Love crosswords? Ever wondered if your puzzle passion could earn you some cash? It can! While becoming a crossword millionaire is rare, there are real ways for word lovers to make money with their skills, whether by solving or creating.
This guide explores how to make money solving crosswords and turn your hobby into a rewarding side hustle, from playing for prizes to selling your own puzzles.
Table of Contents
Can You Really Make Money Solving Crosswords? Exploring the Possibilities
Crosswords are a timeless joy, offering mental workouts and the satisfaction of completion. This love for puzzles creates an audience and opportunities for those looking to earn.
Understanding the Crossword Craze and Your Income Potential
Crosswords have a timeless appeal because they entertain, challenge our brains, and help expand our knowledge. Their enduring presence in media signifies a consistent, engaged audience, which is great news if you’re looking to monetize your skills. For many, solving crosswords is a rewarding hobby. However, if you’re skilled or enjoy creating them, you might consider turning this passion into an income stream. Understanding your financial goals is a key first step in choosing the right path to earning money from your puzzle talents, whether you want a little extra spending money or a more significant income.
An Overview of Your Earning Options
When it comes to making money with crosswords, there are generally two main approaches. The first is earning by playing, which includes using mobile apps that offer cash prizes or testing your skills in crossword tournaments. The second, and often more entrepreneurial route, is earning by creating. Here you can find how to create a crossword. This involves designing and selling your own puzzles, developing crossword-related content like blog posts or videos, or offering your skills as a freelancer. While playing can be fun, creating often leads to more controllable and potentially sustainable income.
Get Paid to Play: How to Make Money Solving Crosswords
If your main skill is solving puzzles quickly and accurately, this section explores how you might earn by putting those talents to the test.
Mobile Apps Promising Cash: Fact or Fiction?
You’ve likely seen ads for mobile games promising real cash for playing crosswords. These free apps typically reward you with points or virtual currency for solving puzzles, which they suggest can be converted to real money or gift cards. Their primary revenue comes from showing advertisements. However, user experiences are very mixed. While some report winning tiny amounts, many find it extremely difficult to reach the payout threshold, often getting stuck just before cashing out while enduring a barrage of ads. For most, these apps aren’t a reliable income source but rather a bit of fun with a slim chance of a small reward. Don’t count on them for significant earnings.
Winning with Crossword Tournaments and Competitions
For skilled solvers with a competitive edge, formal crossword tournaments offer a chance at larger prizes. The most famous is the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (ACPT), a prestigious U.S. event attracting top solvers who compete on speed and accuracy for significant cash prizes. For those not at that elite level, many websites host regular online crossword contests with smaller, more modest prizes like gift cards. These are more accessible and provide frequent winning opportunities. However, major tournaments demand exceptional skill and speed, while online contests are generally more for fun and practice. Be realistic about your abilities when considering this path.
Create and Sell: Making Money from Your Own Crossword Puzzles
If you enjoy the creative side of crosswords, designing and selling your own puzzles can be a much more rewarding and sustainable way to make money. The internet has made it easier than ever to become a puzzle entrepreneur.
Designing, Publishing, and Selling Your Own Puzzle Books
One popular route is creating and self-publishing your own crossword books, perhaps using Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), which allows you to sell globally without upfront costs. Activity books, including crosswords, have steady demand. To succeed, find your niche by targeting specific audiences (e.g., history buffs, kids, seniors needing large print) or themes (e.g., movie trivia). This helps your book stand out. The basic steps involve creating a collection of high-quality, error-free puzzles; formatting your book (KDP provides guidelines); designing an attractive cover; and then uploading to KDP. While it takes effort, it can lead to passive income. Various software and online tools, some free for non-commercial use like PuzzleMe, can help you build grids and format professional-looking puzzles.
Selling Puzzles with Print-on-Demand (PoD)
Print-on-Demand (PoD) services offer another way to sell your crossword designs, not just in books but on various products like mugs or posters, without handling inventory. You partner with a PoD company (like Printify or Redbubble), list products featuring your designs on platforms like Etsy or your own site, and the PoD company prints and ships when an order comes in. PoD is fantastic for custom and personalized puzzles for events or gifts. The pros include low startup costs and no inventory hassles. The cons are smaller profit margins per item and the need for appealing designs and marketing.
