What is the best free crossword app?

It depends on what you want. The NYT app has the most polished daily puzzle. AI Crossword Maker is the best option if you want unlimited puzzles on any topic. For variety, try a few from this list.

Are there free crossword apps with no ads?

AI Crossword Maker is completely free with no ads or account required. Most other crossword apps are free but include ads or limit daily solves unless you subscribe.

What crossword apps are like the NYT Mini?

AI Crossword Maker generates mini-style puzzles on demand. You can create a quick 8x8 puzzle on any topic in seconds -- similar format to the NYT Mini but on whatever subject you want.

7 Best Free Daily Crossword Apps in 2026

If you're the kind of person who does a crossword before checking email, you already know the NYT app. But one puzzle a day isn't always enough -- and the NYT subscription adds up if you're just there for the crossword.

Here are the best free crossword apps worth downloading in 2026, whether you want a daily ritual, unlimited puzzles, or something different from the standard format.

1. AI Crossword Maker

Platform: iPhone | Cost: Free, no ads | Account: Not required

This one's different from every other app on the list. Instead of solving pre-made puzzles, you type any topic and get a complete crossword generated in seconds -- grid, clues, everything. Want a puzzle about Marvel movies? 90s hip hop? The Solar System? Just type it.

The AI writes genuinely good clues with adjustable difficulty (easy, medium, hard), and you get 3 free puzzles per day. The mini format (8x8 grid) hits the same sweet spot as the NYT Mini -- quick enough for a coffee break, satisfying enough to feel like a real solve.

Best for: People who've run out of daily puzzles and want unlimited topics to solve.

Download AI Crossword Maker

2. New York Times Crossword

Platform: iPhone, Android | Cost: Free mini, subscription for full | Account: Required

The standard. The NYT Mini is free every day and takes 1-3 minutes. The full-size Monday-Saturday puzzles and the legendary Sunday puzzle require a Games subscription (~$40/year). The editing and clue quality are unmatched -- Will Shortz has been editing the puzzle since 1993.

Best for: Purists who want the gold standard of crossword construction.

3. Crossword Puzzle Free by Redstone Games

Platform: iPhone, Android | Cost: Free with ads | Account: Not required

A solid free option with thousands of pre-made puzzles at varying difficulty levels. The interface is clean, hints are available, and new puzzles are added regularly. Ad-supported but not aggressively so.

Best for: Volume solvers who want a deep library of classic-style puzzles.

4. CodyCross

Platform: iPhone, Android | Cost: Free with in-app purchases | Account: Not required

Not a traditional crossword -- it's a themed word puzzle game with adventure-style progression. You solve clue groups that fill in a crossword-like grid while exploring different themed worlds. More casual than a standard crossword but addictive in its own way.

Best for: Casual players who want crossword-adjacent puzzles with a game loop.

5. Shortyz Crosswords

Platform: Android | Cost: Free, open source | Account: Not required

An Android app that aggregates free crosswords from multiple publishers -- USA Today, LA Times, Newsday, and others. It downloads the puzzle files and presents them in a clean solving interface. No original content, but excellent curation.

Best for: Android users who want access to multiple publishers' daily puzzles in one app.

6. Washington Post Crossword

Platform: Web (mobile-friendly) | Cost: Free | Account: Not required

The Washington Post publishes a free daily crossword on their website that's solvable on mobile browsers. The quality is strong -- syndicated puzzles with solid construction. No app needed, just bookmark the page.

Best for: People who want a free daily puzzle without downloading another app.

7. Puzzle Society (USA Today)

Platform: Web (mobile-friendly) | Cost: Free | Account: Optional

USA Today's puzzle section offers a daily crossword, mini crossword, and quick cross -- all free in the browser. The difficulty is lighter than the NYT but the puzzles are well-constructed and satisfying.

Best for: Beginners or anyone who finds the NYT too intimidating.

How to Pick the Right App

If you just want one puzzle a day and you're OK paying for it, the NYT is still king. If you want unlimited free puzzles on topics you actually care about, AI Crossword Maker is the move. If you want variety from multiple publishers, Shortyz (Android) or the Washington Post (web) are strong free options.

The best crossword app is the one you actually open every day. Try a few from this list and see which one sticks.