Best Free Crossword Puzzle Websites (2025)
Crossword puzzles and their offshoots will always be a mainstay for word gamers, regardless of generation. And with how accessible the internet is now, puzzles became even more popular, with many enjoying their time solving free online crossword puzzles, especially mobile players.
However, the growing demand for crossword puzzles came with rather predatory moneymaking schemes, preying on players' need to have fun. Many sites often tout "free crossword puzzles", then slap everyone with different ways to paywall content, which oftentimes completely dampens the fun factor and eagerness to play.
Not to worry, though, as we'll discuss the essentials of what you need to know about finding and playing free daily crossword puzzles, as well as which ones we think are genuinely free-to-play and worth your time!
What makes sites good for free crossword puzzles?
To start playing on a genuinely free-to-play crossword site, it's important to know what traits define one. Here's a quick checklist of some aspects to keep in mind:
✅ 100% free (no gatekeeping, microtransactions, time limits, paywalling, etc.)
✅ No login required
✅ Mobile-friendly
✅ Minimal ads
✅ Daily updates
✅ Accessible difficulty
✅ Doesn’t rely on obscure trivia for its main puzzles
✅ Offers archives or unlimited mode
✅ Fast-loading design
✅ Light on device resources
✅ Intuitive user experience
A truly free experience
When a player is looking for a free online crossword puzzle to play, they want something that will literally cost them nothing but their time, attention and probably a bit of electricity. They expect game sites that will allow them to play as much as they want and won't pester them with ads, paywalls, subscription notices and all that.
Resource light
Crossword puzzles shouldn't require a high-end device to be playable. The site or app should be something that even older computers or mobile devices can run and must be light on data bandwidth and hardware. After all, how can a player enjoy solving their crossword puzzle if the grid and letters can't even load properly?
Visually appealing
Sure, crosswords don't have explosions and flashing lights, but they should still be something that looks acceptable to the eyes. How would a player solve the grids if everything is pixelated and illegible? Even the oldest free crossword websites, while not sporting the curves and minimalist looks of their modern counterparts, still have a specific charm and have legible graphics.
Great user experience
Another important thing about a good free crossword site is that the whole screen and game should be intuitive and enjoyable. Like, the moment you jump into the website or app, you already have a gist of what's going on and how things are supposed to work. No obscure icons that the casual player wouldn't be able to understand at a glance or anything like that, nor are there ads bombarding your senses every two minutes.
Replayability
What elevates a great crossword site to one of the best? It encourages coming back and playing there again. A great crossword site provides entertainment for a few hours, a top-class one cements itself in your mind and makes you tell others about how you've been playing there for years.
Common "free" game website traps
Now that you know what traits make up good crossword puzzle sites, it's time to learn about the common "free" puzzle and game site traps:
Energy/Stamina systems
Probably the bane of all "free-to-play" mobile app players. This is a mechanic where solve attempts consume in-game energy or stamina, and you're only allotted a specific amount every day. While most of them do have the energy/stamina return after a specific amount of time, the recharge time is usually incredibly long and there's a cap on your max energy/stamina.
Fortunately, not many websites implement the energy/stamina system, but in the mobile app industry, it's way too common.
Paywalled progression
This is probably the most common trap among websites, where you have to pay to actually finish a game and play more. Players won't be able to complete the puzzle or access other features without paying a certain amount, and there'll be a pop-up blocking your screen.
Excessive difficulty spike
A monetization trap where players usually cruise through a few levels, then immediately get hit with an absurdly hard puzzle on their next game, purposely aimed at breaking their streaks. While not impossible to solve, most players are not meant to solve them without paying for boosts. So this is a trap that usually takes your streak and fun hostage, where you're hit with the dilemma of paying up or end up losing your hard-earned score.
Ad barrage
Another very common trap among "free crossword puzzle" or generally just free game sites. While there are no paywalls and microtransactions, players are constantly bombarded with ad redirects every time they press on the game screen and post-game interstitials.
Some of the more insidious sites also have confusing ads that have a false "X" mark on the corners, and when pressed, redirect you to a shady gambling site or have your browser instantly download some kind of file or browser extension.
Gatekept content
These are sites that do offer free crossword puzzles and games, but require you to sign up for an account first or pay for a membership. Some also hit you with a pop-up asking for your payment information before proceeding, with messages like "Before proceeding, we'd like to get your payment information first. We will NEVER charge you and you can opt out without any hassle" or something of the like.
Some apps also gatekeep content via "level restrictions", where you can't play puzzles or games that are beyond your current account level, and you need to amass "experience points" by watching ads or getting boosts via microtransactions.
The 10 best free crossword sites in 2025
Now, we'll list out 10 of the best free crossword sites we know that can provide you with the ideal word game experience, archive, unlimited or published daily.
Disclaimer: This list is purely our opinion; other players can have a different ranking list.
