If you enjoy the daily ritual of solving a crossword over your morning coffee or, like me, squeezing in a Sudoku during your break, you don’t need an expensive subscription. These puzzle apps and sites are completely free and I don’t miss my old subscription services at all.
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Crosswords
For solo solving, I haven’t found anything better than the Omni Crosswords app. It offers a fresh daily crossword in a clean, ad-free interface that works well on both desktop and mobile. You can check letters, reveal hints if you’re stuck, and your progress saves automatically. Unlike other free services, it doesn’t bury the puzzle behind paywalls or ads—just good, clean puzzle solving.
If you’d rather solve with others, DownforAcross is fantastic. It lets multiple players work on the same crossword in real time, making it perfect for long-distance friends or family. Similar to Google Docs, everyone can see letters appear as they’re entered, chat while solving and tackling puzzles together like you’re all sitting around the same newspaper. Whether you need a little help or just want to puzzle with friends, DownforAcross is the way to go.
Sudoku
For desktop users, Web Sudoku is my go-to recommendation. It’s been around for years, and for good reason. The site loads instantly, offers four difficulty levels, and gives you a new puzzle every day. It’s nothing but solid Sudoku.
If you prefer your Sudoku on the go, I always recommend the Andoku 3 mobile app for Android. Along with thousands of classic Sudoku puzzles, it includes dozens of Sudoku variants if you want something different. It also has tutorials, note-taking tools, and difficulty settings that make it just as welcoming for beginners as it is for experienced players.
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