# Cryptic Words vs Cipher Genius

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cipher Genius at 100% against Cryptic Words's 0%. Cipher Genius also leads on ads (none vs shown). Cryptic Words's advantage is ratings volume (239 vs 2) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cryptic Words sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Cipher Genius sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Cryptic Words holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cryptic Words has 239 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of Cryptic Words's written reviews are positive against 100% of Cipher Genius's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Cryptic Words ships an update every 6 weeks, Cipher Genius every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cryptic Words | Cipher Genius |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (239 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptic-words-crossword-game/id6466037292/reviews)** | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cipher-genius/id6753089895/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **239** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 331 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Brightika, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1545142276) | [Smartphone Design Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/298734749) |

## What reviewers say

### Cryptic Words

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptic-words-crossword-game/id6466037292)

Challenge your mind with logic puzzles and brain teasers. This game offers a variety of word puzzles and challenges on different themes, with adjustable difficulty levels. Keep your brain sharp and active anywhere, anytime.

**Highlights:** Adjustable difficulty levels, Fascinating word puzzles and challenges, Intuitive and user-friendly interface, Brain-training capabilities, Hidden proverbs and quotes puzzles

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $5.99 | one-time |


### Cipher Genius

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cipher-genius/id6753089895)

Crack colorful emoji-style ciphers with a modern, intuitive design. Enjoy hundreds of puzzles, from quick lists to full quotes, with no ads or timers. Play offline and at your own pace.

**Highlights:** Emoji-style cipher tiles, Hundreds of puzzles, Two puzzle styles (lists and long answers), Three difficulty levels, No ads or timers, Offline play, Portrait and landscape modes, Accessibility features

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Food & Drink | $3.99 | one-time |
| Music | $3.99 | one-time |
| Humor & Wit | $3.99 | one-time |
| Word Play | $3.99 | one-time |
| Geography & Travel | $3.99 | one-time |
| Quotations | $3.99 | one-time |
| History & Legends | $3.99 | one-time |
| Nature & Science | $3.99 | one-time |
| Young At Heart | $3.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate Collection | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cryptic Words free?

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

### Is Cipher Genius free?

Cipher Genius is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Cryptic Words or Cipher Genius?

Cryptic Words is rated higher. Cryptic Words averages 4.7 out of 5 from 239 ratings, while Cipher Genius averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Cryptic Words or Cipher Genius have ads?

Cryptic Words shows ads; Cipher Genius does not.

### Which is updated more often, Cryptic Words or Cipher Genius?

Cryptic Words ships an update every 6 weeks, and Cipher Genius every 3 months. Most recently, Cryptic Words was updated on October 27, 2026 and Cipher Genius on October 24, 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.*