# Codewords + vs Astraware Acrostic

The clearest difference is ads: Codewords + at none against Astraware Acrostic's shown. Codewords + also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (89% vs 76%). Astraware Acrostic's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 39 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Codewords + sells 16 one-off in-app purchases and Astraware Acrostic sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Codewords + holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Codewords + has 352 ratings behind it against 53, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Codewords +'s written reviews are positive against 76% of Astraware Acrostic's.

Codewords + ships an update every 39 months, Astraware Acrostic every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Codewords + | Astraware Acrostic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (352 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codewords-plus/id598055041/reviews)** | [4.5 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astraware-acrostic/id1133591036/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **352** | 53 |
| Positive reviews | **88.5% of reviews** | 76.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 39 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sarah Pierce](https://appshunter.io/developer/406813189) | [Astraware Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/392328106) |

## What reviewers say

### Codewords +

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codewords-plus/id598055041)

Solve crosswords where letters are replaced by numbers. Decipher the code to reveal the hidden words. Offers five difficulty levels, making it suitable for beginners and experienced players alike. Enjoy a clean, digital experience with unlimited attempts and progress tracking.

**Highlights:** Number-coded crosswords, Five difficulty levels, 1400 puzzles available, Progress tracking, Mental exercise

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gentle Pack #1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gentle Pack #2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Easy Pack #1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Easy Pack #2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Pack #1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Pack #2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hard Pack #1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hard Pack #2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Expert Pack #1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gentle Pack #4 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gentle Pack #3 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Pack #4 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Pack #3 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hard Pack #4 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hard Pack #3 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Megapack | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app, no ads
- 🎯 Well designed and straightforward to use
- 🧠 Challenging and engaging
- 🔍 Helps sharpen the mind
- 💡 Beats paper version

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Not entirely free, have to pay for more puzzles
- 🌐 Uses American spelling, not suitable for UK users
- 🔍 Hard to see/read visuals
- 💰 A little too pricey for the number of puzzles

**Reported bugs**

- Puzzle #29 looks different from actual puzzle
- App is slowing down user's phone, needs update

**Requested features**

- Add a help/clue button
- Option to choose UK English spelling
- Add a timer for more challenge
- Allow users to insert letters manually
- Add more puzzles/levels


### Astraware Acrostic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astraware-acrostic/id1133591036)

Solve word clues to uncover a vertical target word. Enjoy quick puzzles perfect for short breaks, with daily and weekly challenges. Features include helpful hints and global leaderboards.

**Highlights:** Solve word clues to find a vertical target word, 50 built-in free puzzles, Daily and weekly new puzzles, Global leaderboard competition, Vowel/consonant highlighting, Helpful hints available

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Puzzles Plus | $1.99 | per month |
| Puzzles Plus | $2.99 | per 3 months |
| Puzzles Plus | $7.99 | per year |
| Easy Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tough Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ad-Free Daily Puzzles | $2.99 | one-time |
| Deluxe Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Calendar Pack 2017 | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Codewords + free?

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

### Is Astraware Acrostic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Codewords + or Astraware Acrostic?

Codewords + is rated higher. Codewords + averages 4.8 out of 5 from 352 ratings, while Astraware Acrostic averages 4.5 from 53 ratings.

### Do Codewords + or Astraware Acrostic have ads?

Astraware Acrostic shows ads; Codewords + does not.

### Which is updated more often, Codewords + or Astraware Acrostic?

Codewords + ships an update every 39 months, and Astraware Acrostic every 6 weeks. Most recently, Codewords + was updated on October 10, 2026 and Astraware Acrostic on October 6, 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.*