What a subscription crossword service is
A subscription crossword service delivers new puzzles to you on a regular schedule — usually daily, weekly, or monthly — for a recurring fee. You pay once and receive access to puzzles through an app, website, or email, depending on the service. Unlike free crosswords scattered across the internet, subscription services offer puzzles made by professional constructors, often themed or organized by difficulty level.
The main appeal is consistency: you know a new puzzle will arrive at a set time, and you don't have to hunt for one. Most services also let you track your solve times, save incomplete puzzles, and sometimes compete with other solvers. Some services bundle crosswords with other word games or puzzles.
Key Takeaways
- Subscription crossword services charge between $5 and $15 per month, though annual plans often cost less per month than paying monthly.
- The New York Times Games, Universal Crossword, and Spelling Bee are among the most widely used paid services, each with different puzzle styles and difficulty levels.
- Most services offer a free trial period — usually 7 to 14 days — so you can test the puzzles before paying.
- You can cancel anytime, and most services do not charge a cancellation fee or require you to give notice.
- Puzzles are usually available on multiple devices if you use the same account, though some services limit simultaneous access.
Common subscription crossword services and their costs
The New York Times Games is the largest paid crossword service. The daily crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, and Waffle are bundled into one subscription at $6.99 per month or $39.99 per year (about $3.33 per month). The Times also offers a standalone crossword-only plan at $2.99 per month, though this is less common and may not be available in all regions.
Universal Crossword (also called the Universal Crossword Puzzle) costs around $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year. It includes the daily Universal crossword and often adds themed puzzles or archives. Penny Dell Crosswords offers a subscription at roughly $3.99 per month for access to multiple daily puzzles and archives.
Crosswords.com and Crossword Kingdom are subscription sites that charge between $5 and $10 per month and include thousands of archived puzzles plus new daily ones. Some regional newspapers (like the Los Angeles Times or USA Today) sell crossword subscriptions separately from their main news subscriptions, typically at $3 to $5 per month.
Prices vary by region and change periodically. Most services offer annual plans at a discount — paying for a full year costs 20 to 30 percent less per month than paying monthly.
What you get with a paid subscription
A subscription typically includes access to new puzzles on a set schedule, usually one per day. You can solve them online, in an app, or sometimes print them. Most services let you save your progress and return to an incomplete puzzle later.
Paid services usually offer features free sites do not: difficulty ratings, solve-time tracking, statistics on your performance, themed puzzle collections, and access to archives of past puzzles (sometimes going back years). Some services let you filter by difficulty or puzzle type. A few offer hints or the ability to reveal letters or words if you get stuck.
Simultaneous access across devices is common — you can start a puzzle on your phone and finish it on a tablet or computer using the same account. However, some services limit how many devices can access your account at once, or charge extra for household sharing.
Free trials and how to start
Most subscription services offer a free trial lasting 7 to 14 days. You typically need to enter a payment method to start the trial, but you will not be charged if you cancel before the trial ends. Set a reminder on your calendar for the last day of the trial if you decide not to continue.
To start a trial, visit the service's website or download the app, then look for a "Start Free Trial" or "Try Free" button. You will be asked to create an account with an email address and password. Some services let you try the trial without a payment method, but most require one upfront.
If you forget to cancel and are charged, contact the service's customer support within a few days — most will refund a single unwanted charge. Check your email for a confirmation receipt when you sign up; it usually contains a link to manage your subscription or cancel.
How to cancel a subscription
Cancellation is straightforward with most services. Log into your account on the website or app, find the "Subscription" or "Account Settings" section, and select "Cancel Subscription" or "Manage Subscription." You will usually see an option to cancel immediately or at the end of your current billing cycle.
If you cancel mid-cycle, you typically lose access to the service right away, though some services let you finish the current month. Annual subscribers who cancel usually do not receive a refund for unused time. Read the cancellation screen carefully to see what applies to your plan.
If you cannot find the cancellation option in the app or website, contact customer support via email or chat. Most services respond within 24 hours. Keep your confirmation email from when you signed up — it often contains a customer service link.
Choosing between monthly and annual plans
Monthly plans cost more per month but commit you to less money upfront and let you cancel anytime without penalty. Annual plans cost less overall — usually 20 to 30 percent less per month — but require paying the full year at once. If you are unsure whether you will stick with a service, start with a monthly plan or use the free trial first.
Annual plans make sense if you have used the service for at least three months and know you enjoy it. Some services offer discounts on annual plans during holidays or special promotions, so it is worth checking back if you are on the fence.
Crossword puzzles included in other subscriptions
Some crossword puzzles come bundled with other services you may already pay for. The New York Times News subscription (which costs $17 per month or $170 per year for digital access) includes the daily crossword and all Games. Some newspaper subscriptions — the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and others — include crosswords as part of the package.
If you already subscribe to a newspaper or news service, log into your account and look for a "Games" or "Puzzles" section to see what is included. You may not need a separate crossword subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share a subscription with someone else in my household?
Most services allow one account to be used on multiple devices by the same person. Sharing with a household member varies by service — some allow it, others prohibit it or charge extra for a family plan. Check the service's terms of service or contact customer support to ask about household sharing before you sign up.
What happens if I cancel and want to resubscribe later?
You can resubscribe anytime by logging back into your account or creating a new one. Your solve history and statistics may or may not be saved depending on the service — some keep your data for a period after cancellation, others delete it. If your history matters to you, ask customer support before canceling.
Do subscription crosswords get harder or easier over time?
Most services publish puzzles at varying difficulty levels throughout the week. The New York Times, for example, publishes easier puzzles early in the week and harder ones toward the end. Universal and other services often label difficulty so you can choose. You are not locked into one difficulty level.
Can I print subscription crosswords?
Most services let you print puzzles from the website, though the app may not have a print function. Check the service's website version or contact support if printing is important to you — some services restrict printing as part of their terms.
Is there a crossword subscription that works offline?
Most services require an internet connection to download and solve puzzles, though some apps cache puzzles so you can solve them offline if you downloaded them while connected. Check the app's description or contact support if offline solving is important to you.