Comparison

The Decryptorium vs Cipher Grid

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

The Decryptorium

This app offers a challenging cryptogram experience by removing word spaces, forcing users to rely on pattern recognition. It features five distinct cipher types and curated content across various themes, with progressive difficulty levels.

Highlights
  • Spaceless cryptogram puzzles
  • Five cipher types (Substitution, Caesar, Vigenère, Playfair, Rail Fence)
  • Curated content (philosophy, history, science, literature, movies)
  • Progressive difficulty levels
  • Themed puzzle pack collections
Features
Read full description

Ready for a real cryptogram challenge? The Decryptorium takes puzzle solving to the next level. While traditional cryptograms give you helpful spaces between words, we remove them entirely - forcing you to rely on pure pattern recognition and cipher-breaking skills. Why The Decryptorium is different: • No training wheels - Spaceless puzzles that truly test your abilities • 5 cipher types - Master Substitution, Caesar, Vigenère, Playfair, and Rail Fence • Curated content - Philosophy, history, science, literature, and movie quotes • Progressive difficulty - From beginner Caesar ciphers to expert Playfair grids • Premium collections - Download themed puzzle packs for extended play Challenge yourself with: Substitution ciphers without helpful word breaks Polyalphabetic Vigenère - keywords change the cipher throughout Playfair grids - 5×5 matrix-based encryption Rail Fence transposition - zigzag pattern ciphers Caesar rotation - letter shifting with no spaces to guide you

About

Cipher Grid

Read full description

A new secret message to crack. Every single day. Cipher Grid is a daily puzzle game where you decode real encrypted messages using actual historical ciphers. Each puzzle is a quote hidden behind a different code. Your job is to figure out the letters and reveal it. DAILY PUZZLE One new challenge every day. Each day uses a different cipher and difficulty, so no two days feel the same. 18 CIPHERS TO DECODE Caesar. Atbash. ROT13. Morse. Vigenère. Playfair. Semaphore. Maritime Flags. And more. Each one is a real encryption method used throughout history — from ancient scribes to World War spies to modern radio operators. LEARN AS YOU PLAY Built-in lessons explain every cipher from the ground up. No prior knowledge needed. Start as a complete beginner and work your way to mastering techniques used by real cryptographers. ENCRYPT AND DECRYPT A full toolkit covering 22 ciphers, free for everyone. Includes a working Enigma I simulator with configurable rotors, reflector, ring settings, and plugboard, plus the Hill matrix cipher. ZODIAC CHALLENGE A separate set of hand-picked puzzles to solve at your own pace. Free. PRO Unlock unlimited practice puzzles and Secure Message — public-key encrypted messages and photos that only the intended recipient can decrypt. Keys live on your device. Share the envelope as text or QR code, no servers involved. Every future feature added to the app is included. PRIVACY FIRST No accounts. No analytics. No tracking. No ads. Everything stays on your device. Available in English, French, German, Dutch, and Chinese. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://gist.github.com/ColdCompile/cf9b3ec7bc1f95c6379477e4bd097cf9

Screenshots

The Decryptorium4 screens
Cipher Grid4 screens

Verdict

The call

The Decryptorium and Cipher Grid are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. The Decryptorium sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Cipher Grid sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.90 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
The Decryptorium versus Cipher Grid: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe DecryptoriumCipher Grid
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequency—Every 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB41 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperJames Jason EdwardsFrancois Van Malleghem

In-app purchases

1 purchases

The Decryptorium

One-time1
  • Historical Vigenère Premium$4.99
2 purchases

Cipher Grid

Subscriptions2
  • Cipher Grid Pro$0.901 Month
  • Cipher Grid Pro$9.001 Year

Questions

Is The Decryptorium free?
The Decryptorium is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cipher Grid free?
Cipher Grid is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do The Decryptorium or Cipher Grid have ads?
Neither The Decryptorium nor Cipher Grid shows ads.

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