How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Best crossword puzzle apps compared
| App | Platforms | Starting price | Free play | Daily puzzles | Offline play | Puzzle style |
| NYT Games | iOS, Android, web | 5.99 dollars per month | Limited, full Crossword needs subscription | Yes | Check in app | Traditional |
| Crossword Puzzle Redstone | Android, Windows | Free | Free, no subscription stated | New packs regularly | Yes | Traditional American style |
| Daily Themed Crossword | iOS, Android | Free | Free, optional VIP | Yes, three each day | Yes | Themed |
| Crosswords With Friends | iOS, Android | Free | Free, optional VIP | Yes | Not stated | Themed, pop culture |
| Penny Dell Crosswords | iOS, Android | Free | Free daily, paid sets | Yes, three each day | Yes, for collections | Traditional |
| Puzzle Page | Android | Free | Free forever, ad supported | Yes, daily page | Yes | Mixed puzzles |
| CodyCross | iOS, Android | Free | Free, optional subscription | Yes | Yes | Trivia style |
| Crossword Jam | iOS, Android | Free | Free, optional coin packs | Yes | Yes | Anagram style, no written clues |
Which crossword puzzle app is best for beginners?
Daily Themed Crossword Puzzles is the best starting point for most beginners, because its listing promises three free themed puzzles each day, hints when you get stuck, and play from easy to hard. The themed format gives new solvers a clear subject, which makes early clues easier to follow. Penny Dell is a close second, with three free daily puzzles at easy, medium and hard levels and help for the current letter or word. Start on easy days and use the error check.
Which crossword app is best for hard puzzles?
The New York Times Games app is the best choice for hard puzzles, because its daily Crossword rises in difficulty from Monday to Saturday and its archive gives subscribers more than 10,000 past crosswords. The Midi and Mini sit alongside the main puzzle, so you can warm up first. Crossword Puzzle Redstone is the best free choice for hard puzzles, with four levels from easy to very hard and mini, midi and regular 15 by 15 grids.
Do you need to pay for a good crossword app?
No, you do not need to pay, but paying changes what you get. Seven apps here are free to download and free to play in basic form, with ads or optional purchases. Redstone states no subscriptions, and Puzzle Page states you can play free forever in ad supported mode. The main paid exception is the New York Times Crossword, where full access needs a Games subscription. The App Store listing checked on 13 Nov 2026 shows Games Monthly at 5.99 dollars, with a 4.99 dollar item and a 39.99 dollar Crossword item also listed, so check the offer in the app.
Which crossword apps work offline?
Crossword Puzzle Redstone, Daily Themed, Penny Dell, Puzzle Page, CodyCross and Crossword Jam all state offline play or play without Wi-Fi on their store listings. You still need a connection first to download the app and new puzzle packs. Penny Dell states offline play for its collections, and Crossword Jam states no internet or Wi-Fi is needed. For the NYT Games app and Crosswords With Friends, offline play was not stated clearly on the pages opened, so check inside the app first.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 NYT Games (New York Times Crossword) | Solvers who want a daily edited crossword with a large archive | 5.99 dollars per month for Games Monthly on the App Store listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; a 4.99 dollar monthly item and a 39.99 dollar Crossword item are also listed | Free to download; some games are free each day, but the full Crossword needs a subscription |
 Crossword Puzzle Redstone | Free traditional puzzles with no subscription | Free on the Google Play listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; listing states no subscriptions | Free to download and play, with ads; remove ads price is shown in the app and was not stated on the listing opened |
 Daily Themed Crossword Puzzles | Beginners and casual solvers who like a new theme each day | Free on the Google Play listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; optional VIP price is shown in the app and was not stated on the listing opened | Free to download and play, with three free new themed daily puzzles, 365 days a year |
 Crosswords With Friends | Solvers who like pop culture, themed days and leaderboards | Free on the Google Play listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; optional VIP price is shown in the app and was not stated on the listing opened | Free to download and play, with a new crossword free every day |
 Penny Dell Crossword Puzzles | Solvers who like magazine style crosswords at three difficulty levels | Free on the Google Play listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; paid sets and ad free collections are priced inside the app and were not stated on the listing opened | Free to download and play, with three brand new free crosswords every day and a free sampler of twelve puzzles |
