# Thread vs Cryptical

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Thread | Cryptical |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thread-daily-word-puzzle/id6779929637/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 151 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [OSCAR CANTON GARCIA](https://appshunter.io/developer/6773014518) | [Benjamin Law Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/6800681102) |

## What reviewers say

### Thread

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thread-daily-word-puzzle/id6779929637)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Thread Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Thread Pro Yearly | $8.99 | per year |
| Thread PRO | $17.99 | one-time |


### Cryptical

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptical/id6800680958)

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No. 1C by Linden | $0.29 | one-time |
| No. 2 by Vytautus | $0.29 | one-time |
| No. 3 by Vytautus | $0.29 | one-time |
| No. 4 by Vytautus | $0.29 | one-time |
| Dogs by Linden | $0.29 | one-time |
| Mammals by Linden | $0.29 | one-time |
| Insects by Linden | $0.29 | one-time |
| No. 6 by Doc | $0.49 | one-time |
| Hint and explanation token top up | $0.49 | one-time |
| Animal-themed (x5) by Linden | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*