# Codewords vs Crossword Unlimited

The clearest difference is ads: Codewords at none against Crossword Unlimited's shown. Codewords also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (77% vs 50%). Crossword Unlimited's advantage is ratings volume (3.1K vs 85) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 9 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Codewords sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Crossword Unlimited sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Codewords holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Crossword Unlimited has 3.1K ratings behind it against 85, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Codewords's written reviews are positive against 50% of Crossword Unlimited's.

Codewords ships an update every 9 months, Crossword Unlimited every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Codewords | Crossword Unlimited |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (85 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codewords/id682094723/reviews)** | [4.4 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-unlimited/id785309108/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 85 | **3.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **76.9% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | +9 |
| Developer | [Teazel](https://appshunter.io/developer/576525182) | [Havos](https://appshunter.io/developer/309789068) |

## What reviewers say

### Codewords

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codewords/id682094723)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pack of Codewords (Pack 1) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Codewords (Pack 2) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Codewords (Pack 3) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Codewords (Pack 4) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Codewords (Pack 5) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Codewords (Pack 6) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Codewords (Pack 7) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Codewords (Pack 9) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Codewords (Pack 10) | $0.99 | one-time |
| pack of Codewords (Pack 11) | $0.99 | one-time |
| full set of Codewords packs | $2.99 | one-time |


### Crossword Unlimited

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-unlimited/id785309108)

Enjoy an endless supply of custom-made crossword puzzles. Configure grid size, difficulty, and clue types to match your preferences. Save and reload games, and utilize helpful aids to solve challenging crosswords in multiple languages.

**Highlights:** Unlimited custom crossword generation, Configurable grid size and difficulty, Three crossword grid types (British, Barred, Arrow), Tailored puzzles based on interests and ability, Zoom and pan for easy navigation, Save and reload multiple games, Multiple language support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter (no ads) | $4.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good brain exercise
- 👍 Enjoyable way to pass time
- 👍 Challenging puzzles
- 👍 Varying difficulty levels

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Clues not matching answers
- 🐛 Misleading or ambiguous clues
- 🔍 Lack of cryptic clues
- 📺 Intrusive ads
- 💰 Paid version not removing ads as promised

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard disappearing
- Restore purchase feature not working
- Puzzle grid not fitting screen properly
- Incorrect answers for sports/geography clues

**Requested features**

- Ability to skip puzzles
- More localized clues and answers
- Improved keyboard/navigation
- Panic button to exit puzzles


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Codewords free?

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

### Is Crossword Unlimited free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Codewords or Crossword Unlimited?

Codewords is rated higher. Codewords averages 4.8 out of 5 from 85 ratings, while Crossword Unlimited averages 4.4 from 3.1K ratings.

### Do Codewords or Crossword Unlimited have ads?

Crossword Unlimited shows ads; Codewords does not.

### Which is updated more often, Codewords or Crossword Unlimited?

Codewords ships an update every 9 months, and Crossword Unlimited every 3 months. Most recently, Codewords was updated on October 29, 2026 and Crossword Unlimited on October 29, 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.*