Crossword Author App with
Monthly Rankings & Freemium Model
We designed and developed the iOS and Android apps for two of Spain's most celebrated crossword authors. We transformed a loyal readership of newspaper puzzle fans into an active digital community of more than 20,000 users, monthly competitions and a sustainable freemium model.
Client
Crucigramas App
Year
2015 – Present
Services
Strategy, UX/UI, App iOS & Android
Platforms
iOS · Android
01 — The Challenge
Bringing decades of tradition to a new generation's pocket
The two most popular crossword authors in Spain's print press — one with nearly 30 years publishing in La Vanguardia, the other with 25 years creating mots encreuats in Catalan — had something highly valuable: a loyal, demanding and passionate audience. And a problem: that audience existed in print and was ageing. The print newspaper distribution model was not reaching new user profiles, and it generated no sense of community among solvers.
The challenge was twofold. First, to create an app that did justice to the quality and rigour of the crosswords: it could not be a mediocre casual-gaming experience — it had to feel as carefully crafted as the puzzles themselves. Second, to design a sustainable digital business model that respected existing users and appealed to new ones, without relying on advertising or compromising the experience.
The chosen monetisation solution — weekly packs at an accessible price via in-app purchase — needed to be complemented by a constant reason to return. That is where the monthly ranking was born: turning the individual crossword into a collective competition that would drive engagement week after week.
02 — Our Solution
A community of crossword solvers built on competition
We designed two parallel apps — one for the Spanish-language crosswords and another for the mots encreuats in Catalan — sharing the same architecture and user experience, each adapted to its linguistic community. The solving experience was designed to feel as satisfying as paper: an optimised keyboard, fluid cell navigation, optional error checking and automatic progress saving.
The freemium model offers two free crosswords per week so new users can get hooked without friction. Beyond that, weekly packs of seven crosswords for €0.49 represent a value proposition that habitual solvers find impossible to argue with.
Native solving experience
Crossword-optimised keyboard, cell navigation, optional error checking and automatic progress saving for every puzzle.
Competitive monthly ranking
Each month opens a new competitive season. Score is calculated based on correct answers and time taken. Special prizes in themed seasons.
Freemium model + in-app purchase
Two free crosswords per week for new users. Packs of 7 weekly crosswords for €0.49 via native in-app purchase on App Store and Google Play.
Two linguistic communities
Shared architecture for the Spanish and Catalan versions, with independent communities and rankings for each language.
User profile and statistics
Each user has their own profile with a game history, their position in the current ranking and personal performance statistics.
Dark mode and accessibility
Full dark mode support and adaptation to system accessibility preferences, designed for users who solve crosswords in any lighting condition.
03 — Process
From the paper crossword to the digital community
Discovery & Business Model
Existing audience analysis, puzzle app benchmarking, freemium model definition and design of the ranking system as an engagement engine.
UX/UI & Prototyping
Design of the crossword-solving experience, purchase flows, ranking system and user profile. Validated with regular solvers.
Development & QA
Parallel iOS and Android development, crossword engine, in-app purchase integration, scoring and ranking system, and user management.
Launch & Evolution
Publication on App Store and Google Play, continuous iterations, new competitive seasons and active product maintenance more than 10 years after launch.
04 — The Product in Detail
The crossword as a community engine
The monthly ranking that turns solo solvers into a community.
Each month a new competitive season opens: from the first Monday to the last Sunday. During that period, every crossword solved earns points based on correct answers and time taken. The maximum score per crossword is 922 points, and the top players come close to hitting it week after week.
In special seasons — Christmas, summer — competitions with special prizes are organised, driving a surge in participation. The public ranking creates a sense of belonging and healthy rivalry that no paper crossword can offer.
crucigramista_bcn
palabras_cruzadas
devora_letras
Your position: #47 · 891 pts
Free plan
To discover the app
- check2 free crosswords per week
- checkMonthly ranking participation
- checkUser profile and statistics
Weekly pack
For the regular solver
/ week
- check7 new crosswords every week
- checkFull ranking access
- checkComplete game history
- checkPrevious purchase restoration
A business model as fair as the crosswords themselves.
The freemium model lets any new user get started without friction and experience the quality of the crosswords before paying. Two free crosswords per week are enough to get hooked; not enough for the habitual solver, who quickly upgrades to the weekly pack.
At €0.49 for seven crosswords, the price is lower than buying the newspaper for a single day. It is a value proposition users recognise as honest, which reduces purchase friction and increases long-term retention.
Decades of craft behind every clue.
This is not a generic crossword app. Every puzzle is a signed work by authors with decades of experience: one with nearly 30 years publishing in La Vanguardia in Spanish and another with 25 years creating mots encreuats in Catalan. The audience that follows them is not looking to kill time; they are looking for their favourite author's weekly linguistic challenge.
The app manages the two communities independently, with separate rankings and differentiated content. Each author has their own follower base and their own competitive seasons, even though the underlying technical architecture is shared.
Spanish crosswords
Weekly crosswords by the author with the longest career in the Spanish press. Demanding wordplay, mysterious and with a personality all its own.
Mots encreuats in Catalan
The Catalan version with its own reference author, its own player community and independent competitions.
Special seasons
Themed competitions on key dates (Christmas, summer) with special prizes that boost participation and virality.
+20,000 active users
A loyal community built over years around the crossword as a weekly ritual and competition as a social bond.
05 — Tech Stack
Technologies used
A robust stack built for product longevity — the app has been in production for more than 10 years with continuous updates and maintenance.
Mobile Apps
- Swift (native iOS)
- Kotlin (native Android)
- StoreKit / Play Billing
- Dark mode (iOS / Android)
Backend & Data
- Node.js
- PostgreSQL
- Scoring engine
- REST API
Infrastructure
- AWS
- Content CMS
- Push notifications
- Season management
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