Play & solve
Cryptogram Puzzles
A cryptogram hides a quotation behind a letter-for-letter swap: every E might become Q, all the way through. No maths, no trivia - just deduction, letter frequency and the shape of English words.
Paste a puzzle above to get candidates for each word, read how to solve a cryptogram for the technique, or play a fresh one every day in Decode.
Every letter stands for a different letter. We match each word's shape - its pattern of repeats - against 168,551 English words, then rank by how few answers fit. Cmd/Ctrl + Enter also solves.
From the makers of this tool
Love words? You'll love Decode.
Crack hidden phrases symbol-by-symbol, climb the Temple Ascent, and race the daily cipher. Hand-crafted puzzles, no ads.
Free on the App Store · iPhone & iPad · No ads.
From the makers of this tool
Love words? You'll love Decode.
Crack hidden phrases symbol-by-symbol, climb the Temple Ascent, and race the daily cipher. Hand-crafted puzzles, no ads.
Free on the App Store · iPhone & iPad · No ads.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play a cryptogram?
You are given an encoded phrase. Each letter consistently stands for another letter. Spot patterns - one-letter words are almost always A or I, apostrophe-S endings are usually S or T - and build the alphabet until the phrase reads.
Are cryptograms good for your brain?
They exercise pattern recognition, working memory and deductive reasoning, and unlike timed games they reward patience. Many solvers use one as a daily wind-down.
Where can I play free cryptogram puzzles?
Decode gives you a new Daily Cipher every day, free, plus a campaign of 240 hand-crafted phrases. No ads, no account. It’s on iPhone and iPad.