# Cryptogram vs 4WORD

Cryptogram and 4WORD both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of 4WORD's written reviews are positive against 67% of Cryptogram's. Cryptogram's advantage is ratings volume (763 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cryptogram sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and 4WORD sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.59 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Cryptogram against 5.0 for 4WORD. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cryptogram has 763 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of Cryptogram's written reviews are positive against 100% of 4WORD's.

Cryptogram ships an update every 2 weeks, 4WORD every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cryptogram | 4WORD |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (763 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptogram-word-puzzle-master/id6670599725/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/4word/id6738363816/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **763** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 178 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Guru Future Holding Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1693569117) | [General Design & Innovation LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1562436822) |

## What reviewers say

### Cryptogram

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptogram-word-puzzle-master/id6670599725)

This game challenges your logic and vocabulary by having you decipher encoded quotes. Use contextual clues and letter patterns to reveal hidden messages and learn English expressions. Enjoy endless puzzles and a mental workout anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Decode hidden messages, Decrypt letter substitution ciphers, Use contextual clues, Reveal encoded phrases, Utilize hints for assistance, Vast library of quotes, Offline gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Decades of Hits | $5.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads Permanently | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and engaging gameplay
- 💡 Variety of word puzzles
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay experience
- 👍 Aesthetically pleasing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Difficulty distinguishing numbers
- 🐛 Ads not removed despite paid option
- 🐛 Ads covering gameplay elements
- 🐛 Small font and text size

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to progress to next level
- Ads preventing access to game modes

**Requested features**

- Option to turn off auto-scroll
- Move ads off the gameplay area


### 4WORD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/4word/id6738363816)

This daily word game challenges you to guess four words from clues, then use their first letters to find a hidden word. It's designed to be a fun and healthy way to improve concentration and memory.

**Highlights:** Daily 2-step word challenge, Guess 4 words from clues, Find the Word of the Day, Improves concentration, Reduces stress, Strengthens memory

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Access | $0.59 | per month |
| 3-Month Access | $1.49 | per 3 months |
| Semi-Annual | $2.39 | per 6 months |
| Annual | $3.59 | per year |
| Unlimited Reveals Forever | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| 50 Reveals | $0.99 | one-time |
| No Ads + Unlimited Reveals | $1.49 | one-time |
| 100 Reveals | $1.49 | one-time |
| 300 Reveals | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cryptogram free?

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

### Is 4WORD free?

4WORD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Cryptogram or 4WORD?

4WORD is rated higher. Cryptogram averages 4.9 out of 5 from 763 ratings, while 4WORD averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Cryptogram or 4WORD have ads?

Both Cryptogram and 4WORD show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cryptogram or 4WORD?

Cryptogram ships an update every 2 weeks, and 4WORD every 3 weeks. Most recently, Cryptogram was updated on October 16, 2026 and 4WORD on October 7, 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.*