# Word Association! vs Five Differences Max Challenge

The clearest difference is rating: Word Association! at 4.6 against Five Differences Max Challenge's 4.2. Word Association! also leads on ratings volume (8.2K vs 14) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 18 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Word Association! sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Five Differences Max Challenge sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Word Association! holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Word Association! has 8.2K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Word Association!'s written reviews are positive against 76% of Five Differences Max Challenge's.

Word Association! ships an update every 4 months, Five Differences Max Challenge every 18 months. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Word Association! | Five Differences Max Challenge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (8.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-association/id716759372/reviews)** | [4.2 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/five-differences-max-challenge/id1091853577/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.2K** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | **90.2% of reviews** | 75.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 18 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 104 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Funnerware](https://appshunter.io/developer/674121296) | [Wasabi Applications](https://appshunter.io/developer/643579130) |

## What reviewers say

### Word Association!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-association/id716759372)

Engage in a relaxing word game by matching pairs of related words. Explore connections like synonyms, opposites, or compound word parts. Hundreds of puzzles are available, with hints to help you along the way.

**Highlights:** Match related word pairs, Synonyms, opposites, compound words, 40 free puzzles included, Hundreds of additional puzzles for purchase, Hint system available, Relaxing gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pack of 100 Hints | $0.99 | one-time |
| Relax Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Good Times Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stimulating Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Happy Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Fun Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Lucky Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Conquer Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Packs of 350 Hints | $2.99 | one-time |
| Combo Pack (Unlocks all Packs, Plus future Packs & Removes Ads) | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Enjoyable game
- 🧠 Challenges the mind
- 🧠 Helps improve vocabulary
- 🧠 Good brain exercise
- 🧠 Keeps the mind sharp

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs with navigation buttons
- 🕰️ Timed gameplay can be stressful
- 💰 Paywalled content
- 📢 Too many ads
- 🔤 Some word associations are questionable

**Reported bugs**

- Replay and Next Level buttons not working
- Freezing/crashing issues
- Incorrect word associations

**Requested features**

- More word packs and levels
- Ability to disable timer
- Larger font size options
- Themed word packs
- Ability to save progress and resume later


### Five Differences Max Challenge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/five-differences-max-challenge/id1091853577)

A popular spot-the-difference puzzle game where players find five hidden changes in images within a time limit. It offers an addictive challenge suitable for all ages and includes hints for when players get stuck.

**Highlights:** Find five hidden differences per level, Timed gameplay with approximately 2-minute limits, Scoring based on speed and difficulty, Hint system for assistance, New levels added periodically

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 hints | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hint Pack S | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ads Free | $1.99 | one-time |
| 12 hints | $1.99 | one-time |
| 20 hints | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hint Pack M | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hint Pack L | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Word Association! free?

Word Association! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Five Differences Max Challenge free?

Five Differences Max Challenge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Word Association! or Five Differences Max Challenge?

Word Association! is rated higher. Word Association! averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8.2K ratings, while Five Differences Max Challenge averages 4.2 from 14 ratings.

### Do Word Association! or Five Differences Max Challenge have ads?

Both Word Association! and Five Differences Max Challenge show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Word Association! or Five Differences Max Challenge?

Word Association! ships an update every 4 months, and Five Differences Max Challenge every 18 months. Most recently, Word Association! was updated on October 21, 2026 and Five Differences Max Challenge on October 21, 2026.

---

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