# Line Sweeper vs Cracking the Cryptic

The clearest difference is ads: Cracking the Cryptic at none against Line Sweeper's shown. Cracking the Cryptic also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (208 vs 8). Line Sweeper's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (86% vs 72%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Line Sweeper sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Cracking the Cryptic sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Line Sweeper holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cracking the Cryptic has 208 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Line Sweeper's written reviews are positive against 72% of Cracking the Cryptic's.

Line Sweeper ships an update every 6 months, Cracking the Cryptic every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Line Sweeper | Cracking the Cryptic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/line-sweeper/id614449716/reviews)** | [4.4 (208 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **208** |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 72.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 12 MB | 234 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stanley Lam](https://appshunter.io/developer/453164363) | [Nick Carney](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434235673) |

## What reviewers say

### Line Sweeper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/line-sweeper/id614449716)

This puzzle game challenges you to create a single, continuous loop by strategically placing lines. Numbered tiles indicate how many adjacent spaces must be part of the path, with a "check" function to help identify errors. It offers over 500 levels across five difficulty settings.

**Highlights:** Create a single continuous loop, Numbered tiles guide path placement, Over 500 levels, 5 difficulty levels, "Check" function highlights wrong lines, Autosave unfinished levels, Record best completion times

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade to Full Version | $0.99 | one-time |


### Cracking the Cryptic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934)

This app offers a curated collection of handcrafted Sudoku puzzles from world-renowned constructors. Explore classic and unique variants, with new puzzle packs released regularly. A free introductory pack is included with download.

**Highlights:** Handcrafted Sudoku puzzles, Curated by expert constructors, Classic and unique variants, Regularly released puzzle packs, Free introductory puzzle pack

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CTC Worms - James Sinclair | $0.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Marty Sears | $0.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Zetamath | $1.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Blobz | $1.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Michael Lefkowitz | $1.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Phistomefel | $1.99 | one-time |
| GAS Volume #1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| GAS Volume #2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| CTC Approachable Sudoku #1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Domino Sudoku Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lines Variety Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Classic Volume #2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| CTC Fog Pack #1 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best sudoku app
- 👍 Great variety of puzzles
- 👍 Excellent user interface
- 👍 Challenging and fun puzzles
- 👍 Constant updates with new puzzles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Hints are often incorrect or unhelpful
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes, especially after updates
- 🔋 Battery draining issues
- 🔒 Too many in-app purchases required to access content

**Reported bugs**

- Puzzle progress and purchases disappearing after updates
- Incorrect rules or hints in certain puzzles
- Crashes and freezes, especially on older devices or Macs
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between portrait and landscape modes

**Requested features**

- Add more color options for pencil marking and highlighting
- Implement a way to clear progress or start puzzles from scratch
- Integrate all CTC apps into a single app for better organization
- Add keyboard support, especially on Mac
- Improve the quality and clarity of hints


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Line Sweeper free?

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

### Is Cracking the Cryptic free?

Cracking the Cryptic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Line Sweeper or Cracking the Cryptic?

Line Sweeper is rated higher. Line Sweeper averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Cracking the Cryptic averages 4.4 from 208 ratings.

### Do Line Sweeper or Cracking the Cryptic have ads?

Line Sweeper shows ads; Cracking the Cryptic does not.

### Which is updated more often, Line Sweeper or Cracking the Cryptic?

Line Sweeper ships an update every 6 months, and Cracking the Cryptic every 3 weeks. Most recently, Line Sweeper was updated on October 1, 2026 and Cracking the Cryptic on October 14, 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.*