 Puzzle Page | Solvers who want crosswords plus Sudoku, word search and logic puzzles in one app | Free on the Google Play listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; optional VIP price is shown in the app and was not stated on the listing opened | Free forever in ad supported mode; subscribing removes ads and allows more puzzles each day |
 CodyCross | Trivia fans who like crossword style play with themed worlds and progression | Free on the Google Play listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; optional subscription price is shown in the app and was not stated on the listing opened | Free to download and play, with ads; subscription removes ads and adds rewards and full daily game access |
 Crossword Jam | Casual players who prefer letter swiping and anagrams over written clues | Free on the App Store listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; optional coin packs start at 0.99 dollars for the Piggy Bank pack on the listing opened | Free to download and play, with ads and optional coin packs; no internet or Wi-Fi needed to play |
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The best crossword puzzle apps
#1
NYT Games (New York Times Crossword)
Best for: Solvers who want a daily edited crossword with a large archive
Visit apps.apple.com
Starting price5.99 dollars per month for Games Monthly on the App Store listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; a 4.99 dollar monthly item and a 39.99 dollar Crossword item are also listed
Free planFree to download; some games are free each day, but the full Crossword needs a subscription
The New York Times Games app is the benchmark for traditional daily crosswords. The Crossword rises in difficulty from Monday to Saturday, and subscribers get the daily puzzle the evening before print, plus the Midi, the Mini and the archive. The website line above points to the App Store listing opened for this check, because the NYT site itself could not be opened directly during verification.
What we like- Difficulty rises through the week
- Mini and Midi included
- Archive of more than 10,000 crosswords
- Progress syncs when logged in
Watch out for- Full Crossword needs a paid subscription
- Several price items on the listing make the current offer hard to pin down
- Listing states English only and requires iOS 18.0 or later
#2
Crossword Puzzle Redstone
Best for: Free traditional puzzles with no subscription
Visit play.google.com
Starting priceFree on the Google Play listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; listing states no subscriptions
Free planFree to download and play, with ads; remove ads price is shown in the app and was not stated on the listing opened
Crossword Puzzle Redstone, also listed as Crossword Puzzle Free by Redstone, is the strongest free choice for real clue based grids. Its listing states more than 30,000 human made puzzles from more than 80 creators, with new packs released regularly. The website line above points to the official Google Play listing, because no standalone product page was verified. The main trade off is ads in free play.
What we like- More than 30,000 human made puzzles stated on the listing
- Four difficulty levels
- Mini, midi and regular grids
- Offline mode and error checking
Watch out for- Contains ads in free play
- Listing focuses on English American style puzzles only
- Listing checked was Google Play for Android and Windows
#3
Daily Themed Crossword Puzzles
Best for: Beginners and casual solvers who like a new theme each day
Visit play.google.com
Starting priceFree on the Google Play listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; optional VIP price is shown in the app and was not stated on the listing opened
Free planFree to download and play, with three free new themed daily puzzles, 365 days a year
Daily Themed Crossword Puzzles gives solvers a fresh theme each day, with levels from easy to hard. The Google Play listing opened for this guide describes a free offline game with hints and progress sync across devices. The website line above points to the official Google Play listing, because no standalone product page was verified. Ads support the free puzzles, and VIP membership is priced inside the app.
What we like- Three free themed puzzles each day
- Hints when stuck
- Progress syncs across devices
- Offline play stated on the listing
Watch out for- Contains ads
- VIP price was not stated on the Play listing opened
- Themed puzzles may feel light for solvers who want hard themeless grids
#4
Crosswords With Friends
Best for: Solvers who like pop culture, themed days and leaderboards
Visit zynga.com
Starting priceFree on the Google Play listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; optional VIP price is shown in the app and was not stated on the listing opened
Free planFree to download and play, with a new crossword free every day
Crosswords With Friends is built around themed days, with Movie Monday, TV Tuesday, Wayback Wednesday, Top 40 Thursday, Sports Fan Friday, Smartypants Saturday and Sunday Funday named on the Zynga page opened for this guide. The listing adds weekly challenges, puzzle packs, hints and a leaderboard. VIP subscription gives archived puzzles and no ads, but its price is shown in the app.
