What a subscription crossword service is
A subscription crossword is a puzzle service you pay for monthly or yearly to get new crosswords delivered to your device or mailbox. Instead of buying individual puzzle books or solving free puzzles online with ads, you pay a flat fee and get access to a library of puzzles, often with features like hints, timers, or the ability to track your solving history.
The most common subscription crossword services are run by major newspapers — the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today all offer them — or by dedicated puzzle companies like Penny Dell and Universal. Some services focus on one puzzle type (crosswords only), while others bundle crosswords with sudoku, word searches, and other games.
You typically access these through a website or mobile app. Some services also mail printed puzzle books to your home if you prefer solving on paper.
Key Takeaways
- Subscription crossword services charge between $5 and $15 per month, depending on the publisher and whether you want access to archives or other puzzle types.
- Most services offer a free trial period — usually 7 to 14 days — so you can test the difficulty level and interface before paying.
- You can cancel anytime without penalty, though some services require you to cancel before your next billing date to avoid being charged.
- Newspaper-based services like the New York Times include crosswords plus other games and content, while specialty puzzle companies focus on crosswords alone.
- Printed puzzle books delivered by mail cost more than digital subscriptions but let you solve without a screen.
How much subscription crosswords cost
Pricing varies by service and what you want included. The New York Times Games subscription — which includes the daily crossword plus letter boxed, spelling bee, and other games — costs around $10 per month or $40 per year if you pay annually. The Wall Street Journal's crossword subscription is separate from its news subscription and costs roughly $8 per month.
Specialty puzzle companies like Penny Dell and Universal typically charge $5 to $8 per month for crosswords alone. If you want access to their full archive of past puzzles, the cost may be slightly higher. Printed puzzle books sent by mail run $15 to $25 per month because of shipping and printing costs.
Most services offer a discount if you commit to a year upfront rather than paying month to month. Some also run promotional offers — like three months for $1 — especially if you're a new subscriber or returning after a gap.
What you get with a subscription
A daily crossword is the core feature: a new puzzle arrives each day, usually in the morning. The difficulty often increases through the week — Monday puzzles are easier, and Saturday or Sunday puzzles are harder. Some services let you choose your difficulty level instead.
Most subscriptions include a hints system. If you're stuck on a clue, you can reveal one letter at a time, or sometimes the entire answer, without having to give up and look it up elsewhere. Some services also show you how long it took other solvers to finish, which can help you gauge whether you're on pace.
Archive access is common with larger services: you can go back and solve puzzles from weeks or months ago if you missed them. Newspaper-based services usually include other games — word searches, sudoku, spelling bee — bundled with the crossword subscription. Specialty companies may offer crosswords only, or charge extra for other puzzle types.
How to sign up and cancel
To start a subscription, visit the service's website or read their app, then look for a "Subscribe" or "Games" button. You'll enter your email address and payment method — usually a credit card, though some services accept PayPal or Apple Pay. Most services ask you to create a username and password so you can save your progress across devices.
Before you're charged, the service will show you the full price and billing frequency. Read this carefully: some services bill monthly, others yearly, and some let you choose. If the service offers a free trial, it will tell you when the trial ends and when your first charge will happen.
To cancel, log into your account and look for "Manage Subscription" or "Billing" in the settings menu. Click the cancel button and confirm. The service will usually let you keep solving until the end of your current billing period — you won't be cut off when ready. If you cancel close to your next billing date, make sure the cancellation went through by checking your account a few days later, because some services require cancellation before a specific cutoff time.
Free trials and how they work
Most subscription crossword services offer a free trial lasting 7 to 14 days. During the trial, you get full access to the service — all the daily puzzles, hints, archives, and other features — without being charged. The trial is a good way to see if you like the difficulty level, the interface, and the puzzle style before you commit to paying.
When you sign up for a trial, you still have to enter a payment method. The service will not charge you during the trial period, but it will charge you automatically when the trial ends unless you cancel beforehand. Set a reminder on your phone or calendar for a day or two before the trial ends so you don't forget to cancel if you decide the service isn't for you.
Crossword difficulty and puzzle variety
Most daily crossword subscriptions follow a weekly difficulty pattern. Monday is the easiest, with straightforward clues and common words. The puzzles get progressively harder through Wednesday and Thursday. Friday and Saturday are typically the hardest, with wordplay, puns, and obscure references. Sunday puzzles are often larger but not necessarily harder — they're just longer.
If you're new to crosswords or prefer easier puzzles, you can usually stick to Monday through Wednesday. If you want a challenge, save Friday and Saturday for when you have more time. Some services let you choose your own difficulty level or filter by theme, so you can skip puzzles that don't interest you.
Specialty puzzle companies sometimes offer themed weeks — all puzzles about a certain topic, or all puzzles by a particular constructor — which can add variety if you solve regularly.
Solving on different devices
Most subscription services let you start a puzzle on one device and finish it on another. If you begin a crossword on your phone during your commute, you can pick it up on your tablet or computer at home, and your progress will sync automatically. This requires you to be logged into the same account on both devices.
The interface usually adapts to the screen size: on a phone, the grid and clues stack vertically; on a tablet or computer, they sit side by side. Some people prefer solving on a larger screen because it's easier to see the full grid at once, while others like the portability of a phone or tablet.
If you prefer paper, some services mail printed puzzle books monthly. These cost more than digital subscriptions but let you solve without a screen and without worrying about battery life or internet connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my subscription with someone else?
Most services allow one account per person and don't permit sharing login credentials with family members or friends. If multiple people in your household want to solve, each person typically needs their own subscription. Some services offer family plans or discounts for multiple accounts, so check the pricing page.
What happens to my saved puzzles if I cancel?
Once you cancel, you lose access to the service and can't view your saved progress or solve new puzzles. You won't be able to retrieve puzzles you started but didn't finish. If you think you might return later, take a screenshot or write down any puzzles you want to remember before you cancel.
Do I need an internet connection to solve?
Most services require an internet connection to read the daily puzzle and sync your progress. Some apps let you read puzzles in advance so you can solve offline, but this feature isn't universal. Check the app description or contact the service if offline solving is important to you.
Can I get a refund if I cancel mid-month?
Most subscription services do not offer refunds for partial months. If you cancel on the 15th of a month and were charged on the 1st, you typically won't get a refund for the remaining days. However, you can usually keep solving until the end of your billing period, so you're not losing access when ready.
What's the difference between a crossword subscription and a puzzle book?
A subscription gives you a new puzzle every day and access to archives, plus features like hints and progress tracking. A puzzle book is a one-time purchase with a fixed set of puzzles — usually 100 to 200 — that you own permanently. Subscriptions cost more over time but offer more variety; puzzle books are cheaper upfront but run out once you finish them.