Comparison

Thread vs Cryptical

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

Head to head
About

Thread

Engage in a daily word puzzle where you uncover five answers from a shared letter tray. Reveal clues, then find the final word that connects them all. Create and share your own puzzles with the community.

Highlights
  • Daily new puzzles
  • Build words from letter tray
  • Find connecting word
  • Create and share custom puzzles
  • Community puzzle library
  • Track stats and streaks
  • Offline play
Features
Read full description

Thread is your daily word break. Every puzzle hides five answers you build from the same tray of letters. Find them, reveal their clues, then figure out the final word that links them all together. A FRESH CHALLENGE EVERY DAY A new puzzle drops each day. Study the letters, try different combinations, and let the clues guide you toward that final moment when everything clicks. FIVE WORDS, ONE LINK The five answers can look unrelated, but a single word ties them together. Can you spot it before you run out of tries? A HANDS-ON WAY TO PLAY No keyboard here. Build each answer straight from the letter tray, with clear feedback showing which letters are in the right spot, in the wrong spot, or not needed at all. PLAY AT YOUR OWN PACE Track your streak and stats, replay past puzzles in the archive, and unlock themes to personalize the experience. Add the widget to keep Thread always at hand. SHARE WITHOUT SPOILERS Send your result to friends without giving away the day's answers. CREATE, PUBLISH AND PLAY IN COMMUNITY Make your own threads and send them with a link, or publish them in Community for anyone to play. Discover other people’s threads and like your favorites. Every thread is reviewed before it goes live, and you can report or block anything you’d rather not see. Thread Pro lets you play with no ads, get unlimited archive access, and use extra hints and themes. The daily challenge is always free to play. THREAD PRO — OPTIONAL • Monthly: $1.99/month • Annual: $8.99/year (7-day free trial) • Lifetime: $17.99 one-time purchase Prices may vary by region. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://hilo.ogamlabs.com/en/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://hilo.ogamlabs.com/en/privacy/

About

Cryptical

Features
Read full description

Want a fiendish cryptic crossword? Purchase crosswords by professional newspaper crossword setters and use the simple, expertly designed interface to solve. Need a simpler entry to cryptics? The Cryptical Community has single clues and mini crosswords for free. Look out for the pro submissions! Fancy yourself as a crossword setter? Subscribe and you can share your own creations and join in the discussions in the Cryptical Community. Stuck on a really tough clue? Use free intelligent frontier AI that can give incremental hints to get you moving again. If you still don't understand the wordplay get a clear explanation of how it works with a mini-tutorial. Want to collaborate on a crossword? Invite another crossword fan to join in and solve in real-time together. Use the Brainstorm in-app messaging to discuss wordplay and get in-grid notifications badges on clues. Want to get help on your daily cryptic before the answers are released? Easily capture and upload printed newspaper or magazine crosswords, with or without answers, to use the app's intelligent AI solving tools. Need a break from the cryptic clues? Get an easy or challenging themed non-cryptic crossword to test your general knowledge! Download the app and get solving! Sencha, Vytautus and Linden Privacy Policy: www.crypticalcrosswords.com/privacy Terms of Use: www.crypticalcrosswords.com/terms

Screenshots

Thread4 screens
Cryptical4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Cryptical at none against Thread's shown. Cryptical also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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. Thread sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Cryptical sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Thread ships an update every 2 weeks, Cryptical every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Thread versus Cryptical: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThreadCryptical
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size151 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOSCAR CANTON GARCIABenjamin Law Smith

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Thread

Subscriptions2
  • Thread Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Thread Pro Yearly7 Days trial$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • Thread PRO$17.99
10 purchases

Cryptical

One-time10
  • No. 1C by Linden$0.29
  • No. 2 by Vytautus$0.29
  • No. 3 by Vytautus$0.29
Show 7 more
  • No. 4 by Vytautus$0.29
  • Dogs by Linden$0.29
  • Mammals by Linden$0.29
  • Insects by Linden$0.29
  • No. 6 by Doc$0.49
  • Hint and explanation token top up$0.49
  • Animal-themed (x5) by Linden$0.99

Questions

Is Thread free?
Thread is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cryptical free?
Cryptical is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Thread or Cryptical have ads?
Thread shows ads; Cryptical does not.
Which is updated more often, Thread or Cryptical?
Thread ships an update every 2 weeks, and Cryptical every 5 days. Most recently, Thread was updated on October 6, 2026 and Cryptical on October 10, 2026.

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