Comparison

Codewords vs Daily Cryptic

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

Head to head
About

Codewords

Engage your mind with unique crossword puzzles where letters are replaced by numbers. Solve the code by deducing which number represents which letter to complete the grid. Perfect for a quick mental workout.

Highlights
  • Number-to-letter decoding
  • 900 complete puzzles
  • Zooming grid
  • Cheats and answer checking
  • Landscape mode
Features
Read full description

Codeword puzzles to keep you busy during coffee break. This full version has 900 complete puzzles. Codewords are crossword puzzles with a twist - there are no clues. Instead, each letter A-Z is represented by a random number 1-26, with the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle. All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number. For example, all the 1's may be T's, all the 2's E's and so on. You are given some letters to help start off. All the letters A-Z are present in the early puzzles, with one number for each letter (later puzzles don't necessarily have all 26 letters in the grid). The codewords grid is displayed in full. If you are really stuck then you can reveal a letter. A great way to while away your commute! Features: - zooming grid - cheats and answer checking - landscape mode Also known as Enigma Code, Code Breaker, Cipher crosswords, Code Crackers and Kaidoku. If you're after a bigger challenge, try our Crossword apps - casual, cryptic and US style versions are available.

About

Daily Cryptic

Learn to solve cryptic crosswords with daily clues, progressive hints, and step-by-step explanations. Build your skills through a structured learning series and practice with weekly crosswords and monthly prize challenges.

Highlights
  • Daily cryptic clues
  • Progressive hints
  • Step-by-step explanations
  • Structured learning series
  • Weekly practice crosswords
  • Monthly prize challenges
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

Daily Cryptic teaches you to solve cryptic crosswords — one clue at a time. Every day brings a fresh cryptic clue with progressive hints and a step-by-step explanation, so you learn the technique behind every answer. Work through the learning series, build a solving streak, then put your skills to work on full crosswords and monthly prize challenges. EVERY DAY • A new hand-picked cryptic clue • Progressive hints when you're stuck • Clear step-by-step explanations of the wordplay • Streaks and stats to track your progress LEARN THE CRAFT • A structured learning series covering the major clue types — anagrams, hidden words, containers, reversals and more • Step-by-step explainers that show how each answer is built CROSSWORDS & PRIZES • Weekly crosswords to practise on • Monthly prize challenges • Entry rules and eligibility are shown before you enter SYNC EVERYWHERE • Your progress, streaks and entries sync between iOS and dailycryptic.co Terms of Use: https://dailycryptic.co/terms Privacy Policy: https://dailycryptic.co/privacy

Screenshots

Codewords3 screens
Daily Cryptic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Daily Cryptic at every 2 days against Codewords's every 9 months. Codewords's advantage is ratings volume (83 vs 3) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, 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. Codewords sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Daily Cryptic sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Codewords against 4.7 for Daily Cryptic. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Codewords has 83 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Codewords ships an update every 9 months, Daily Cryptic every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Codewords versus Daily Cryptic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCodewordsDaily Cryptic
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (83 ratings) — better4.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews76.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings83 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB11 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperTeazelTF Daily

Customer experience

Codewords

All ratings83 ratings
Positive96.4%
Neutral3.6%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews39 reviews
Positive76.9%
Neutral10.3%
Negative12.8%

Daily Cryptic

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Codewords

One-time11
  • pack of Codewords (Pack 1)$0.99
  • pack of Codewords (Pack 2)$0.99
  • pack of Codewords (Pack 3)$0.99
Show 8 more
  • pack of Codewords (Pack 4)$0.99
  • pack of Codewords (Pack 5)$0.99
  • pack of Codewords (Pack 6)$0.99
  • pack of Codewords (Pack 7)$0.99
  • pack of Codewords (Pack 9)$0.99
  • pack of Codewords (Pack 10)$0.99
  • pack of Codewords (Pack 11)$0.99
  • full set of Codewords packs$2.99
2 purchases

Daily Cryptic

Subscriptions2
  • Plus Quarterly7 Days trial$24.993 Months
  • Plus Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Codewords free?
Codewords is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Daily Cryptic free?
Daily Cryptic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Codewords or Daily Cryptic?
Codewords is rated higher. Codewords averages 4.8 out of 5 from 83 ratings, while Daily Cryptic averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Codewords or Daily Cryptic have ads?
Neither Codewords nor Daily Cryptic shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Codewords or Daily Cryptic?
Codewords ships an update every 9 months, and Daily Cryptic every 2 days. Most recently, Codewords was updated on September 26, 2026 and Daily Cryptic on September 11, 2026.

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