Comparison

Cryptic Crossword vs Times Puzzles

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

Head to head
About

Cryptic Crossword

Engage with over 260 professional cryptic crosswords designed for experienced puzzle solvers. Enjoy a full-featured experience with 29 free puzzles, including pinch zooming, mistake highlighting, and resume functionality.

Highlights
  • 260+ professional cryptic crosswords
  • 29 free puzzles
  • Pinch zooming grid
  • Cheats and mistake highlighting
  • Resume functionality
  • Customizable preferences
Features
Read full description

A brand new cryptic crossword every day, plus 260+ professional puzzles to keep you pondering. These are cryptic level crosswords, suitable for seasoned crossword enthusiasts. DAILY PUZZLES A brand new cryptic crossword published every day. Build a streak by playing daily, earn coins, and unlock puzzles at your own pace. Four weeks of daily puzzles are available to catch up on. EXPLAIN THE CLUE Stuck on the wordplay? Tap 'Explain clue' for a clear explanation of how any cryptic clue works, breaking down the wordplay and the definition. A great way to learn the tricks of cryptic solving. SUBSCRIBE FOR FULL ACCESS Subscribe for unlimited access to every daily puzzle and all archive packs, with no coins needed. Available as monthly, quarterly, or annual plans. 260+ ARCHIVE PUZZLES Thirteen packs of professional cryptic crosswords to keep you thinking. Great for a quick coffee break or a longer session. EARN COINS & STREAKS Open the app each day to earn bonus coins. The longer your streak, the bigger the bonus. Spend coins to unlock daily and archive puzzles, or watch a short ad for extra coins whenever you choose. Features: - a brand new cryptic crossword every day - daily login bonus with streak rewards - earn coins by playing daily, or watch a short ad for extra coins - unlock puzzles with coins, or subscribe for unlimited access - great for iPads and iPhones - pinch zooming grid - 'Explain clue' breaks down the wordplay and definition of any cryptic clue - hints, highlight mistakes and answer checking - backup and restore If you're finding Cryptic a little too challenging, why not try our standard 'Crossword' or 'Crossword US' apps. The Terms of Use (EULA) can be found here: https://www.teazel.com/cryptic_crossword_terms/ios_terms_en.html

About

Times Puzzles

Engage your mind with a daily collection of renowned crosswords and logic puzzles. Access a vast archive and enjoy a variety of challenges on the go, anytime and anywhere. Perfect for puzzle enthusiasts seeking a mental workout.

Highlights
  • Daily crosswords and logic puzzles
  • Two-week puzzle archive
  • Play anywhere, anytime
  • Concise, Cryptic, Quick Cryptic crosswords
  • Sudoku, Killer Sudoku, Futoshiki, Kakuro
  • Brain Trainer and Cell Blocks puzzles
Read full description

Updated app store description: Are you a crossword obsessive? Or are you just looking for a daily brain boost? Solve the world-renowned Times Crossword, Sudoku and other puzzles with the new puzzle app from The Times and The Sunday Times. Access hundreds of crosswords and puzzles in our two-week archive, and tackle all the latest puzzles to give your mind a real workout. The app enables you to take on and play our puzzles in one place and on the go, allowing you to play anywhere and at any time. Available puzzles: All Times and Sunday Times crosswords, including: Concise Cryptic Quick Cryptic Jumbo General Knowledge Other puzzles include: Sudoku, Killer Sudoku, Futoshiki, Kakuro, KenKen, Lexica, Polygon, Quintagram, Set Square, Suko, Codeword, Brain Trainer and Cell Blocks How do I access The Times Puzzles? The app is free to download and can be read in one of the following ways: - Monthly in-app subscription to The Times Puzzles - Existing members with a Digital subscription can log-in using their The Times & The Sunday Times username and password Please note: - Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase - Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period - You can manage your subscription and switch off the auto-renewal by accessing your Account Settings after purchase - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable - Free trial offer is for new customers only. - At the end of the free trial offer, you will be charged to your iTunes account automatically unless auto-renew is disabled at least 24 hours before that time. - You can cancel anytime. Cancellation goes into effect at the start of your following billing cycle. - A subscription to Times Puzzles does not include access to any other Times Newspapers Limited products, including but not limited to www.thetimes.co.uk, mobile news content and other apps on non-iOS devices. Full T&Cs can be found at http://www.thetimes.co.uk/static/puzzles-app-terms-and-conditions/ We value your opinion and feedback. Our readers’ views are central to ongoing development and improvements. You can send feedback to us directly by visiting: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/help