What we like- New themed puzzle every day
- Mini and midi puzzles in addition to the main daily
- Leaderboard and weekly challenges
- Archive calendar with thousands of past puzzles
Watch out for- Google Play listing states English only game
- VIP price was not stated on the listing opened
- Offline play was not stated on the pages opened
#5
Penny Dell Crossword Puzzles
Best for: Solvers who like magazine style crosswords at three difficulty levels
Visit puzzlenation.com
Starting priceFree on the Google Play listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; paid sets and ad free collections are priced inside the app and were not stated on the listing opened
Free planFree to download and play, with three brand new free crosswords every day and a free sampler of twelve puzzles
Penny Dell Crossword Puzzles brings the Penny Press and Dell Magazines style to phones and tablets. The Google Play listing promises three brand new free crosswords every day, plus a free sampler and paid collections that can be played offline. The PuzzleNation page adds alternate clues, pen and pencil modes, and help with the current letter, word or full puzzle. New sets arrive each month.
What we like- Three free daily puzzles at easy, medium and hard levels
- Alternate clues for every entry
- Pen and pencil modes
- Show errors and hints
- Offline play for collections
Watch out for- Free daily supply is limited to three puzzles each day
- Larger ad free collections are paid
- Plain design will feel basic to solvers who want game style progression
#6
Puzzle Page
Best for: Solvers who want crosswords plus Sudoku, word search and logic puzzles in one app
Visit play.google.com
Starting priceFree on the Google Play listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; optional VIP price is shown in the app and was not stated on the listing opened
Free planFree forever in ad supported mode; subscribing removes ads and allows more puzzles each day
Puzzle Page is a daily puzzle newspaper rather than a crossword only app. Each day brings a new page of word, picture, number and logic puzzles, including crossword, Sudoku and nonogram. Special Issues focus on one puzzle type, and the calendar covers more than 2,000 past days. The website line above points to the official Google Play listing, because no standalone product page was verified.
What we like- More than 20 puzzle types including crossword and Sudoku
- New daily page every day
- Calendar with more than 2,000 past days
- Offline play stated on the listing
Watch out for- Crossword is one type among many
- Free mode limits how many puzzles you can play each day
- Full Special Issues library needs a subscription
#7
CodyCross
Best for: Trivia fans who like crossword style play with themed worlds and progression
Visit play.google.com
Starting priceFree on the Google Play listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; optional subscription price is shown in the app and was not stated on the listing opened
Free planFree to download and play, with ads; subscription removes ads and adds rewards and full daily game access
CodyCross is a word puzzle with crossword style play, and this guide lists it on that basis. You solve themed boards with trivia clues, guess the words that fit, and reveal a hidden secret word as you progress through themed worlds. The website line above points to the official Google Play listing, because no standalone product page was verified. CodyCross suits trivia fans, not newspaper style solvers.
What we like- Themed boards with trivia clues and a hidden secret word
- Daily themed crosswords and daily streak modes
- Different difficulty levels
- Free to start with no upfront payment
Watch out for- Trivia led style, not a traditional newspaper crossword
- Contains ads in free play
- Subscription price was not stated on the listing opened
#8
Crossword Jam
Best for: Casual players who prefer letter swiping and anagrams over written clues
Visit apps.apple.com
Starting priceFree on the App Store listing, checked 13 Nov 2026; optional coin packs start at 0.99 dollars for the Piggy Bank pack on the listing opened
Free planFree to download and play, with ads and optional coin packs; no internet or Wi-Fi needed to play
Crossword Jam is a crossword style anagram game, not a traditional clue based crossword. You swipe and connect letters to find words and fill the grid, with anagram puzzles from 2 to 7 letters and difficulty rising as you progress. The listing describes fresh daily challenges, play without Wi-Fi, and sync by Facebook login. The website line above points to the official App Store listing, because no standalone product page was verified.
