# Crossword Puzzles! vs Matrix Stack

The clearest difference is price: Crossword Puzzles! at Free against Matrix Stack's $0.99. Crossword Puzzles! also leads on ratings volume (8.7K vs 14). Matrix Stack's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and ads (none vs shown). On device support there is nothing between them.

Crossword Puzzles! is free to download; Matrix Stack costs $0.99 up front. Crossword Puzzles! sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Matrix Stack asks for nothing beyond the download.

Matrix Stack holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Crossword Puzzles! has 8.7K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Crossword Puzzles!'s written reviews are positive against 100% of Matrix Stack's.

Crossword Puzzles! ships an update every 3 months, Matrix Stack every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Crossword Puzzles! | Matrix Stack |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [4.6 (8.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-puzzles/id804708947/reviews) | **[5.0 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matrix-stack/id6738633004/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8.7K** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 84.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 155 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DexCheck, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1389355811) | [ANR Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1781580625) |

## What reviewers say

### Crossword Puzzles!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-puzzles/id804708947)

Enjoy daily crossword puzzles with stunning travel destination backgrounds. Thousands of puzzles are available for all skill levels, with hints and solution checking. Unlock more content and features with an optional subscription.

**Highlights:** Daily new puzzles, Thousands of puzzles for all skill levels, Beautiful travel destination backgrounds, Hints and solution checking, Portrait and Landscape support, Unlimited hints with subscription, Access to full puzzle library with subscription

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wanderlust Pass (1 Month) | $5.99 | per month |
| Pack of 200 Tickets | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 100 Tickets | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tickets - Tier 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 100 Tickets | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 100 Tickets | $2.99 | one-time |
| Tickets - Tier 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Tickets - Tier 3 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 500 Tickets | $11.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 1250 Tickets | $23.99 | one-time |
| First Class Ticket: Unlimited | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎯 Daily fun
- 🧠 Fun and challenging puzzles
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🧠 Helpful clues
- 🧠 Great variety of puzzles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription too expensive
- 🔍 Too many ads
- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🔍 Distracting and intrusive ads
- 🔍 Repeated puzzles

**Reported bugs**

- Puzzle download failures
- Incorrect letter input
- Puzzle progress not saving
- Ads getting stuck and preventing gameplay

**Requested features**

- Ability to remove ads
- More free puzzles or ways to earn tickets
- Improved navigation and cursor control
- Option to choose background/color scheme
- Ability to access past puzzles


### Matrix Stack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matrix-stack/id6738633004)

Tap to precisely drop boxes and build the tallest tower. This addictive one-tap game features a retro style and satisfying gameplay. It's easy to learn but challenging to master, perfect for quick sessions or extended play.

**Highlights:** Precision-based stacking, One-tap gameplay, Retro aesthetic, Offline play, Fast restarts, Hyper-casual design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Crossword Puzzles! free?

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

### Is Matrix Stack free?

Matrix Stack costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Crossword Puzzles! or Matrix Stack?

Matrix Stack is rated higher. Crossword Puzzles! averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8.7K ratings, while Matrix Stack averages 5.0 from 14 ratings.

### Do Crossword Puzzles! or Matrix Stack have ads?

Crossword Puzzles! shows ads; Matrix Stack does not.

### Which is updated more often, Crossword Puzzles! or Matrix Stack?

Crossword Puzzles! ships an update every 3 months, and Matrix Stack every 3 weeks. Most recently, Crossword Puzzles! was updated on October 17, 2026 and Matrix Stack on October 6, 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.*