Screenshots

Cryptic Crossword4 screens
Times Puzzles4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cryptic Crossword at 91% against Times Puzzles's 12%. Cryptic Crossword also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.8) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Cryptic Crossword sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Times Puzzles sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cryptic Crossword holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cryptic Crossword has 1.1K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Cryptic Crossword's written reviews are positive against 12% of Times Puzzles's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Cryptic Crossword versus Times Puzzles: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCryptic CrosswordTimes Puzzles
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (1.1K ratings) — better2.8 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews90.6% of reviews — better12.2% of reviews
Number of ratings1.1K — better5
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB64 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperTeazelTimes Media Limited (Apps)

Customer experience

Cryptic Crossword

All ratings1,071 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral2.3%
Negative0.8%
Written reviews331 reviews
Positive90.6%
Neutral5.7%
Negative3.6%

Times Puzzles

All ratings5 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral40.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews156 reviews
Positive12.2%
Neutral17.3%
Negative70.5%

User reviews

Cryptic Crossword

From 1.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great mind workout
  • 👍 Excellent value for money
  • 👍 Fantastic and addictive challenges
  • 👍 Not too hard not too easy
  • 👍 Excellent intro to cryptic crosswords

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional freezing and crashing issues
  • 🐛 Backup/restore not working
  • 🐛 Purchased puzzles disappearing after device change
  • 🔍 Clues can be too easy or too obscure
  • 🔍 Too many anagrams and hidden word clues

Times Puzzles

From 5 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Enjoyable puzzles
  • 💡 Convenient to have puzzles in one place
  • 👍 Good value for money

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Puzzles not saving progress
  • 🐛 Puzzles not marking as completed
  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • 🐛 Notifications and settings issues
  • 🐛 Keyboard problems and poor usability

Bugs and requests

Cryptic Crossword

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Backup/restore not working
  • Purchased puzzles disappearing after device change
  • Freezing and crashing issues

Requested features

7 requests
  • Ability to reset/replay puzzles
  • More challenging puzzle packs
  • Explanations/hints for clues
  • Syncing progress across devices
  • Graded difficulty levels
Show 2 more
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to indicate wrong answers

Times Puzzles

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Puzzles not saving progress
  • Puzzles not marking as completed
  • Crashes and freezes
  • Notifications and settings issues
  • Keyboard problems and poor usability
Show 1 more
  • Puzzles not loading or disappearing

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add Codeword puzzle
  • Improve Sudoku interface
  • Add ability to print puzzles
  • Sync progress across devices
  • Provide more puzzle types

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Cryptic Crossword

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Yearly (best value)1 Year trial$12.991 Year
One-time8
  • pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 1)$0.99
  • pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 2)$0.99
  • pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 3)$0.99
Show 5 more
  • pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 4)$0.99
  • pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 5)$0.99
  • pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 6)$0.99
  • pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 10)$0.99
  • get all 13 Cryptic packs$3.99
3 purchases

Times Puzzles

Subscriptions3
  • 7 day trial then monthly fee7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • 7 day trial then monthly fee7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • 7 day trial then monthly fee7 Days trial$6.991 Month

Questions

Is Cryptic Crossword free?
Cryptic Crossword is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Times Puzzles free?
Times Puzzles is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Cryptic Crossword or Times Puzzles?
Cryptic Crossword is rated higher. Cryptic Crossword averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Times Puzzles averages 2.8 from 5 ratings.
Do Cryptic Crossword or Times Puzzles have ads?
Neither Cryptic Crossword nor Times Puzzles shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cryptic Crossword or Times Puzzles?
Cryptic Crossword ships an update every 3 months, and Times Puzzles every 3 months. Most recently, Cryptic Crossword was updated on November 1, 2026 and Times Puzzles on November 3, 2026.

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