Where to play crosswords online
Whether you are a complete beginner looking to learn the ropes or a seasoned solver hunting for a new daily challenge, the internet is flooded with crossword options. But not all puzzles are created equal. Some hide behind strict paywalls, others are drowned in intrusive video ads, and many suffer from clunky mobile interfaces that ruin the solving experience.
This guide compares the top 9 places to play crosswords online right now. We evaluate their difficulty curves, interface quality, and true costs. The short version: The New York Times is the undisputed best premium option, while USA Today offers the best free daily puzzle for casual solvers.
| Publication | Cost | Free option? | Difficulty | Platforms | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Times | $6/mo or $40/yr | Mini only | Escalating (Mon-Sat) | Web, iOS, Android | Serious daily solvers |
| LA Times | Free (w/ ads) | Yes | Medium | Web | Traditional solvers |
| USA Today | Free (w/ ads) | Yes | Easy | Web, iOS, Android | Beginners |
| Wall Street Journal | Free | Yes | Medium-Hard | Web | Wordplay fans |
| Washington Post | Free | Yes | Medium | Web | Sunday-style fans |
| Daily Themed | Freemium (IAP) | Yes | Easy | iOS, Android | Pop culture fans |
| Vulture / NY Mag | Free | Yes | Medium | Web | Quick daily breaks |
| Boatload Puzzles | Free (w/ ads) | Yes | Easy-Medium | Web | Binge solvers |
| BestCrosswords.com | Free | Yes | Medium | Web | Printable puzzle fans |
1. New York Times Crossword
The gold standard of American crosswords. The NYT app offers the best interface in the business, with seamless syncing across devices and a flawless mobile experience. The difficulty scales perfectly from a breezy Monday to a brain-breaking Saturday. The major downside is the hard paywall; while the quick 5x5 "Mini" is free, the legendary daily 15x15 grid requires a paid subscription. If you are serious about crosswords, this is the only subscription you actually need.
- Cost: $5.99/month or $39.99/year (as of July 2026)
- Free option: The Mini crossword only
- Apps: Excellent iOS and Android apps
2. LA Times Crossword
A fantastic, traditional daily crossword that rivals the NYT in quality but without the strict paywall. The LA Times puzzle is widely syndicated and offers a solid, middle-of-the-road challenge. The web interface is heavily ad-supported, which can occasionally cause stuttering on older devices, but the puzzle construction is consistently excellent with clever themes.
- Cost: Free with ads. [VERIFY: LA Times ad-free digital subscription price]
- Free option: Yes, full daily puzzle
- Apps: Web browser only for the free version
3. USA Today Crossword
If you are intimidated by cryptic clues or obscure trivia, USA Today is your safe haven. The grid designs are simple, the themes are accessible, and the clues are entirely straightforward. It is the perfect training ground for absolute beginners. The web interface handles well, though the pre-roll video ads can be annoying if you solve on desktop.
- Cost: Free with ads. [VERIFY: USA Today premium ad-free price]
- Free option: Yes, full daily puzzle
- Apps: iOS and Android native apps available
4. Wall Street Journal Crossword
Known for brilliant, pun-heavy wordplay and incredibly tight themes, the WSJ crossword is a favorite among crossword snobs. It leans slightly harder than the LA Times, especially later in the week. The web interface is completely free to play without a WSJ news subscription, though the solving software is slightly clunkier than the NYT app.
- Cost: Free to play on web (as of July 2026)
- Free option: Yes, full daily puzzle
- Apps: Web browser only
5. Washington Post Crossword
The Washington Post hosts a variety of puzzles, but its flagship Sunday crossword by Evan Birnholz is a masterpiece. It offers complex, multi-layered themes that take time to untangle. The daily puzzles are also high quality, usually sourced from syndication (often the LA Times feed). The web player is robust and generally less aggressive with ads than USA Today.
- Cost: Free to play on web (as of July 2026)
- Free option: Yes, full daily puzzle
- Apps: Web browser only
6. Daily Themed Crossword (App)
Designed specifically for mobile gamers rather than newspaper purists, this app delivers exactly what it promises: pop-culture heavy, bite-sized crosswords focused on specific themes like movies, music, or history. The difficulty is very low. The main annoyance is the freemium model; while the daily puzzle is free, accessing the massive archive requires earning or buying in-game coins.
- Cost: Free to download, relies on in-app purchases (as of July 2026)
- Free option: Yes, one new puzzle daily
- Apps: iOS and Android only
7. Vulture / New York Magazine Crossword
Vulture’s "10x10" is a delightfully modern, pop-culture-obsessed mini crossword. It bridges the gap between the ultra-short NYT Mini and a full 15x15 grid. The clues rely heavily on internet culture, recent television, and celebrity news. It is entirely free to play on their website, making it a perfect quick coffee-break challenge.
- Cost: Free on web (as of July 2026)
- Free option: Yes, full daily 10x10 puzzle
- Apps: Web browser only
8. Boatload Puzzles
Do not let the severely outdated, 1990s-era website design fool you. Boatload Puzzles offers an astonishing archive of over 40,000 free crosswords. The puzzles are computer-generated using a massive clue database, meaning they lack the clever thematic wordplay of human-constructed grids, but they provide infinite, ad-supported practice for solvers who just want to binge.
- Cost: Free with ads (as of July 2026)
- Free option: Yes, unlimited puzzles
- Apps: Web browser only
9. BestCrosswords.com
A haven for traditionalists who prefer solving with a pencil. While it has a functional digital web player, the site excels in offering incredibly clean, easy-to-print PDFs of its daily puzzles. The crosswords are crowd-sourced and vary in difficulty, but the totally free access and simple layout make it a reliable daily destination.
- Cost: Free (as of July 2026)
- Free option: Yes, unlimited access and printing
- Apps: Web browser only
Which one should you pick?
If you are a total beginner, start with the USA Today crossword. The clues are literal and the grids are highly accessible.
If you are a casual free player looking for a quality daily routine, bookmark the LA Times and the WSJ. Both offer premium-tier construction for free in your browser.
If you are a serious daily solver, just pay for the New York Times Games subscription. The app quality, the puzzle archives, and the escalating weekly difficulty remain unmatched in the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NYT crossword free?
The full daily New York Times crossword requires a paid Games subscription (around $40/year). However, the NYT Mini crossword and their daily Wordle game are completely free to play.
What's the easiest daily crossword?
The USA Today daily crossword is widely considered the easiest and most accessible major daily puzzle. It features straightforward clues without complex wordplay, making it perfect for beginners.
Are there good free crossword apps?
Yes. Daily Themed Crossword is an excellent freemium app that offers a free daily puzzle. You can also play the LA Times and USA Today crosswords for free via their respective news apps, though they include ads.
What day is the hardest NYT crossword?
Saturday is the hardest day for the New York Times crossword. The puzzles get progressively harder from Monday to Saturday. Sunday puzzles are larger (21x21 grid) but have a difficulty level similar to a Thursday puzzle.