Crossword Clue is a reference utility for crossword puzzle enthusiasts that provides answer lookups for major national newspapers on iOS.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The app removes the cognitive friction of searching for specific crossword answers by centralizing data from hundreds of daily sources.
For Crossword puzzle enthusiasts who require assistance with specific clues from major daily newspapers.
What does it look like?
Key features
Input field for crossword clues to retrieve matching answers from a database of major publications including NYT, USA Today, WSJ, and LA Times.
Database coverage spanning hundreds of crossword sources, including national newspapers.
How much does it cost?
The app functions as a free utility with no visible subscription or IAP gates, relying on ad-inventory for monetization.
Velocity
Maintenance developmentperformanceShow more...
The app has been silent for 169 days, with only a single minor performance update recorded in the analyzed window. This cadence of less than one release every three months classifies the development as maintenance. There is no evidence of active feature development or live operations, and the latest release focused solely on generic performance improvements.
Who built it?
Hakan Mazlum Uslu
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What do users think recently?
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
Not enough recent reviews to extract reliable themes yet.
Read the full review analysisCompetition
Competitive landscape for Crossword Clue
How's the Reference market?
Crossword Clue occupies the free reference utility space, relying on broad publication coverage to attract users. The lack of updates over the last 170 days signals a maintenance-mode posture that limits its ability to capture new search traffic.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
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Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for Crossword Clue
Where is it heading?
The crossword solver market is consolidating around tools that offer high-frequency updates and community-verified answers. Crossword Clue remains a stable, low-maintenance utility, but its lack of active development limits its ability to defend against rivals with more aggressive release schedules.
- The maintenance-only release cadence (no new features in five months) signals that Crossword Clue is a stable utility rather than a growth-focused product.
The SWOT
- Multi-publication database coverage supports broad daily puzzle utility
- Camera-based clue scanning could reduce input friction for users
Next best moves
Audit ad-inventory placement because the current free model lacks IAP diversification → stabilize revenue per user
The counter-intuitive read
The maintenance-mode status is a feature, not a bug…
Read the full takeSince the last report: The app's competitive position remains stable, with no material updates to features, pricing, or development cadence. The primary change is a strategic pivot in how the app's maintenance-only status is framed, moving from a narrative of technical risk to one of stable, low-maintenance utility.
Bottom line
Crossword Clue provides a stable, free utility, but its maintenance-only posture leaves it exposed to competitors with faster update cycles. Prioritizing ad-inventory stability will help sustain the current model while the app lacks a subscription-based growth engine.
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Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is Crossword Clue free to use?
Does Crossword Clue cover the NYT crossword?
How does Crossword Clue compare to other solver apps?
Sources
Report last updated