1. Crosswordle—best for daily crossword puzzles
Pros:
- The ideal hybrid between crosswords and Wordle®-like mechanics
- Uses logic and strategy instead of stock knowledge of obscure trivia
- Always free, forever
- No subscription needed
- No account sign-up required
- Has a Daily, Unlimited and Archive Mode
- Available in 7x7 and 9x9 grids
- Playable in under 2–5 minutes
- Works splendidly for desktop and mobile users
Cons:
- Doesn't play exactly like the traditional crossword, which might be off-putting for some players
Play today's 7x7 Crosswordle →
Play today's 9x9 Crosswordle →
2. The New York Times Mini Crossword
✅ Pros:
- Clean user interface
- Fast and simple puzzles
- Intuitive and easy to get into
❌ Cons:
- Requires a subscription
- Relies on trivia
- Can be too easy for more experienced players
3. USA Today Crossword
✅ Pros:
- Good difficulty, revolving around general knowledge about the United States
- Provides a free-to-play, classic crossword experience
- Crosses out invalid inputs automatically
❌ Cons:
- Relies heavily on trivia
- Ad-heavy
- Only allows two free puzzles a week without sign-up
4. Washington Post Daily Crossword
✅ Pros:
- Free-to-play
- Provides a free-to-play, classic crossword experience
- Moderate difficulty, good for traditional players
❌ Cons:
- Sometimes slow to load
- Requires sign-up for other features
- Relies heavily on trivia
Play Washington Post Crossword →
5. LA Times Crossword
✅ Pros:
- Well-known crossword
- Provides daily puzzles
- Syndicated with most local papers for pen and paper players
❌ Cons:
- Ad-gated
- Inconsistent difficulty, especially on Monday releases
- Relies heavily on obscure trivia
6. AARP Daily Crossword
✅ Pros:
- Big and clear interface, ideal for older players aged 60+ with poorer vision
- Accessible difficulty
- Offers different flavors of puzzles
❌ Cons:
- Geared toward retirees and usually refers to old trivia
- Ad-gated
- Fullscreen function requires sign-up
7. Newsday Crossword (“Stan Newman’s Daily”)
✅ Pros:
- Has a wide range of difficulties to choose from
- Theme-based puzzles
- Available to play on different websites
❌ Cons:
- Interface varies depending on hosting site, so user experience differs
- Can get repetitive with its word selection
- Ad-heavy
Play Stan Newman's Daily Crossword →
8. Boatload Puzzles
✅ Pros:
- Massive collection of crosswords, over 40,000
- Free-to-play
- Straightforward traditional gameplay
❌ Cons:
- Old-school design, looks like it was taken out of an early 2000s web directory, which can be off-putting for many modern players
- Can get repetitive with its word selection
- Small interface, but can be zoomed on browsers
Play Boatload Puzzles Crossword →
9. PuzzleMe
✅ Pros:
- Sleek, modern interface
- Main feature is creating your own crossword puzzles
- Provides optional AI assistance in creation
❌ Cons:
- You have to create your own crossword to start playing, no jumping straight into a game
- Puzzle packs for direct play need contact with site team
- Not ideal for players strapped for time
10. Puzzmo Cross|word
✅ Pros:
- Eye-catching interface
- Solve in real-time with friends
- Made for quick solving
❌ Cons:
- Fairly new, so they're not as well-known as other crosswords
- Relies too heavily on pop culture references
- Older players may struggle with the trivia
Which free crossword site should you start with?
With all these choices, it can be hard to pick the right one for you to play. But don't worry, we have recommendations for the general playerbase:
If you prefer modern crosswords...
- Crosswordle
- Puzzmo Cross|word
- PuzzleMe Crossword
If you're looking for a more traditional crossword experience...
- Boatload Puzzles
- Washington Post Crossword
- USA Today Crossword
If you like variety...
- Stan Newman's Crosswords
- AARP Daily Crossword
- Boatload Puzzles
If you want to play with your friends...
- PuzzleMe Crossword
- Puzzmo Crossword
Why we recommend playing Crosswordle over a traditional crossword
Crosswordle is more ideal for the modern player than traditional crosswords because it cuts out obscure trivia and forces you to actually think logically. Instead of grinding through “obscure 1950s Latvian poet” clues, you’re playing a logic game where basic understanding is essential rather than stock knowledge.
Traditional crossword vs Crosswordle →
It’s also faster, it’s sharper and doesn’t demand an hour of your life just to fill a grid. Highly accessible, you don’t need crossword experience or insider knowledge, just deduction skills coupled with a good understanding of the color-feedback system.
FAQ
What is the best free crossword site in 2025?
For more in-depth information, check the list above, but we ranked Crosswordle as the top one as it's the perfect mix of familiarity and freshness.
Play the best free online crossword now!
Are there crosswords with no subscription or paywall?
A lot! In our experience, only the big names like the NYT and other news media outlets hit players with that particular monetization scheme.
Where can I play a simple online crossword?
You can play that in Crosswordle and other mini crosswords like the NYT and Puzzmo's Cross|word.
Which crossword is best for beginners?
Crosswordle and the AARP Daily Crossword is very accessible.
Is there a crossword that doesn’t require trivia?
There is, and Crosswordle happens to be the only one in this list.
Which crossword works best on mobile?
All of these work well in mobile, except Boatload Puzzles (even with its tablet feature)
Get your crossword fix today!
We hope that our ranking list was able to provide you with the information you need for the best free crossword puzzle sites. If you're looking for new puzzles and games to try out, check out our website and subscribe to our newsletter!
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