Comparison

Barred Crossword vs GridWords

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

Head to head
About

Barred Crossword

This app offers an unlimited supply of automatically generated crosswords with customizable grids and difficulty. It supports multiple languages and features aids to help you solve puzzles, making it ideal for crossword enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Unlimited auto-generated crosswords
  • Configurable grid size and difficulty
  • Multiple crossword grid types (Barred, British, Arrow)
  • Thousands of clues
  • Multi-language support
  • Zoom and pan grid functionality
  • Save and reload games
Features
Read full description

Barred crosswords are similar to traditional crosswords, but they use black lines instead of black squares to separate the words. Advantages of barred crosswords are: • More words in the grid • Larger number of cross-overs for the words • You do not lose half the screen with black squares Other features include: • Each new game is created by the app automatically. Therefore you can play an unlimited number of crosswords!! • Very configurable game generator. You decide the grid size, difficulty and many other things • Many 1000's of clues • You can choose from three different types of crossword grid: British, Barred and Arrow • Generate crosswords tailored to your interests, ability, nationality and device size • You can zoom in & out of the grid, and move around. Play with large grids on small screens! • Ability to save games and reload games. Play many games at once, just like a crossword book! • Many aids to help you complete the crossword • Play crosswords in these languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Polish, Hungarian, Czech, Russian Also known as compact crosswords and word maze.

About

GridWords

Features
Read full description

Discover the Ultimate Word Puzzle Challenge with GridWords Are you a fan of word games and brain teasers? Look no further than GridWords, the engaging word puzzle game designed to test your vocabulary skills and keep you entertained for hours. With its simple yet addictive gameplay, GridWords is perfect for players of all ages. How to Play GridWords: Form Words: Click on the letter tiles to create words. Words can range from 3 to 8 letters in length, offering a variety of challenges. Score Points: Words found in the app's extensive dictionary will earn you points and remove the used tiles from the grid. Limited Letter Tiles: Strategically use your letter tiles, but keep an eye out for bonus tiles that provide additional letters. Score Multipliers: Boost your score with special word score multipliers hidden within the grid. Need Help? Hints Available: Stuck on a tricky word? Use the 'Hint' feature to get a word suggestion or swap letters for vowels. Each word hint also includes a definition, allowing you to learn new words as you play. Why You'll Love GridWords: Intuitive Gameplay: Simply click on letters (they don’t need to be adjacent) and hit the green tick to submit. If the word is valid, you’ll score points and the tiles will disappear. Educational and Fun: GridWords not only entertains but also helps expand your vocabulary with every game. Cross-Device Compatibility: Enjoy seamless gameplay across multiple devices and screen sizes. Join the GridWords Community Today! Download GridWords now and embark on a word-finding adventure that will sharpen your mind and provide endless fun. Challenge yourself to see how many words you can discover and master the art of word puzzles with GridWords!

Screenshots

Barred Crossword4 screens
GridWords4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GridWords at none against Barred Crossword's 1. Barred Crossword's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. Barred Crossword sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. GridWords asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Barred Crossword ships an update every 3 months, GridWords every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Barred Crossword versus GridWords: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBarred CrosswordGridWords
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (21 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings21 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size99 MB103 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperHavosWayne Perry

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Barred Crossword

Subscriptions1
  • Supporter (no ads)$4.991 Year
None

GridWords

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Barred Crossword free?
Barred Crossword is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is GridWords free?
GridWords is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Barred Crossword or GridWords have ads?
Both Barred Crossword and GridWords show ads.
Which is updated more often, Barred Crossword or GridWords?
Barred Crossword ships an update every 3 months, and GridWords every 2 months. Most recently, Barred Crossword was updated on October 24, 2026 and GridWords on October 27, 2026.

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