# Sudoku Mega Bundle vs Cracking the Cryptic

The clearest difference is ads: Cracking the Cryptic at none against Sudoku Mega Bundle's shown. Cracking the Cryptic also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.1). Sudoku Mega Bundle's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (2.9K vs 208). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sudoku Mega Bundle sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Cracking the Cryptic sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sudoku Mega Bundle holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sudoku Mega Bundle has 2.9K ratings behind it against 208, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Sudoku Mega Bundle's written reviews are positive against 72% of Cracking the Cryptic's.

Sudoku Mega Bundle ships an update every 2 months, Cracking the Cryptic every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sudoku Mega Bundle | Cracking the Cryptic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-mega-bundle/id970674839/reviews)** | [4.4 (208 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.9K** | 208 |
| Positive reviews | **78.0% of reviews** | 72.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 94 MB | 234 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GammaLateral LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/685178329) | [Nick Carney](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434235673) |

## What reviewers say

### Sudoku Mega Bundle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-mega-bundle/id970674839)

Explore hundreds of unique Sudoku variations beyond the classic grid. Challenge yourself with diverse puzzle types, difficulty levels, and helpful tools. Enjoy customizable gameplay and track your progress with leaderboards and achievements.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of unique Sudoku variations, Multiple difficulty levels, Hints and smart notes, Savepoint functionality, Zoom and customization options, Leaderboards and achievements

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | per month |
| Get 20 Hints | $0.99 | one-time |
| Get 50 Hints | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Variety of games
- 👍 Customizable options
- 🚀 Challenging puzzles
- 👍 User-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 💸 Intrusive ads
- 🔒 Locked difficulty levels
- 🔒 Inability to close ads

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after update
- Ads causing game to freeze or redirect
- Incorrect puzzle solutions
- Pencil marks not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to input game seed
- Option to turn off zoom
- Ability to modify color of lines in Killer Sudoku
- Addition of 6x6 Killer Sudoku
- Ability to take notes in pencil mode without errors


### Cracking the Cryptic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934)

This app offers a curated collection of handcrafted Sudoku puzzles from world-renowned constructors. Explore classic and unique variants, with new puzzle packs released regularly. A free introductory pack is included with download.

**Highlights:** Handcrafted Sudoku puzzles, Curated by expert constructors, Classic and unique variants, Regularly released puzzle packs, Free introductory puzzle pack

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CTC Worms - James Sinclair | $0.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Marty Sears | $0.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Zetamath | $1.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Blobz | $1.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Michael Lefkowitz | $1.99 | one-time |
| CTC Worms - Phistomefel | $1.99 | one-time |
| GAS Volume #1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| GAS Volume #2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| CTC Approachable Sudoku #1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Domino Sudoku Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lines Variety Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Classic Volume #2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| CTC Fog Pack #1 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best sudoku app
- 👍 Great variety of puzzles
- 👍 Excellent user interface
- 👍 Challenging and fun puzzles
- 👍 Constant updates with new puzzles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Hints are often incorrect or unhelpful
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes, especially after updates
- 🔋 Battery draining issues
- 🔒 Too many in-app purchases required to access content

**Reported bugs**

- Puzzle progress and purchases disappearing after updates
- Incorrect rules or hints in certain puzzles
- Crashes and freezes, especially on older devices or Macs
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between portrait and landscape modes

**Requested features**

- Add more color options for pencil marking and highlighting
- Implement a way to clear progress or start puzzles from scratch
- Integrate all CTC apps into a single app for better organization
- Add keyboard support, especially on Mac
- Improve the quality and clarity of hints


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sudoku Mega Bundle free?

Sudoku Mega Bundle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Cracking the Cryptic free?

Cracking the Cryptic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Sudoku Mega Bundle or Cracking the Cryptic?

Sudoku Mega Bundle is rated higher. Sudoku Mega Bundle averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.9K ratings, while Cracking the Cryptic averages 4.4 from 208 ratings.

### Do Sudoku Mega Bundle or Cracking the Cryptic have ads?

Sudoku Mega Bundle shows ads; Cracking the Cryptic does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sudoku Mega Bundle or Cracking the Cryptic?

Sudoku Mega Bundle ships an update every 2 months, and Cracking the Cryptic every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sudoku Mega Bundle was updated on September 22, 2026 and Cracking the Cryptic on September 21, 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.*