# Cryptic Crossword vs Hang Five

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hang Five at none against Cryptic Crossword's 15. Cryptic Crossword's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 9 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cryptic Crossword sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Hang Five asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Cryptic Crossword against 4.8 for Hang Five. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cryptic Crossword has 1.1K ratings behind it against 155, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of Cryptic Crossword's written reviews are positive against 94% of Hang Five's.

Cryptic Crossword ships an update every 3 months, Hang Five every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cryptic Crossword | Hang Five |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptic-crossword/id661608021/reviews) | [4.8 (155 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hang-five/id6736662743/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 155 |
| Positive reviews | 90.3% of reviews | **94.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 10 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Teazel](https://appshunter.io/developer/576525182) | [Hang Five Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/6798170330) |

## What reviewers say

### Cryptic Crossword

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptic-crossword/id661608021)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly (best value) | $12.99 | per year |
| pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 1) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 2) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 3) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 4) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 5) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 6) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 8) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 9) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 10) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Cryptic Crosswords (Pack 7) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack (Pack 13 with 20 puzzles) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack (Pack 12 with 20 puzzles) | $0.99 | one-time |
| get all 13 Cryptic packs | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- Ability to reset/replay puzzles
- More challenging puzzle packs
- Explanations/hints for clues
- Syncing progress across devices
- Graded difficulty levels


### Hang Five

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hang-five/id6736662743)

Engage in a daily word guessing game where you decipher five themed words. Use strategic letter guesses and manage your lives carefully to solve the puzzles before time runs out. Track your progress and share your achievements with friends.

**Highlights:** Daily themed word challenges, Hangman-style letter guessing, Strategic life management, Progress and win streak tracking, Social sharing and competition

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cryptic Crossword free?

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

### Is Hang Five free?

Hang Five is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Cryptic Crossword or Hang Five?

Cryptic Crossword and Hang Five are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.1K and 155 ratings respectively.

### Do Cryptic Crossword or Hang Five have ads?

Hang Five shows ads; Cryptic Crossword does not.

### Which is updated more often, Cryptic Crossword or Hang Five?

Cryptic Crossword ships an update every 3 months, and Hang Five every 9 months. Most recently, Cryptic Crossword was updated on October 18, 2026 and Hang Five on October 16, 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.*