Best Crossword Apps for Kids [Updated for 2020]

Playing with words supports many aspects of learning

We Reviewed Dozens Of The Best Crossword Apps for Kids So You Don’t Have To. Here Are Our Top Picks.

Educators know that people who play with words build their vocabulary and language skills. These are the tools that make kids good at going to school, which is a big focus for so many years. Parents and teachers do kids a huge favor when they require word play on a regular basis.

Crossword puzzles are great for smart kids-the fun and challenge of playing with words supports many aspects of learning. Kids who enjoy crosswords often excel at many academic skills, and kids who enjoy crosswords are often the kids who have had a chance to play them. Set your child up for success by encouraging the use of these apps and all the other forms of wordplay!

Easy Crossword Apps

Crossword Puzzles for Kids Lite

iOS App Store / Google Play Store

Here’s a great way to help younger players become addicted to crosswords. This app accommodates beginning readers by using picture clues and offering a color-coding scheme to help them figure out which letters belong in which spaces.

The free version of the puzzle offers 8 puzzles for you to try out. The full version is available as an in-app purchase and includes 48 puzzles in specialized categories such as food and animals.

 

Crossword Puzzle Game for Kids

iOS App Store

This is perhaps the easiest crossword app ever invented. At first glance, it seems to have ridiculously low ratings, but reading the comments reveals that people complain because it’s so easy. If you are searching for a first puzzle app for a young child or a person with special needs, it just might fit the bill.

There are fifty puzzles to play in the free version of the app, and 450 more available with the in-app purchase of $1.99. Players can use picture clues, drag and drop the letters into the puzzle (instead of typing them), and choose from five levels of difficulty. The app is most suited to children from ages 4-8.

Crossword Game for Kids

Google Play Store

Here’s a very nice crossword puzzle app designed with little players in mind. The clues are pictures. Touch the picture, and the app zooms in and provides a definition in words. Even preschoolers can get into the act with this simple game.

Puzzle pages are dressed to kill with engaging and colorful photographs in the background. Best of all, the puzzles are simple and the interface is intuitive. Young children will quickly learn to play on their own. The app is free to download, and offers in-app purchases for ninety-nine cents each.

Montessori Crosswords for Kids

iOS App Store / Google Play Store

Here’s a powerful way to help young children learn about letters and sounds. Montessori Crosswords offers 4 levels of difficulty, or parents have the capability to choose words based on sounds or letter clusters. This makes the program very customizable for a range of needs.

Phonics teachers will love that digraphs (like “oo” and “th”) are displayed as units. The lettering is adjustable, too. Choose from capital letters, lower case letters, and even cursive letters. The app costs $2.99 on the App Store and $3.99 on Google Play.

 

Challenging Crossword Apps

Crossword Puzzle-Redstone

iOS App Store / Google Play Store

Here’s a basic crossword app with loads of features. Play for free or use the in-app purchase feature to access even more puzzles. The app includes multiple types of hinting systems, so you can find the one that’s right for you.

One of the neatest features of this puzzle app is that players can download their puzzle and play offline if they wish. There’s no need to have an active internet connection, so it’s great for players with unstable, unreliable or expensive connections. The app is free to download. Ads can be removed with an in-app purchase of $4.99. There are also extra puzzle packs available for purchase for prices from ninety-nine cents to $3.99.

Crossword Light

iOS App Store / Google Play Store

Here are 40 fresh puzzles for you and your kids to try for free. The app features a hints system and a tracking system so you can see how you are improving. It’s integrated with social media and a leaderboard if you want to compare your performance with that of others.

If you enjoy this selection of puzzles, you can purchase the full version of the app for $9.99, as well as additional puzzle packs for $1.99 to $2.99.

 

Across Lite Crosswords

iOS App Store

Across Lite offers a wealth of crossword puzzle access at a wide range of levels. The app has a flexible interface that can be customized in many aspects. There’s an optional timer, control over colors and contrast to reduce eye strain, and more.

Users should be aware that this app does not provide any puzzles for free, but allows access to purchase from numerous sources.

One of the most unique features is the “trainer” set of puzzles that are ideal for beginners or people who wish to sharpen their skills enough to begin to play puzzles in newspapers and other sources.

 

Crossword Apps with a Twist

Bonza Planet

iOS App Store / Google Play Store

Bonza Planet combines crossword puzzles with a word search and jigsaw puzzles to create a whole new kind of puzzle experience. Stunning themed photography and loads of general information accompany all of the puzzles. Each one creates a unique learning experience.

The puzzles are presented in themed categories, such as Animals, Travel, and Science, so there is something to suit nearly any interest. Best of all, there’s a new puzzle available for free each day and a new jigsaw puzzle every Sunday. It does have a higher age (12+) rating than usual due to mild references to things like alcohol and smoking. The in-app purchases cost between ninety-nine cents and $9.99.

Crossword Quiz – Word Puzzles!

iOS App Store / Google Play Store

Keep your smart kids engaged with these puzzles that use not only word clues, but emoji clues and picture clues. The app includes built-in hints that can be “purchased” using coins earned in the game.

The free version includes a 7-day trial. After that, players can unlock all categories by subscribing ($9.99 per month). Other in-app purchases unlock coins to use in the game and additional categories.

 

Crossword- World’s Biggest

iOS App Store / Google Play Store

Here’s one monster of a puzzle: 10,000 clues! This huge puzzle is made up of many, many smaller puzzles, but imagine the bragging rights if you were to finish it. The app makes it fun and entertaining by giving players quests and challenges to complete as they play.

As you play, you can earn tokens (or buy some if you need to) that can be exchanged for hints and more. There are achievements to unlock and challenges to meet in this unique gargantuan puzzle set.