For the widest mix of sudoku variants in one app, Sudoku: Classic Puzzle Games lists Killer, X-Sudoku and Hyper Sudoku next to classic puzzles. Sudoku: Brain Puzzle Games adds Killer and Letter Sudoku. Sudoku Master is the one for different grid sizes: 6x6, 9x9 and 16x16. Killer Sudoku by Sudoku.com does only killer, in depth. Sudoku Royale, the app we make, has no variants at all: it is classic 9x9 only, so it is not the answer to this question. Below is which app covers which variant, according to each App Store listing, and what each charges.
The App Store facts
| App | Price and ads | Paid options listed | US rating | Last update | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sudoku: Classic Puzzle Games | Free, ads, in-app purchases | Sudoku Premium $4.99, Sudoku Premium $39.99 | 4.7 from 65,589 ratings | October 23, 2026 | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision |
| Sudoku: Brain Puzzle Games | Free, ads (remove for $4.99) | Sudoku Weekly Subscription $1.99, Sudoku Monthly Subscription $4.99, Sudoku Yearly Subscription $15.99 | 4.8 from 313,688 ratings | October 22, 2026 | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision |
| Sudoku Master | Free, ads (remove for $6.99) | Sudoku Premium $7.99, No Ads $6.99, Sudoku Premium $39.99 | 4.7 from 17,466 ratings | October 3, 2026 | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision |
| Killer Sudoku by Sudoku.com | Free, ads (remove for $14.99) | Killer Sudoku No Ads $14.99 | 4.8 from 218,315 ratings | October 18, 2026 | iPhone, iPad |
| Good Sudoku | Free, in-app purchases | Full Game Unlock $4.99 | 4.2 from 1,332 ratings | July 21, 2025 | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision |
| Sudoku Royale | Free, no in-app purchases | None listed | 4.8 from 11 ratings | October 23, 2026 | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision |
From each app's US App Store listing, checked October 26, 2026. Prices and paid items change, so check the listing before you buy.
Which app has which variant
If you have one variant in mind, start here. A dash of caution: the listings name the variants but rarely say how many puzzles each has or whether they come in several difficulty levels, so treat a "yes" as "it is in there", not "it is deep".
| Variant | Sudoku: Classic Puzzle Games | Sudoku: Brain Puzzle Games | Sudoku Master | Killer Sudoku by Sudoku.com | Sudoku Royale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic 9x9 | Yes, four levels | Yes, four levels | Yes, five levels | No | Yes, six levels |
| Killer (cages with sums) | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Yes, the whole app | No |
| X-Sudoku (diagonals) | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | No | No |
| Hyper (four extra boxes) | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | No | No |
| Letter Sudoku | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | No | No |
| 6x6 grid | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | No | No |
| 16x16 grid | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | No | No |
| Jigsaw, Samurai, Thermo, Arrow | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | No | No |
| Price | Free, ads, in-app purchases | Free, ads (remove for $4.99) | Free, ads (remove for $6.99) | Free, ads (remove for $14.99) | Free, no ads, no in-app purchases |
Not sure what Hyper or Letter Sudoku is? Our guide to sudoku variants explains the rules of each, with the ones no app here covers.
The apps, one by one
Sudoku: Classic Puzzle Games: the most variants
Its listing names three "classic and modern variations" beyond the standard grid: Killer Sudoku, X-Sudoku and Hyper Sudoku. Those three ask for quite different thinking. Killer adds arithmetic through cage sums, X-Sudoku adds two diagonals that also need 1 to 9, and Hyper adds four shaded boxes that do. The classic side has four levels, a daily challenge with streaks, step-by-step hint guides and offline play. It shows ads. Its paid options are Sudoku Premium $4.99, Sudoku Premium $39.99, and its listing says the Premium subscription, sold in limited regions, adds unlimited mistakes and free hints each month.
