# Cryptic Crossword vs Cross Boss

The clearest difference is rating: Cryptic Crossword at 4.8 against Cross Boss's 4.2. Cryptic Crossword also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 59). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cryptic Crossword sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Cross Boss sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Cryptic Crossword holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cryptic Crossword has 1.1K ratings behind it against 59, 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 75% of Cross Boss's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cryptic Crossword | Cross Boss |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptic-crossword/id661608021/reviews)** | [4.2 (59 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cross-boss/id811255164/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 59 |
| Positive reviews | **90.6% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Teazel](https://appshunter.io/developer/576525182) | [KEP Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/811255167) |

## 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 (10)**

| 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 10) | $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


### Cross Boss

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cross-boss/id811255164)

This app transforms traditional crosswords into a competitive two-player word game. It adds tactical elements to the familiar crossword format, allowing you to challenge friends or random opponents. Enjoy a vast library of puzzles and engage with opponents through chat.

**Highlights:** Two-player competitive word game, Tactical game elements, Challenge friends or random opponents, Play over the net or locally, In-game chat, Over 200 high-quality crosswords

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Statistics | $1.99 | one-time |
| No ads for six months | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun competitive crosswords
- 💡 Great game concept
- 👍 Easy to learn UI
- 😊 Addictive and fun
- 👍 Good for brain exercise

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Too many ads
- 😠 Ads are intrusive
- 😠 Ads are game breaking
- 😠 Subscription for ad-free
- 😠 Greedy IAP model

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications stopped working
- App crashes constantly
- No keyboard to type word after unlocking clue
- App not working with iOS 9

**Requested features**

- Option to force forfeit or extend game time
- More puzzles by 'Mark'
- Single player mode with normal crossword
- Option to start game with all clues revealed
- Pro version for ad removal


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cryptic Crossword free?

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

### Is Cross Boss free?

Cross Boss is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Cryptic Crossword or Cross Boss?

Cryptic Crossword is rated higher. Cryptic Crossword averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Cross Boss averages 4.2 from 59 ratings.

### Do Cryptic Crossword or Cross Boss have ads?

Cross Boss shows ads; Cryptic Crossword does not.

### Which is updated more often, Cryptic Crossword or Cross Boss?

Cryptic Crossword ships an update every 3 months, and Cross Boss every 3 months. Most recently, Cryptic Crossword was updated on November 1, 2026 and Cross Boss on November 1, 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.*