RootWords vs Word Roots Puzzle
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RootWords
This word game helps users expand their vocabulary by building words from root components. It offers a fun way to learn word meanings and improve reading skills, beneficial for standardized tests and general language learning.
- Build words from root components
- Learn word meanings
- Improve vocabulary
- Enhance reading skills
- Test preparation aid
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RootWords is a fast word game based on root words. Choose a root, spin as many words as you can and show you know their meaning. Don’t know the word? Tap the parts, they each have meaning and will help you learn the word. The more you play, the fewer times you will need to tap the parts. Good for SSAT, PSAT, SAT, ACT, LSAT, MCAT, IELTS tests and ELL in general. RootWords is good for all learners really. Your score will soar! Improve your vocabulary, your reading skills, your job prospects!
Word Roots Puzzle
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What if learning vocabulary felt more like solving a puzzle, and less like memorizing a list? Word Roots Puzzle is a no-flashcard vocabulary game where you build words from roots, prefixes, and suffixes. You don't need to know the word before you start. Break it apart. Follow the clues. Have that little "aha!" moment when it clicks. English words often share the same roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Once you notice those patterns, unfamiliar words can feel a lot less unfamiliar. HOW TO PLAY You're given a meaning, and your job is to build the word by putting its parts in the right order. Need a clue? Tap Show Meanings to see what each part means. Get it right and the word opens up, showing how the pieces connect to the whole word. In purchased volumes, get every word right twice to graduate. In the Free Sampler, once is enough. After graduating, you can reset and play again anytime. YOUR CERTIFICATE KEEPS THE WORDS When you graduate from a volume, you get a certificate that keeps every word you built, along with its word parts and meaning. So the words don't disappear when you finish. You can come back and review them anytime. SOMETIMES THE PARTS DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY Not every word means exactly what you'd expect if you simply combined its parts. Meanings change over time, and some words move far from where they started. That's why each puzzle includes a short explanation connecting the word parts to the way the word is used today. Etymology isn't a perfect formula, but it can give you an image, structure, or pattern that makes a new word easier to approach. WORD-PART HINTS IN 12 LANGUAGES French, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, or Vietnamese. Translations stay close to dictionary meanings, with learner-friendly wording where helpful. CHOOSE YOUR TRACK 560 words across 14 volumes, plus a free 20-word sampler. ESL ESSENTIALS — 40 words × 3 volumes B1–B2 vocabulary for stronger everyday English. UNIVERSITY PREP — 40 words × 3 volumes C1–C2 academic vocabulary, including language used in SAT, TOEFL, IELTS, and higher-level English study. MEDICAL TERMS — 40 words × 5 volumes Greek- and Latin-based terms used in anatomy, symptoms, conditions, procedures, and other areas of healthcare. These three tracks mix easier and harder words rather than getting progressively more difficult. TOEIC — 40 words × 3 volumes A2–C1 business and workplace vocabulary. This track gets harder from one volume to the next and is designed mainly for learners aiming for scores around 600–900. Some words also appear in other tracks because business, general, and academic English naturally overlap. I ALSO WANTED IT TO BE DEPENDABLE I want the puzzles to be fun, but I also want the information behind them to be solid. Word Roots Puzzle follows American English for spelling, definitions, usage, and word-part analysis, and every word part, meaning, and explanation is cross-checked before it goes in. JUST A DIFFERENT WAY TO STUDY Flashcards work really well for some people. They just don't work for everyone. If memorizing lists leaves you frustrated, this gives you another way in. The idea is to notice recurring patterns, so when you meet an unfamiliar word, you have something to work with. NO SUBSCRIPTION Every pack is a one-time purchase. No recurring fees. No ads. No account or login required. Your progress stays on your device. START FREE Not sure it's for you? Try the free 20-word Sampler and see how the puzzles feel before buying anything. I'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK Word Roots Puzzle is independently made, so feedback from learners really does help me decide what to improve next. If you enjoy the app, I'd really appreciate a review. Word Roots Puzzle by Verbal Structure
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RootWords at none against Word Roots Puzzle's 10. Word Roots Puzzle's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Word Roots Puzzle sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. RootWords asks for nothing beyond the download.
RootWords ships an update monthly, Word Roots Puzzle every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RootWords | Word Roots Puzzle |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 35 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Charlotte OConnell | Ryoko Goto |
In-app purchases
RootWords
No in-app purchases
Word Roots Puzzle
- SAT & GRE Prep — Volume III$2.49
- Medical Terms — Volume I$2.49
- Medical Terms — Volume II$2.49
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- Medical Terms — Volume III$2.49
- Medical Terms — Volume IV$2.49
- Medical Terms — Volume V$2.49
- ESL Essentials — Complete Pack$5.89
- SAT & GRE Prep — Complete Pack$5.90
- Medical Terms — Complete Pack$9.99
- Complete Library — Every Volume$18.49
Questions
Is RootWords free?
Is Word Roots Puzzle free?
Do RootWords or Word Roots Puzzle have ads?
Which is updated more often, RootWords or Word Roots Puzzle?
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