Cruza vs Read & Learn Languages
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cruza
Learn Spanish or English through bilingual crosswords. Each puzzle builds vocabulary by providing English clues and requiring Spanish answers, with pronunciation and spaced repetition for memory retention. Offers themed books and gender drills for comprehensive language acquisition.
- Bilingual crossword puzzles
- English clues, Spanish answers
- Pronunciation playback
- Spaced-repetition review
- Gender drills and matching games
- Themed puzzle books
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Cruza — Bilingual Crosswords for Spanish & English Learn a language the way your brain actually enjoys: by solving. Every clue is in English, every answer in Spanish (and it works in reverse), so each square you fill builds real vocabulary. • A free puzzle every day — no account needed • 48 themed books, ~1,190 puzzles, graded A1 (beginner) to B2 • Tap any answer to hear it pronounced • Spaced-repetition review turns solved words into lasting memory • "El o La" gender drills and "Memoria" matching game • No ads. No tracking. No subscription. Unlock the entire library — every book, every level — with a single one-time purchase. Buy once, own forever. Whether you're learning Spanish, learning English, or just love a good crossword, Cruza makes daily practice a habit you'll keep.
Read & Learn Languages
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Learn a language by binge-reading stories you can't put down. Contos is a library of serialized micro-fiction written for language learners — cosy mysteries, romances, crime and everyday sci-fi, in seventeen languages, written exactly at your level. Every chapter takes about five minutes, ends on a cliffhanger, and quietly teaches you the language you're learning. A WHOLE LIBRARY AT YOUR LEVEL • Hundreds of stories across dozens of series — romance, mystery, crime, sci-fi, comedy and family drama • Written for learners at every level, A1 to B2: you'll understand it from chapter one • New stories land in the library every week • Read stories for free. READ LIKE A NATIVE, LEARN LIKE A READER • Tap any word for an instant translation • Tap a phrase to translate the whole thing in context • Save words and phrases as flashcards with spaced repetition built in PLUS: A STORY WRITTEN JUST FOR YOU, EVERY DAY • Contos writes you a fresh personal story daily — your level, your interests, your pace • Around 75% words you already know, with new vocabulary introduced in context • Rate each story and tomorrow's recalibrates WATCH YOURSELF IMPROVE • Vocabulary milestones: 100, 500, 1,000 words and beyond • Streaks and reading-time achievements keep you showing up • Level up from A1 to B2 by reading, not by drilling SEVENTEEN LANGUAGES Spanish, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, English, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin Chinese — with translations in your own language. WHY READING WORKS Languages aren't memorised — they're absorbed. Comprehensible input (reading you mostly understand, with just enough new) is how vocabulary actually sticks. Contos keeps you at that sweet spot chapter after chapter, because you'll always want to know what happens next. CONTOS PREMIUM The first chapters of every series are free. Contos Premium unlocks every chapter of every series, plus your daily personalised story and unlimited flashcards — pay monthly, or save with an annual plan. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase; the subscription renews for the same period (monthly or yearly, depending on your plan) unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel any time in Settings → Subscriptions. Your progress is saved to your account with Sign in with Apple. Terms of Use: https://contosapp.com/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cruza at none against Read & Learn Languages's 1. Cruza also leads on ads (none vs shown). Read & Learn Languages's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Read & Learn Languages sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month. Cruza asks for nothing beyond the download.
Cruza ships an update every 6 weeks, Read & Learn Languages every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cruza | Read & Learn Languages |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 58 MB | 40 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sherar Genius LLC | Jake Harris |
In-app purchases
Cruza
No in-app purchases
Read & Learn Languages
- Contos Premium Monthly$7.991 Month
Questions
Is Cruza free?
Is Read & Learn Languages free?
Do Cruza or Read & Learn Languages have ads?
Which is updated more often, Cruza or Read & Learn Languages?
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