What we like- Easy to learn, with anagram puzzles from 2 to 7 letters
- Fresh daily word challenges
- Offline play stated on the listing
- Progress sync across devices
Watch out for- No written clues, so it is not a traditional crossword
- Contains ads
- Progress sync on the App Store listing is by Facebook login
How we chose these apps
We checked each app against its official product page or store listing on 13 Nov 2026, and kept only apps with a live listing that could be opened and read. Prices come from the listings opened on that date. Where a price was not stated on the listing opened, this guide says so and does not guess. We excluded Shortyz Crosswords, removed from Google Play on 23 Dec 2023, the Simon Tatham collection, which has no crossword, and Word Cross, because several apps share that name. No Brainium crossword app was found. No solver or cheat tools are listed.
How to pick a crossword puzzle app
Follow these steps in order, and stop at the first app that fits.
- Decide if you want written clues. If yes, pick from the NYT Games app, Redstone, Daily Themed, Crosswords With Friends or Penny Dell. If you prefer letter swiping, pick Crossword Jam. If you prefer trivia, pick CodyCross.
- Decide your budget. If you will not pay a subscription, start with Redstone. If you will pay for one edited daily crossword and a large archive, try the NYT Games app.
- Check offline play. If you solve without a connection, pick Redstone, Daily Themed, Penny Dell, Puzzle Page, CodyCross or Crossword Jam, and download puzzles first.
- Check difficulty. Beginners should start with Daily Themed or Penny Dell easy puzzles. Hard puzzle fans should start with the NYT Saturday puzzle or Redstone very hard packs.
- Try the free version for one week. Check ads, hint limits and daily supply before you buy a subscription or a pack.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free crossword puzzle app?
Crossword Puzzle Redstone is the best free choice for traditional puzzles, because its listing states no subscriptions and more than 30,000 human made puzzles, with offline play and four difficulty levels. Daily Themed is the best free choice for themed daily play, with three free puzzles each day. Both are free to download and both contain ads.
Is the NYT Crossword worth paying for?
It is worth paying for if you solve daily and want an edited crossword with rising difficulty, a Mini and Midi alongside the main puzzle, and an archive of more than 10,000 past crosswords. The App Store listing checked on 13 Nov 2026 shows Games Monthly at 5.99 dollars, so check the current offer in the app.
Which crossword apps work without internet?
Redstone, Daily Themed, Penny Dell, Puzzle Page, CodyCross and Crossword Jam all state offline play or play without Wi-Fi on their store listings. You still need a connection to download the app and new puzzles. For the NYT Games app and Crosswords With Friends, offline play was not stated clearly on the pages opened.
Are CodyCross and Crossword Jam real crossword apps?
They are crossword style word games, not traditional newspaper crosswords. CodyCross uses trivia clues on themed boards with a hidden secret word. Crossword Jam uses anagram puzzles with no written clues, where you swipe letters to form words. Solvers who want written clues should pick the NYT Games app, Redstone, Daily Themed, Crosswords With Friends or Penny Dell.
Can I play the same crossword on my phone and on the web?
Yes, with the NYT Games app, if you log in with the same New York Times account. The Help Center page opened for this guide states that logged in players can play across devices and web browsers, with saved progress, stats and streaks carried over. Daily Themed also states progress sync across devices on its Google Play listing.
Sources we checked (11)
- https://apps.apple.com/US/app/id307569751?mt=8
- https://thenewyorktimeshelpcenter.helpjuice.com/360052272251-New-York-Times-Games-Subscription
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.redstonegames.crossword.en
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.crossy.daily_crossword
- https://www.zynga.com/games/crosswords-with-friends/
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zynga.crosswordswithfriends
- https://puzzlenation.com/penny-dell-crosswords/
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.puzzlenation.pdcw
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appynation.puzzlepage
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fanatee.cody
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crossword-jam-fun-word-search/id1269540854
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.