews are positive against 81% of Codeword Unlimited's.

Astraware CodeWords ships an update every 6 weeks, Codeword Unlimited every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Astraware CodeWords | Codeword Unlimited |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (162 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astraware-codewords/id592704252/reviews) | [4.7 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codeword-unlimited/id643961117/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 162 | **1.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **87.4% of reviews** | 81.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 37 MB | 91 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Astraware Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/392328106) | [Havos](https://appshunter.io/developer/309789068) |

## What reviewers say

### Astraware CodeWords

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astraware-codewords/id592704252)

This word puzzle game challenges you to crack a secret code by substituting numbers for letters in a crossword-style grid. Use logic and vocabulary to decipher words and climb the global leaderboard.

**Highlights:** Number-to-letter substitution puzzles, Daily and Weekender puzzles, 50 built-in puzzles, Extra puzzle streams, Intuitive interface, Highlighting for letter consistency, Manual and auto-fill options

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| 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 |
| Tough Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Easy Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tough Pack 2 | $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 |
| Calendar Pack 2017 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Enjoyable and mentally stimulating
- 🚀 Well-designed online puzzle
- 👍 Challenging but always enjoyable
- 👍 Great way to stimulate the brain
- 👍 Excellent puzzles, fun and addictive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inappropriate words in puzzles
- 🔋 Increased ads and longer durations
- 👎 Mandatory commercials ruin the experience
- 👎 Repetitive long words make it too easy
- 👎 Glitches and issues with latest update

**Reported bugs**

- Hints not adding correctly to time
- Game no longer loads after recent update
- Purchased puzzles and packs not available

**Requested features**

- More free puzzles made available daily
- Flashing empty space indicator for last letter
- Theme-based puzzles and more daily challenges
- Ability to opt-out of competitive leaderboard


### Codeword Unlimited

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codeword-unlimited/id643961117)

This app offers an unlimited supply of number-to-letter word puzzles, also known as Codewords or Cryptograms. Players can customize grid size, difficulty, and starting letters. It supports multiple languages and includes helpful tools for solving.

**Highlights:** Unlimited puzzle generation, Customizable grid size, Adjustable difficulty levels, Multi-language support, Letter highlighting, Word validity checker, View word definitions

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter (no ads) | $4.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🧠 Mentally stimulating
- 👍 Customizable difficulty levels
- 🕹️ Addictive gameplay
- 💪 Keeps the brain active
- 🎮 Enjoyable game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📢 Intrusive ads
- ⏱️ Inaccurate timers
- 🔍 Questionable word choices
- 🇺🇸 American-centric vocabulary
- 🤖 Automated hints/penalties

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on certain devices
- Incompatibility issues with updates
- Incorrect word definitions

**Requested features**

- Option to disable ads
- More challenging word lists
- Ability to manually fill in letters
- Improved timer accuracy
- Localization for different languages


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Astraware CodeWords free?

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

### Is Codeword Unlimited free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Astraware CodeWords or Codeword Unlimited?

Astraware CodeWords and Codeword Unlimited are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 162 and 1.8K ratings respectively.

### Do Astraware CodeWords or Codeword Unlimited have ads?

Both Astraware CodeWords and Codeword Unlimited show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Astraware CodeWords or Codeword Unlimited?

Astraware CodeWords ships an update every 6 weeks, and Codeword Unlimited every 4 months. Most recently, Astraware CodeWords was updated on October 15, 2026 and Codeword Unlimited on October 16, 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.*