# Tricky Words vs SpellStar

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tricky Words at none against SpellStar's 5. Tricky Words also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SpellStar sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Tricky Words asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tricky Words ships an update every 4 days, SpellStar every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tricky Words | SpellStar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Size | 52 MB | 251 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Moritz Schmittat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1884151292) | [Lydex Solutions LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1874525206) |

## What reviewers say

### Tricky Words

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tricky-words/id6763272480)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SpellStar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spellstar/id6765878575)

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SpellStar Plus | $3.99 | per month |
| SpellStar Family | $4.99 | per month |
| SpellStar Plus (Annual) | $29.99 | per year |
| SpellStar Family (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| SpellStar Classroom | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tricky Words free?

Tricky Words is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SpellStar free?

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

### Do Tricky Words or SpellStar have ads?

Neither Tricky Words nor SpellStar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tricky Words or SpellStar?

Tricky Words ships an update every 4 days, and SpellStar every 3 weeks. Most recently, Tricky Words was updated on September 15, 2026 and SpellStar on September 18, 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.*