Comparison

CrossClue vs HistoryDex

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

Head to head
About

CrossClue

Features
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Crossword puzzle game with the word definition as the clue. Incorrect words can be solved for based on correct and incorrect letters and their positions. Learn new words, their definitions, and increase your vocabulary!!

About

HistoryDex

Learn world history by placing events, objects, and figures on a timeline and globe. Unlock over 1,000 collectible cards, from ancient battles to modern inventions. Play solo or challenge friends with daily riddles and competitive modes.

Highlights
  • Collectible history cards
  • Timeline and globe placement
  • Explorer and Historian game modes
  • Play with friends and challenges
  • Daily global riddles
  • Learn history through gameplay
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"Collect History" Where did the battle take place? In what year was this masterpiece painted? In HistoryDex, you learn world history by playing: you place every event, object and figure on a timeline and on the globe. Get it right: the card joins your collection. COLLECT HISTORY 1,000+ cards to unlock: paintings, battles, inventions, monuments, treaties, legendary figures… Every era, from prehistory to today, and every region of the world. Each card you win reveals its detailed history. ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW New cards are added every week — your collection never stops growing. TWO WAYS TO PLAY • Explorer — put the cards in order and sort them into the right region. Perfect to start. • Historian — drop the date as precisely as you can on the timeline and pin the spot on the globe. For history buffs. PLAY WITH FRIENDS Your member card carries your friend code and a QR code: show it, share it, or type a friend's code to send a request. You can also add a player straight from their leaderboard profile. Your card-by-card collection stays private. CHALLENGES BETWEEN FRIENDS Challenge up to 7 friends: 1 to 5 riddles, the same cards in the same order for everyone, and 24 hours for each player to play at their own pace. Everyone plays with their own riddles, just like a normal round (unlimited with Premium). Add a short message, compare your answers, then see the final table and offer a rematch. Loved a riddle? Challenge your friends to the same one, right from the end-of-round screen. Everyone keeps the cards they capture. Friends and challenges require a saved account. THE DAILY RIDDLE Every day, the same 3 cards for the whole world, one try only. Compare your score and share your result in emojis. A daily ritual to share. LEARN WITHOUT EVEN NOTICING No rote memorizing: at the end of every round, the answer screen shows you exactly where and when it all happened. General knowledge and historical geography sink in, round after round. HISTORYDEX PREMIUM AND THE VAULT (optional one-time purchases) HistoryDex Premium: unlimited riddles, no ads, advanced statistics and the 7 Exhibition Hall themes. The Vault: play the temporary exhibitions after they close, and earn their theme and title. Take one, the other, or both: a single payment, no subscription, restorable on your devices. The game stays fully playable for free — a riddle stock that refills on its own, plus bonus riddles. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy: https://historydex.expo.app/privacy Available in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian and Portuguese. No account needed to play solo; an email address is all it takes to play with friends. Enjoy the journey through time!

Screenshots

CrossClue4 screens
HistoryDex4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: CrossClue at none against HistoryDex's shown. CrossClue also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). HistoryDex's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, 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. CrossClue sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and HistoryDex sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CrossClue ships an update every 6 weeks, HistoryDex every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
CrossClue versus HistoryDex: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCrossClueHistoryDex
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size62 MB71 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperJoe ThayerValentin VIEUX

In-app purchases

1 purchases

CrossClue

One-time1
  • 1 month ad free$2.99
5 purchases

HistoryDex

Subscriptions2
  • Cabinet of Curiosities$2.991 Month
  • Cabinet of Curiosities7 Days trial$12.991 Year
One-time3
  • The Vault$3.99
  • HistoryDex Premium$4.99
  • Premium + Vault$7.99

Questions

Is CrossClue free?
CrossClue is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HistoryDex free?
HistoryDex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do CrossClue or HistoryDex have ads?
HistoryDex shows ads; CrossClue does not.
Which is updated more often, CrossClue or HistoryDex?
CrossClue ships an update every 6 weeks, and HistoryDex every 3 days. Most recently, CrossClue was updated on October 15, 2026 and HistoryDex on October 25, 2026.

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