Cryptic Crossword vs Brainchain
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 260+ professional cryptic crosswords
- 29 free puzzles
- Pinch zooming grid
- Cheats and mistake highlighting
- Resume functionality
- Customizable preferences
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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
Brainchain
Train your associative thinking with this fast-paced word game. Create a chain of six words, starting with a given word and associating each subsequent word to the previous one within a time limit. Broaden your thinking and improve your mood and creativity.
- Create 6-word word chains
- Timed word association
- Develop broader thinking
- Improve mood and creativity
- Review and share chains
- Single common English words only
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Brainchain - the original associative thinking training game Our associative mind is a gigantic connected web of knowledge, experiences and memories. When we see or think of one thing it triggers a number of possible linked associations: some narrow, some broad. If we stay too narrow and ruminative, it can lead to more negative or anxious states. If we can be broader, our mood, outlook and creativity tends to improve. Brainchain is a fast-paced and fun game designed to develop greater breadth in our associative thinking through words. How to Play Create your 6 word brainchain Begin with the starter word. Type the first word you associate with it in less than 10 seconds. Repeats 4 more times, with the next typed word being associated to the previous one in the chain. Review, share, compare your unique brainchain. Rules Single words only Must be a common word, not a specific person, country or brand. English words only No abbreviations Tips The goal is to find a clearly associated word, not a randomly disconnected one. Type what comes to mind first, don’t try to overthink. It’s about training ourselves to associate through more interesting routes. Reflect on your brainchain to see how you travelled to the final word and where you could have made it a broader chain.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Cryptic Crossword at 4.8 against Brainchain's 4.0. Cryptic Crossword also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). Brainchain's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). 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
Both are free to download. Cryptic Crossword sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per year and Brainchain sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Cryptic Crossword holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cryptic Crossword has 1.1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Cryptic Crossword ships an update every 3 months, Brainchain every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and June 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cryptic Crossword | Brainchain |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (1.1K ratings) — better | 4.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 89.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Teazel | Baxnet Technologies Pte Ltd |
Customer experience
Cryptic Crossword
Brainchain
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
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- Dark mode option
- Ability to indicate wrong answers
Brainchain
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Cryptic Crossword
- Yearly (best value)1 Year trial$12.991 Year
- 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 10 moreShow fewer
- 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 8)$0.99
- pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 9)$0.99
- pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 10)$0.99
- pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 7)$0.99
- pack (Pack 13 with 20 puzzles)$0.99
- pack (Pack 12 with 20 puzzles)$0.99
- get all 13 Cryptic packs$3.99
Brainchain
- Unlimited play$2.99
Questions
Is Cryptic Crossword free?
Is Brainchain free?
Which has better reviews, Cryptic Crossword or Brainchain?
Do Cryptic Crossword or Brainchain have ads?
Which is updated more often, Cryptic Crossword or Brainchain?
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