Comparison

Astraware CodeWords vs Escapee

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

Head to head
About

Astraware CodeWords

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
Read full description

Can you crack the code? Astraware CodeWords is an addictive word puzzle game with a difference! You start with a crosswords style grid but instead of words, each letter has been substituted with a number from 1 to 26. It is up to you to figure out which number stands for each letter! There are no clues but 3 letters are already in place to help you get started and each letter of the alphabet is used at least once. You start by guessing possible words and matching numbers with letters, until you've fully cracked the code - and your vocabulary and logical reasoning will be stretched along the way! Did you know that the letter 'e' is the most commonly used letter in English? Did you know that 'th' is the most common pair of letters to be seen together? You'll use this knowledge and more as you make your guesses and work out the words! Astraware CodeWords gives you access to play our free Daily puzzles - top the global leaderboard by completing the puzzle in the fastest time! For an extra challenge there is a Weekender puzzle available each Friday with a trickier grid and more unusual words. Great features include: - Unlimited access to our two Daily puzzles and Weekender puzzle. - A collection of 50 built-in puzzles in various sizes and difficulties, perfect for beginners and avid players - Extra puzzle streams for endless play - Intuitive interface - Highlighting to show where you've chosen the same letter for different numbers - Option to fill in letters manually, or choose auto to fill in all occurrences of that letter at once - Save slots available to have several puzzles on the go at once, so you can stop for a break and come back to a puzzle later - Option to purchase extra value puzzle packs for offline play - Puzzles Plus subscription for unlimited puzzles Puzzles Plus Subscription Terms and Details Puzzles Plus is our optional subscription for CodeWords which entitles you to play all of the available Daily, Weekender and Stream puzzles as soon as they are available, without in-game adverts or any requirement to earn tokens. Subscribers can also choose to highlight their high scores with a choice of badges. Subscriptions are available with renewal periods of either monthly, quarterly (every 3 months), or yearly. The price shown is the cost of the renewal, with the saving value for longer subscription periods as a comparison to the monthly option. After you confirm a subscription, you will have a free trial period of seven days. Your iTunes Account will be charged as soon as the free trial is over. If you cancel the subscription at any time before the free trial is over, you will not be billed. The subscriptions are automatically renewing, and you will be charged again at the end of your current subscription period. Your subscription will automatically renew unless you turn this off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. The renewal cost will be the same for each subscription period, and will be charged within the 24 hours before the end of your current subscription. You can manage the subscriptions at any time by going to the Account Settings in the Settings App after purchase. There are options to either change to a different renewal period (which will be at a different price) or to cancel your subscription completely. If you cancel the renewal you will still have access to the Puzzles Plus features until the full subscription period is complete. If you confirm the purchase of a subscription before the free trial is complete, any unused portion of the free trial will be lost. These terms are listed at the Astraware site at : https://www.astraware.com/about/puzzlesplus/ For more information on Data and Privacy, please view the Astraware Privacy page at http://www.astraware.com/privacy

About

Escapee

Features
Read full description

Escape the maze. Outrun the guards. One torch is all you've got. ESCAPEE is a prison-break puzzle game where every second counts. Memorize the maze layout before the lights go out, then navigate blind — guided only by your torch and your memory. One wrong turn puts you face-to-face with a patrolling guard. • 25 handcrafted maze levels, all free from day one • Daily Maze — a new layout every day, same for every player • Simple D-pad controls, built for quick sessions or long runs • Play in portrait or landscape • Track your best times and step counts across every level ESCAPEE is free to play, supported by ads. Prefer an ad-free run? Remove Ads anytime — one purchase, ads gone for good. One torch. One way out. One chance.

Screenshots

Astraware CodeWords4 screens
Escapee4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Escapee at every 5 days against Astraware CodeWords's every 6 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Astraware CodeWords sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Escapee sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Astraware CodeWords ships an update every 6 weeks, Escapee every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Astraware CodeWords versus Escapee: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAstraware CodeWordsEscapee
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (162 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings162 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB149 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAstraware LimitedANDREAS STAVROS ACHILLEA

Bugs and requests

Astraware CodeWords

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • 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

Escapee

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

13 purchases

Astraware CodeWords

Subscriptions3
  • Puzzles Plus7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Puzzles Plus7 Days trial$2.993 Months
  • Puzzles Plus7 Days trial$7.991 Year
One-time10
  • Fun-size Pack$0.99
  • Family Pack$1.99
  • Tough Pack$1.99
Show 7 more
  • Easy Pack$1.99
  • Tough Pack 2$1.99
  • Vacation Pack$3.99
  • Ad-Free Daily Puzzles$4.99
  • Deluxe Pack$4.99
  • Deluxe Pack 2$4.99
  • Calendar Pack 2017$4.99
1 purchases

Escapee

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$2.99

Questions

Is Astraware CodeWords free?
Astraware CodeWords is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Escapee free?
Escapee is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Astraware CodeWords or Escapee have ads?
Both Astraware CodeWords and Escapee show ads.
Which is updated more often, Astraware CodeWords or Escapee?
Astraware CodeWords ships an update every 6 weeks, and Escapee every 5 days. Most recently, Astraware CodeWords was updated on October 15, 2026 and Escapee on October 4, 2026.

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