Comparison

CrypticCrab Crossword vs STACKD

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

Head to head
About

CrypticCrab Crossword

Learn to solve cryptic crosswords with interactive lessons and practice. Features daily puzzles, unlimited solving across difficulty levels, and real-time multiplayer duels. Track your progress and access a reference library of indicators and abbreviations.

Highlights
  • Interactive lesson system
  • Daily and archived puzzles
  • Unlimited solving across difficulty tiers
  • Real-time head-to-head multiplayer
  • Searchable reference glossary
  • Progress tracking and stats
Features
Read full description

Ever stared at a cryptic crossword clue and wondered if it was written in another language? You're not alone. CrypticCrab cracks the code on cryptic crosswords, one clue at a time. Most people think cryptic clues are impenetrable. The secret? Every cryptic clue has exactly two paths to the answer. Once you see the pattern, you'll never look at a crossword the same way again. CrypticCrab teaches you to solve real cryptic crossword clues through hands-on practice, not passive reading. Our four-phase lesson system breaks down each concept: TEACH: Watch as clues are dissected before your eyes. Colour-coded breakdowns show exactly how definition and wordplay work together. GUIDED SOLVE: Tap the definition words, identify the wordplay, classify the technique. Immediate feedback on every tap -- green for right, shake for wrong. ASSISTED SOLVE: Try solving with a safety net. Progressive hints when you're stuck (technique type is free; letters cost XP). SOLO SOLVE: You versus the clue. Enter your answer letter by letter, with a detailed breakdown after every attempt that reinforces what you've learned. NEW IN 2.0 -- MORE WAYS TO PLAY: DAILY CLUE: A fresh cryptic every day. Keep your streak alive. PAST CLUES: Missed a day? Replay any previous daily from the calendar archive. UNLIMITED PLAY: An endless library of clues. Pick your level -- Rookie, Standard, Expert or Master -- and solve as many as you like. HEAD-TO-HEAD DUELS: Race a friend or a rival in real time -- same clue, same clock. Climb the rankings in ranked matches, or keep it friendly. REFERENCE LIBRARY: A searchable glossary of indicator words and abbreviations, always a tap away. STATS HUB: Track your streak, XP, leaderboard standing and awards, all in one place. WHAT YOU GET: - Learning modules that build real skill: The Golden Rule (double definitions) and Indicator Words (anagrams, hidden words, reversals and more) - A fresh daily puzzle plus a full archive of past clues - Unlimited Play across four difficulty tiers - Real-time head-to-head multiplayer with Game Center rankings and achievements - XP system with 8 levels from Novice to Grand Master - Streak tracking that rewards consistency (and never punishes a missed day) - Three-star ratings on every lesson -- replay for perfection - A searchable reference glossary and technique summaries that unlock as you learn - Progress that syncs across your devices with iCloud CrypticCrab is a word puzzle game that teaches as you play -- now with a completely redesigned 2.0 experience. Free to start, with no ads. An optional Premium unlock (or one-time Lifetime purchase) adds the full past-clue archive, every learning module, unlimited solving and friend leaderboards. Lessons play offline; the daily clue, the archive and multiplayer need a connection. Whether you're a complete beginner who's never attempted a cryptic clue, or a casual solver looking to understand the method behind the madness, CrypticCrab meets you where you are and builds your skills one clue at a time. The answer to the clue is always there. You just need to learn where to look. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Full terms and conditions: https://crypticcrab.xyz/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://crypticcrab.xyz/privacy/

About

STACKD

A daily word-tile puzzle where players solve four words on a shared board each day. Earn coins by playing and use bonus tiles to increase your score. The puzzle resets every 24 hours with the same challenge for everyone.

Highlights
  • Daily shared word puzzles
  • Colored bonus tiles for score multipliers
  • Rainbow Unicorn Tiles for any letter
  • Hidden daily Word of the Day bonus
  • Coin-based Word Jackpot for hints
  • Streak rewards for daily play
Features
Read full description

STACKD is a daily word-tile puzzle: one board, four words, one day to solve it, then it's gone until tomorrow. Everyone in the world gets the exact same letters and the exact same board each day, so however you did, that's really how you did. HOW TO PLAY Tap letters from your rack, in order, to spell a real word, then lock it in. Land on a multiplier tile to boost your score, the rarer the color, the bigger the payout. Four words and you're done for the day. FEATURES - A fresh puzzle every 24 hours, same for every player - Colored bonus tiles: double/triple letter, double/triple word - Rare rainbow Unicorn Tiles that stand in for any letter - A hidden daily Word of the Day bonus - Word Jackpot: auto-solve any word you're stuck on, for a coin cost - A streak ladder that rewards playing every day Coins are earned just by playing, and can also be topped up for real money if you want to skip the wait, never required to finish a puzzle. No ads. No timers pushing you to pay. Just a board, four words, and a day to solve them.

Screenshots

CrypticCrab Crossword4 screens
STACKD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: STACKD at 100% against CrypticCrab Crossword's 67%. STACKD also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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. CrypticCrab Crossword sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and STACKD sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CrypticCrab Crossword ships an update every 3 days, STACKD every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
CrypticCrab Crossword versus STACKD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCrypticCrab CrosswordSTACKD
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB23 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperRodney TelfordStacey Thornton

Customer experience

CrypticCrab Crossword

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

STACKD

Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

CrypticCrab Crossword

Subscriptions2
  • CrypticCrab Premium (1 Month)$3.991 Month
  • CrypticCrab Premium (3 Month)$9.993 Months
One-time3
  • Learning Module 2$1.99
  • Learning Module 3$1.99
  • CrypticCrab Premium (lifetime)$69.99
3 purchases

STACKD

One-time3
  • Small Pouch$1.99
  • Full Stack$6.99
  • Vault$12.99

Questions

Is CrypticCrab Crossword free?
CrypticCrab Crossword is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is STACKD free?
STACKD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do CrypticCrab Crossword or STACKD have ads?
Neither CrypticCrab Crossword nor STACKD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CrypticCrab Crossword or STACKD?
CrypticCrab Crossword ships an update every 3 days, and STACKD every 2 days. Most recently, CrypticCrab Crossword was updated on October 24, 2026 and STACKD on October 21, 2026.

Other comparisons