Royal Match vs CodyCross
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Royal Match is the better app overall, scoring 8.4 to 7.7. Royal Match wins on 5 of the 5 scores, CodyCross on 0.
Match-3 fans who want a polished game without ad breaks
Trivia lovers who want crossword clues that teach them something
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Royal Match | CodyCross |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Puzzle & Word Games | Puzzle & Word Games |
| Category rank | #4 of 12 | #9 of 12 |
| Developer | Dream Games | Fanatee |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Royal Match better than CodyCross?
Royal Match is the better app overall, scoring 8.4 to 7.7. Royal Match wins on 5 of the 5 scores, CodyCross on 0.
Which is cheaper, Royal Match or CodyCross?
Royal Match: Free to play; coin packs and offers from $0.99, plus a $9.99 Royal Pass. CodyCross: Free with ads; $0.99 buys 30 ad-free days, and a monthly Club plan is listed from $3.99. On value for money, Royal Match scores higher.
Do Royal Match and CodyCross work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android.
Which is more private, Royal Match or CodyCross?
Royal Match scores higher on privacy (6.8/10). App Store label: purchases and identifiers may be used to track you across other companies' apps. Other data, such as usage and diagnostics, is collected but not linked to you.
Strengths and weaknesses
Royal Match
- No ads at all, even for rewards
- Smooth, polished boards and power-up combos
- A steady stream of new levels and events
- Coin offers and passes push hard on tough levels
- Purchase data and identifiers are used for tracking
Royal Match is the slickest match-3 game around and, unusually, it shows no ads. Levels are well tuned, boosters chain together in satisfying ways, and 100 new levels land about every two weeks while you rebuild King Robert's castle. Lives and coin offers still nudge you to pay when a hard level stalls you, and some purchase data is used for tracking. If you want match-3 without the clutter, start here.
Full Royal Match review
CodyCross
- Trivia clues teach you something as you solve
- Daily puzzles on top of a long main map
- Main map levels play offline once loaded
- An ad after each level unless you pay
- Loot boxes, and limited energy for missions
- Daily puzzles and new worlds need a connection
CodyCross turns the crossword into a trivia tour. Clues come from general knowledge across themed worlds, every grid hides a secret word, and Today's Crossword and Today's Password give you a reason to come back daily. Levels on the main map work offline once they've loaded. Free play brings an ad after each level, though, and loot-box packs and limited mission energy keep nudging you toward the store.
Full CodyCross review