Sudoku: Brain Puzzle Games: classic first, two variants on the side
OAKEVER's app is mainly classic sudoku, with Killer Sudoku and Letter Sudoku as extra modes; its listing asks "Have you tried Killer Sudoku or Letter Sudoku?" Letter Sudoku uses letters in place of digits, with the same rules. The listing also mentions undo and redo, dark mode, offline play and live tournaments. Pricing is busy: subscriptions, battle tickets and a Remove Ads item at $4.99.
Sudoku Master: a different size of grid
Malpa Games' app is the one to pick if your idea of a variant is a smaller or bigger board rather than new rules. Its listing has "multiple grid formats: 9x9, 6x6, 16x16". A 6x6 grid suits a child learning the rules or a two-minute break. A 16x16 grid is a long project that rewards patient candidate work. It has five levels, a daily puzzle, notes and hints, and full offline play. It shows ads, removable with No Ads at $6.99, and also sells Premium.
Killer Sudoku by Sudoku.com: one variant, done properly
If killer is the only variant you care about, an app that does nothing else is the safe choice. Easybrain's killer app has thousands of levels, daily challenges, seasonal events, hints and notes, according to its listing. It shows ads, with Killer Sudoku No Ads at $14.99. For a full comparison of killer apps, see the best killer sudoku apps.
Good Sudoku: bring your own variant
Good Sudoku is a classic sudoku app, but its listing mentions a use for its Custom mode: entering a puzzle you found elsewhere, including "some wild variant (like the Miracle Sudoku!)". Its hint system only helps with puzzles that follow standard rules, so for a variant you are on your own. It costs $4.99 for the Full Game Unlock.
Where Sudoku Royale fits, honestly
If you came here for variants, Sudoku Royale will disappoint: no killer, diagonal, jigsaw, 6x6 or 4x4. What it offers instead is depth in the classic grid. Practice runs from Easy to Extreme, and the top levels need techniques such as the X-Wing. The Journey teaches them one chapter at a time, and the Dojo drills patterns up to Swordfish. Every variant above still rests on classic eliminations, so the two kinds of app can sit side by side on one phone. If you want a classic app without ads to go with your variant app, Sudoku Royale is free.
How to choose
- You want to try several variants: Sudoku: Classic Puzzle Games.
- Mostly classic, killer or letters now and then, and you want undo: Sudoku: Brain Puzzle Games.
- Smaller or larger grids: Sudoku Master.
- Killer every day: Killer Sudoku by Sudoku.com, or read the alternatives to it.
- Classic only, no ads, room to get better: Sudoku Royale.
Every other comparison is on the comparisons page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sudoku app has the most variants?
Among the apps we compared, Sudoku: Classic Puzzle Games lists the most: Killer, X-Sudoku and Hyper Sudoku next to classic puzzles. Sudoku: Brain Puzzle Games lists Killer and Letter Sudoku, and Sudoku Master offers 6x6 and 16x16 grids.
Does Sudoku Royale have variants?
No. Sudoku Royale is classic 9x9 sudoku only: no killer, diagonal, jigsaw, 6x6 or 4x4 puzzles. It focuses on six levels of classic puzzles and on teaching the techniques for them.
Is there a sudoku app with 16x16 puzzles?
Sudoku Master's listing offers 9x9, 6x6 and 16x16 grid formats. It is free with ads and sells ad removal and a Premium option.
Which app has X-Sudoku or diagonal sudoku?
Sudoku: Classic Puzzle Games lists X-Sudoku, the variant where both long diagonals must also contain 1 to 9, along with Hyper and Killer Sudoku.
Is there a free sudoku variants app without ads?
Not among the apps we compared: every one whose listing names built-in variants has an App Store age rating that notes advertising. Sudoku Royale is free with no ads but has classic sudoku only.
What is Letter Sudoku?
Letter Sudoku uses nine letters instead of the digits 1 to 9. The rules are the same as classic sudoku. Sudoku: Brain Puzzle Games by OAKEVER lists it as a mode.