Free mini crossword alternatives, compared
Several daily mini crosswords are still free to play in September 2026. The Los Angeles Times Mini and Crosshare are free, USA TODAY gives a limited number of free puzzles each week, and The New York Times Mini now needs a subscription. CRSWRD is free with no account, a full archive and multiplayer.
The comparison
| Puzzle | Price to play | Account needed | Archive | Multiplayer | Grid size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRSWRD | Free, no ads[1] | Not needed[1] | Every past daily, free[1] | Race (up to 8), Co-op (up to 12), Duel (1 v 1 or vs the computer)[1] | 7×7 daily; 5×5 Rush minis[1] |
| The New York Times Mini Crossword | NYT Games or news subscription required[2] | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 5×5; 7×7 on Saturdays[3] |
| USA TODAY Quick Cross | A limited number of free puzzles each week; subscription for unlimited play[4] | Not verified | Crossword archive with a USA TODAY Play subscription[4] | Not verified | 4×4[4] |
| Los Angeles Times Mini Crossword | Free, no subscription needed[5] | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 5×5[6] |
| Crosshare | Free, ad-free[7] | Not verified | Previous daily minis listed[7] | Not verified | 5×5 (the daily mini on the day checked)[7] |
means the fact could not be verified from a source on the day it was checked, so it is left blank rather than guessed. It does not mean the feature is missing. Numbers in brackets link to the sources at the end of this page. Puzzles for which fewer than two facts could be verified are not listed; The Washington Post's daily mini was checked and confirmed free to play, but nothing else about it could be verified.
How this was checked
Each fact in the table was read from a web page on the date shown in the sources list: the publisher's own page where it could be loaded, and otherwise a news report or a puzzle site that describes the game. Prices and access rules change, sometimes without notice, so treat every row as a snapshot from September 2026 and confirm on the publisher's site before you subscribe to anything. No ratings, player counts or reviews are included, because none could be measured the same way for every puzzle.
CRSWRD's own row describes this site and links to How to play, where each rule is explained in full.
If you want an archive
Being able to go back to puzzles you missed is one place these games differ. According to its own announcement, USA TODAY includes its crossword archive with a USA TODAY Play subscription. Crosshare links to a list of its previous daily minis from the home page.
On CRSWRD, every daily since puzzle #1 on September 12, 2026 stays playable for free in the archive, sorted by month. Once a day closes at 00:00 UTC, its page also lists every clue with its answer, so you can review a puzzle after you play it. A first clean solve of an old puzzle still ranks on that day's board, although only today's puzzle moves your streak.
If you want to play with friends
None of the other sources checked for this page described a way to solve together, so their multiplayer cells are blank rather than marked as missing.
CRSWRD has three multiplayer modes, all started from the Arena and joined from a link, with no account for anyone. Race puts up to eight players on the same grid at the same instant, and the fastest correct grid wins. Co-op lets up to twelve people fill one shared 5×5 or 7×7 grid with live cursors. Duel is a turn-based tile game for two, played against a friend or the computer at Easy, Medium or Hard.
If you want the classic
The New York Times Mini Crossword is a 5×5 grid most days and 7×7 on Saturdays, and since the change reported in August 2025 it is available only with an NYT Games or news subscription. If you already pay for one, it is part of what you get.
If you want a free daily habit instead, the Los Angeles Times Mini is a free 5×5 with no subscription needed, and Crosshare is free and ad-free. CRSWRD's daily is a 7×7 grid, larger than the 5×5 minis above, released for everyone at the same moment, and its Rush mode serves 5×5 minis back to back for when one puzzle is not enough.
Sources
- CRSWRD, How to play. Checked .
- Kotaku, “Mini Crossword No Longer Free-To-Play” (August 28, 2025). Checked .
- Wikipedia, The New York Times Mini Crossword (page last edited July 19, 2026). Checked .
- USA TODAY via Yahoo News, “Ready to boost your brainpower? Subscribe to USA TODAY Play” (May 31, 2025). Checked .
- Try Hard Guides, LA Times Mini Crossword answers. Checked .
- Playlin, L.A. Times Mini Crossword. Checked .
Spotted something out of date? Write to hello@crswrd.com and this page will be rechecked. More questions about CRSWRD are answered in the FAQ.