# Crossword vs Word Master

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Word Master at none against Crossword's 11. Word Master also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Crossword's advantage is chart position (#194 vs unranked). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Crossword sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Word Master asks for nothing beyond the download.

Word Master holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 43K and 19K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Crossword's written reviews are positive against 77% of Word Master's.

Crossword ships an update every 6 weeks, Word Master every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Crossword | Word Master |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (43K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-by-puzzlingcom/id859866568/reviews) | **[4.8 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-master-classic/id979597990/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **43K** | 19K |
| Positive reviews | 69.2% of reviews | **77.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#194** | — |
| Size | 484 MB | 116 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AppyNation Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/488094583) | [Luis Gualandi](https://appshunter.io/developer/979597989) |

## What reviewers say

### Crossword

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crossword-by-puzzlingcom/id859866568)

**Currently charting:** #194 Top Grossing · Word (US App Store)

Engage your mind with a vast collection of crossword puzzles and word games. Solve thousands of clues, complete daily challenges, and collect trophies across multiple game modes. Enjoy a new puzzle experience every day with this extensive library of brain-teasing fun.

**Highlights:** Thousands of unique clues, Hundreds of original puzzles, Daily themed puzzles, World's Biggest and Tallest crosswords, Multiple game modes (Cryptogram, Codewords, Word Grid), Trophies, quests, and achievements, Timed events

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coins Starter Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coin Doubler | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tokens Starter Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coins Booster Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Tokens Booster Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Coins Super Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Tokens Super Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Coins Mega Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Tokens Mega Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Coins Ultra Pack | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Entertaining and user-friendly
- 🧠 Educational and practical
- 🤔 Challenging but not too difficult
- 🕰️ Good for passing time

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Tokens/coins required to play more puzzles
- 📺 Excessive ads that interrupt gameplay
- 🇬🇧 Some clues use British slang/terms
- 🔁 Repetitive use of same words in puzzles

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes after updates
- Inconsistent behavior with token/coin rewards
- Clues/answers not matching properly

**Requested features**

- Allow exchanging coins for tokens
- Provide more tokens/coins for completing puzzles
- Add option to view past completed puzzles
- Improve navigation and reduce interruptions


### Word Master

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-master-classic/id979597990)

This app offers a classic crossword board game experience with offline play. It features AI opponents, customizable boards, and tools to help you improve your vocabulary and strategy. Play against the computer or friends, and learn new words with definitions.

**Highlights:** Offline play, Play against AI, Pass 'n Play with friends, Challenge mode for high scores, Word definitions, Customizable board layouts, Word validation and scoring

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Minimal ads
- 🧠 Helps improve vocabulary
- 🕹️ Classic Scrabble gameplay
- 🎨 Customizable board layouts
- 🔍 Ability to look up word definitions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Questionable word acceptance
- 🤖 Biased AI opponent
- 🔊 Loud and intrusive ads
- 🔒 Lack of online multiplayer
- 📉 Battery drain issues

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezing and crashing
- Ads that cannot be closed

**Requested features**

- Online multiplayer mode
- More challenging AI difficulty level
- Option to use different dictionaries
- Landscape mode for tablets
- Ability to track win/loss record


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Crossword free?

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

### Is Word Master free?

Word Master is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Crossword or Word Master?

Word Master is rated higher. Crossword averages 4.5 out of 5 from 43K ratings, while Word Master averages 4.8 from 19K ratings.

### Do Crossword or Word Master have ads?

Both Crossword and Word Master show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Crossword or Word Master?

Crossword ships an update every 6 weeks, and Word Master every 2 months. Most recently, Crossword was updated on November 1, 2026 and Word Master on November 1, 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.*