# Codewords + vs Spiral Crossword

The clearest difference is update cadence: Spiral Crossword at every 6 days against Codewords +'s every 39 months. Codewords +'s advantage is ratings volume (352 vs 21) and review sentiment (89% vs 80%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Codewords + sells 16 one-off in-app purchases and Spiral Crossword sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Codewords + against 4.8 for Spiral Crossword. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Codewords + has 352 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Codewords +'s written reviews are positive against 80% of Spiral Crossword's.

Codewords + ships an update every 39 months, Spiral Crossword every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Codewords + | Spiral Crossword |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (352 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codewords-plus/id598055041/reviews) | [4.8 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spiral-crossword/id1604392768/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **352** | 21 |
| Positive reviews | **88.5% of reviews** | 80.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 39 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sarah Pierce](https://appshunter.io/developer/406813189) | [Teazel](https://appshunter.io/developer/576525182) |

## 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


### Spiral Crossword

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spiral-crossword/id1604392768)

Experience a unique twist on word puzzles with two interconnected spirals. Every letter offers two clues, allowing you to solve puzzles clockwise or counterclockwise. With 120 hand-crafted challenges across three difficulty levels, it's a fun way to engage your mind.

**Highlights:** Dual spiral word grids, Clockwise and counterclockwise play, Two clues per letter, 120 hand-crafted puzzles, Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulties, Brain-challenging gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove adverts & coins | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Codewords + free?

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

### Is Spiral Crossword free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Codewords + or Spiral Crossword?

Codewords + and Spiral Crossword are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 352 and 21 ratings respectively.

### Do Codewords + or Spiral Crossword have ads?

Neither Codewords + nor Spiral Crossword shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Codewords + or Spiral Crossword?

Codewords + ships an update every 39 months, and Spiral Crossword every 6 days. Most recently, Codewords + was updated on October 10, 2026 and Spiral Crossword on October 13, 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.*