# PlaySimple Cryptogram vs Decoding Word Puzzle

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Decoding Word Puzzle at none against PlaySimple Cryptogram's 18. Decoding Word Puzzle also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks). PlaySimple Cryptogram's advantage is chart position (#54 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PlaySimple Cryptogram sells 16 one-off in-app purchases. Decoding Word Puzzle asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for PlaySimple Cryptogram against 4.9 for Decoding Word Puzzle. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24K and 11K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 28% of PlaySimple Cryptogram's written reviews are positive against 27% of Decoding Word Puzzle's.

PlaySimple Cryptogram ships an update every 2 weeks, Decoding Word Puzzle daily. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PlaySimple Cryptogram | Decoding Word Puzzle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playsimple-cryptogram/id6741839590/reviews) | [4.9 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decoding-word-puzzle/id6747968388/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **24K** | 11K |
| Positive reviews | **28.3% of reviews** | 26.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#54** | — |
| Size | 241 MB | 255 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PlaySimple Games Pte Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1189416142) | [Peace Word Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1787839993) |

## What reviewers say

### PlaySimple Cryptogram

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playsimple-cryptogram/id6741839590)

**Currently charting:** #54 Top Free · Word, #70 Top Grossing · Word (US App Store)

Engage in a word logic puzzle game where you decode encrypted messages by substituting letters. With varying difficulty levels and diverse categories, it offers a stimulating challenge for puzzle enthusiasts of all kinds.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of engaging cryptogram puzzles, Puzzles from diverse categories, Intuitive and straightforward gameplay, Hints and letter reveal assistance, Daily new puzzle challenges

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 300 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ladder Deal 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Timed Deal 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Skip'its Pack | $2.49 | one-time |
| 1000 Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hint Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Fail Offer | $3.99 | one-time |
| Basic Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Screen Burst Hint 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Big Hints Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| Remove Forced Ads | $9.99 | one-time |
| Value Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Timed Deal 3 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Big Skip'its Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate Pack | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun game
- 💡 Good for the brain

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and loses progress
- 🔋 Battery draining issue
- 🤯 Frustrating revive mechanic
- 🤏 Small touch targets for ads

**Reported bugs**

- App randomly closes and loses progress
- Overheating issues on some devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to enlarge letters
- Improved ad experience


### Decoding Word Puzzle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decoding-word-puzzle/id6747968388)

Engage your mind with a word puzzle game featuring quotes from famous figures, literature, and movies. Solve creatively designed levels with hints and letter matching, enhanced by beautiful hand-drawn art and an unfolding narrative.

**Highlights:** Quote-based puzzles, Word creation and letter matching, Contextual hints, Hand-drawn artwork, Narrative mode, Daily challenges

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Relaxing and mentally challenging
- 👍 Fun and enjoyable game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔥 Overloaded with ads
- 🐛 Buggy and unresponsive touch interface
- 🔋 Poor performance and battery drain

**Reported bugs**

- Forced to restart from beginning after update
- Frequent crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- More puzzle content
- Option to disable ads


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PlaySimple Cryptogram free?

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

### Is Decoding Word Puzzle free?

Decoding Word Puzzle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PlaySimple Cryptogram or Decoding Word Puzzle?

PlaySimple Cryptogram and Decoding Word Puzzle are both rated 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store, from 24K and 11K ratings respectively.

### Do PlaySimple Cryptogram or Decoding Word Puzzle have ads?

PlaySimple Cryptogram shows ads; Decoding Word Puzzle does not.

### Which is updated more often, PlaySimple Cryptogram or Decoding Word Puzzle?

PlaySimple Cryptogram ships an update every 2 weeks, and Decoding Word Puzzle daily. Most recently, PlaySimple Cryptogram was updated on September 24, 2026 and Decoding Word Puzzle on September 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.*