Comparison

Barred Crossword vs Threadline

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

Threadline

Features
Read full description

Connect, untangle, solve. 500 elegant flow puzzles in your pocket — from breezy 4×4 grids to mind-bending 15×15 challenges. Free to play, no Wi-Fi required. Threadline is a relaxing brain-training puzzle game where you draw paths to connect matching colored nodes. Lines can't cross. Every level has exactly one solution — find the flow. ► 500 LEVELS, ONE SOLUTION EACH Every level from Easy through Godlike has been verified by an external SAT solver to have exactly one valid path layout. No guessing, no shortcuts — find the intended solution and the puzzle clicks. ► ELEVEN DIFFICULTY PACKS From a gentle Tutorial through Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert, Master, Insane, Nightmare, Legendary, Mythic, and Godlike. Each pack ramps up grid size, pair count, and wall density. ► DAILY CHALLENGE + STREAKS A new puzzle every single day. Build a streak. Compete with friends. ► SMART HINTS WHEN YOU'RE STUCK Out of ideas? Tap Hint — see one solved path for 5 seconds. Long enough to memorize, short enough to keep the satisfaction yours. Watch a quick ad for a free hint. ► SKIP TOKENS A level just won't click? Spend a Skip and move on. The next level unlocks — your stars stay honest. ► STAR RATINGS Every level scores 1–3 stars based on moves and time. Replay to chase 3-star runs across all 500 levels. ► GLOBAL LEADERBOARD Climb the Threadline ranks. Track total stars, levels completed, and points across the world. ► DARK, FOCUSED VISUALS A calm dark theme with vivid thread colors. No pop-ups, no clutter, no distractions — just you and the puzzle. ► OFFLINE-READY The full game works without internet. Play on flights, commutes, or anywhere quiet. HOW TO PLAY 1. Tap a colored dot and drag to its matching pair. 2. Paths can't cross or overlap. 3. Paths can't grid-touch themselves — no doubling back next to your own line. 4. Use Undo, Hint, or Skip when you need a hand. DIFFICULTY PACKS • Tutorial — 5 levels to learn the rules • Easy — 15 levels, 5×5 grids • Medium — 30 levels, 6–7 wide • Hard — 50 levels, more walls and pairs • Expert, Master, Insane — 60 levels each • Nightmare, Legendary — for serious puzzlers • Mythic, Godlike — only the brave finish 500/500 Perfect for fans of flow puzzles, untangle games, daily brain teasers, and zen logic challenges. No timers, no pressure — just satisfying flow. Free to play with optional in-app purchases for hints, skips, and ad removal. Designed by JK Global Gaming.

Screenshots

Barred Crossword4 screens
Threadline4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Threadline at none against Barred Crossword's shown. Threadline also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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 and Threadline sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Barred Crossword ships an update every 3 months, Threadline fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Barred Crossword versus Threadline: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBarred CrosswordThreadline
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (21 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings21 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size99 MB55 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperHavosJoel King

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Barred Crossword

Subscriptions1
  • Supporter (no ads)$4.991 Year
10 purchases

Threadline

One-time10
  • Easy Pack$0.99
  • 10 Hints$0.99
  • Medium Pack$1.99
Show 7 more
  • 5 Skip Tokens$1.99
  • Hard Pack$2.99
  • Expert Pack$4.99
  • Master Pack$7.99
  • Legendary Pack$19.99
  • Mythic Pack$19.99
  • Godlike Pack$24.99

Questions

Is Barred Crossword free?
Barred Crossword is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Threadline free?
Threadline is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Barred Crossword or Threadline have ads?
Barred Crossword shows ads; Threadline does not.
Which is updated more often, Barred Crossword or Threadline?
Barred Crossword ships an update every 3 months, and Threadline fortnightly. Most recently, Barred Crossword was updated on October 21, 2026 and Threadline on October 15, 2026.

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