Words With Friends review
Turn-based word duels with friends, family and rivals
- Zynga
- Free + paid plans
- iPhone & iPad, Android
4.6 from 752.5K App Store ratings 10M+ Google Play downloads
Does it deserve #10?
Is Words With Friends worth it?
It depends on what you need. Words With Friends scores 7.5/10 and ranks #10 in Puzzle & Word Games. It's best for friends and families who want a slow, chatty word rivalry on their phones. Skip it if you want a quiet word game without ads, passes and upsells. Price: Free with ads; coins from $0.99 and a $9.99 Ad Free Bundle in the App Store.
The verdict
Words With Friends is still the easiest way to keep a word rivalry going with people you know. You take turns on a crossword-style board at your own pace, Smart Match finds opponents when friends go quiet, and Solo Challenge pits you against WordMasters. An October 2026 update added more than 25,000 playable words and a way to report bad ones. The catch is clutter: ads between moves, paid random items and heavy tracking.
- Turn-based games with friends or Smart Match
- Solo Challenge against WordMasters
- Word Wheel anagram mini-game
- Rewards Pass with a new theme every six weeks
- Widgets for your ongoing matches
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Oct 2026More than 25,000 new playable words, modernized definitions and a tool to report words
- Oct 2026Halloween Word Party season with haunted rivals and five Halloween tile styles
- Feb 2026Survivor Season 50 crossover with a special Word of the Day and themed Word Search
Privacy 5.0/10
App Store label: purchases, location, contact info, identifiers, usage data, diagnostics and other data may be used to track you and linked to your identity.
What we like
- Easy to keep long-running games going with friends
- Solo modes for when nobody has taken a turn
- The dictionary just grew by more than 25,000 words
What could be better
- Ads between moves unless you pay to remove them
- Purchases include paid random items
- Heavy tracking on the App Store privacy label
Friends and families who want a slow, chatty word rivalry on their phones
you want a quiet word game without ads, passes and upsells
Questions about Words With Friends
Is Words With Friends worth it in 2026?
It depends on what you need. Words With Friends scores 7.5/10 and ranks #10 in Puzzle & Word Games. It's best for friends and families who want a slow, chatty word rivalry on their phones. Skip it if you want a quiet word game without ads, passes and upsells. Price: Free with ads; coins from $0.99 and a $9.99 Ad Free Bundle in the App Store.
Is Words With Friends free?
Yes, it's free with ads. The App Store lists coin packs from $0.99 to $49.99, a $9.99 Ad Free Bundle and ad-free season passes at $12.99.
What changed in the October 2026 dictionary update?
Zynga added more than 25,000 playable words, refreshed definitions and added an in-game tool to report words. The new words count in head-to-head games and solo puzzles.
Is Words With Friends kid-friendly?
It's rated 4+ on the App Store and Everyone on Google Play, but it has ads, chat with other players and optional purchases of random items.
What are the best alternatives to Words With Friends?
The closest alternatives are Wordfeud, Scrabble GO and NYT Games. See all of them ranked on our Words With Friends alternatives page.
Where does Words With Friends rank?
Words With Friends ranks #10 of 12 in our Puzzle & Word Games ranking, with an overall score of 7.5 out of 10.