# Red Herring vs Puzzmo

The clearest difference is rating: Red Herring at 4.7 against Puzzmo's 3.7. Red Herring also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 43%) and ratings volume (48K vs 177). Puzzmo's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and chart position (#135 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Red Herring sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Puzzmo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Red Herring holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Red Herring has 48K ratings behind it against 177, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Red Herring's written reviews are positive against 43% of Puzzmo's.

Red Herring ships an update every 3 months, Puzzmo every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Red Herring | Puzzmo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (48K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/red-herring/id663596265/reviews)** | [3.7 (177 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puzzmo-solve-smile-share/id6714482734/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **48K** | 177 |
| Positive reviews | **75.8% of reviews** | 42.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#135** |
| Size | 84 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Blue Ox Family Games, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/288074001) | [Puzzmo Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1770315222) |

## What reviewers say

### Red Herring

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/red-herring/id663596265)

This word puzzle game challenges you to group words into categories while identifying misleading "Red Herring" words. Enjoy a fun, challenging, and easy-to-learn experience with no time limits and three difficulty levels suitable for all ages.

**Highlights:** Group words into categories, Identify misleading "Red Herring" words, No time limit, Three difficulty levels, Daily puzzle

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Curiosity - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| Brilliant! - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| Allegro - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| Spelunking - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| Renaissance - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| IQ - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| Serendipity - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Hints | $2.99 | one-time |
| Older Daily Puzzles 2014 Jul - Dec | $3.99 | one-time |
| Quantum Leap - 175 Puzzles | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤔 Challenging and thought-provoking
- 🧠 Exercises the mind
- ⏰ Good time-passer
- 🎮 Fun and addictive game
- 🎓 Educational and expands vocabulary

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🇺🇸 Too American-centric
- 💰 Expensive paid content
- 🚫 Limited free content
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🔍 Obscure references and categories

**Reported bugs**

- Formatting issues after updates
- Inability to access previous daily puzzles
- Ads that cannot be dismissed

**Requested features**

- More free daily puzzles
- Less American-focused content
- Dark mode option
- Ability to replay past puzzles
- Hints system improvements


### Puzzmo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puzzmo-solve-smile-share/id6714482734)

**Currently charting:** #135 Top Grossing · Word (US App Store)

Discover a universe of daily puzzles with original games and modern classics. Enjoy word puzzles, strategy games, and crosswords with helpful hints. It's a free and engaging way to challenge your mind.

**Highlights:** Daily original puzzles, Classic puzzle games, Word puzzles, Strategy games, Crosswords with hints, Memory and matching games

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Puzzmo Plus (monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| Puzzmo Plus | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth app experience
- 🎮 Variety of classic games
- 👍 High-quality puzzles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Suboptimal UI/UX
- 📱 Lacks iPad optimization
- 💰 Subscription model concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Crossword clues not locking in correctly
- Transitions between games could be smoother

**Requested features**

- Ability to resume games from where left off
- Numerical order for crossword clues
- Remove subscription, keep account option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Red Herring free?

Red Herring is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Puzzmo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Red Herring or Puzzmo?

Red Herring is rated higher. Red Herring averages 4.7 out of 5 from 48K ratings, while Puzzmo averages 3.7 from 177 ratings.

### Do Red Herring or Puzzmo have ads?

Both Red Herring and Puzzmo show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Red Herring or Puzzmo?

Red Herring ships an update every 3 months, and Puzzmo every 2 weeks. Most recently, Red Herring was updated on October 24, 2026 and Puzzmo on October 24, 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.*