# Cryptogram vs Cipher Genius

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Cryptogram at 16.0 against Cipher Genius's 18.1. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cryptogram sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Cipher Genius sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Cryptogram ships an update every 2 months, Cipher Genius every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cryptogram | Cipher Genius |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cipher-genius/id6753089895/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 48 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Emma Wilson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1827494314) | [Smartphone Design Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/298734749) |

## What reviewers say

### Cryptogram

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptogram-word-code-games/id6748828191)

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly-NoTrial | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


### Cipher Genius

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cipher-genius/id6753089895)

Crack colorful emoji-style ciphers with a modern, intuitive design. Enjoy hundreds of puzzles, from quick lists to full quotes, with no ads or timers. Play offline and at your own pace.

**Highlights:** Emoji-style cipher tiles, Hundreds of puzzles, Two puzzle styles (lists and long answers), Three difficulty levels, No ads or timers, Offline play, Portrait and landscape modes, Accessibility features

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Food & Drink | $3.99 | one-time |
| Music | $3.99 | one-time |
| Humor & Wit | $3.99 | one-time |
| Word Play | $3.99 | one-time |
| Geography & Travel | $3.99 | one-time |
| Quotations | $3.99 | one-time |
| History & Legends | $3.99 | one-time |
| Nature & Science | $3.99 | one-time |
| Young At Heart | $3.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate Collection | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cryptogram free?

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

### Is Cipher Genius free?

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

### Do Cryptogram or Cipher Genius have ads?

Neither Cryptogram nor Cipher Genius shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cryptogram or Cipher Genius?

Cryptogram ships an update every 2 months, and Cipher Genius every 3 months. Most recently, Cryptogram was updated on October 28, 2026 and Cipher Genius on November 5, 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.*