Starting Your Own Crossword Blog or Website
If you’re passionate about crosswords and enjoy creating content regularly, a blog or website dedicated to puzzles can be a long-term strategy. Platforms like WordPress or Blogger make setup relatively easy. You can post original interactive puzzles, write about solving strategies, or review puzzle books. Once your blog gets visitors, you can monetize it through advertising (e.g., Google AdSense), selling premium puzzle packs or your books, affiliate marketing (earning commissions by recommending related products), or selling themed merchandise. The key to success is posting quality content consistently, using social media, learning basic Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and engaging with readers to build a community.
Crafting Engaging Crosswords and Selling to Publications
Regardless of how you sell them, the quality of your crosswords is crucial. Start with a good theme to make puzzles more interesting, then brainstorm a list of related words, aiming for a mix of lengths and common letters for easier grid construction. Use graph paper or software to build your grid, ensuring symmetry, and then write clear, consistent clues (decide if they’ll be straightforward or cryptic). A thesaurus is invaluable here. You might also consider selling puzzles to newspapers and magazines. While larger papers often have in-house creators, some smaller or local publications might buy freelance crosswords. Always check their specific submission guidelines for grid size, theme, and style before submitting.
Share Your Skills: Making Money with Crossword Content and Services
Beyond selling puzzles, you can leverage your crossword expertise to create engaging content or offer specialized freelance services.
Becoming a Crossword Content Creator Online
If you’re comfortable sharing your passion online, consider content creation. You can make videos for YouTube or TikTok, filming yourself solving puzzles, sharing solving tips, or reviewing crossword products. Engaging with viewers helps build a community. Livestreaming your puzzle solves on platforms like Twitch allows for real-time interaction. To succeed, develop an engaging “puzzle personality.” Once you build a following, you can earn through ad revenue, sponsorships, fan donations (e.g., via Patreon or Ko-fi), or selling merchandise.
Offering Freelance Crossword Creation and Testing Services
You can offer your puzzle skills as a freelancer. This includes creating custom crosswords for events, parties, or businesses, tailored to their specific needs. Another valuable service is puzzle testing, reviewing, editing, and proofreading (Quality Assurance). Before publication, puzzles need thorough testing to ensure they are solvable, accurate, enjoyable, and error-free. This involves checking clues, answers, and difficulty. You can find freelance work on marketplaces like Upwork or Fiverr, or by directly contacting puzzle publishers or app developers.
Is Making Money with Crosswords Worth It? A Realistic Look
It’s important to have realistic expectations about the effort involved versus the potential rewards.
Comparing Your Options: Effort, Reward, Pros & Cons
Not all paths to crossword income are equal. Some require more time and skill, and potential earnings vary greatly. Options that seem like “quick wins” (like most cash apps) generally offer very little financial return. Methods that require more upfront time, skill development, and ongoing effort—like publishing books, building a successful blog, creating a popular content channel, or establishing yourself as a skilled freelancer—hold the potential for higher and more sustainable income.
Here’s a quick comparison:
| Method | Potential Income | Effort Needed | Key Pros | Key Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Cash Apps | Very Low | Low | Easy to start, casual fun | Unreliable payouts, many ads, not a real income source |
| Major Crossword Tournaments | High (for winners) | Very High | Large prizes, prestige | Extremely competitive, only for elite solvers |
| Online Competitions | Low | Medium | Accessible, frequent, small prizes | Modest rewards, chance-based, not steady income |
| Self-Publishing Puzzle Books | Variable (Low-High) | High | Passive income potential, creative control, niche markets | Significant time investment, marketing needed, competition |
| Print-on-Demand Puzzles/Merch | Variable (Low-Med) | Medium | Creative control, no inventory, custom items | Design appeal crucial, marketing needed, lower profit margin |
| Crossword Blog/Website | Variable (Low-High) | High (Ongoing) | Multiple revenue streams, build community | Long-term build, needs consistent content, SEO |
| Video Content Creation | Variable (Low-High) | High (Ongoing) | Audience engagement, multiple income options | Needs personality, consistent content, slow audience growth |
| Freelance Puzzle Creation | Medium (per project) | High | Direct payment for skills | Need portfolio, inconsistent work possible |
| Freelance Testing/Editing/QA | Low-Medium (per project/hour) | Medium | Niche skill, remote work | Can be repetitive, finding consistent work can be hard |
The Most Promising Avenues: Creation, Ownership, and Entrepreneurship
Sustainable income often comes from creating and owning your intellectual property – like self-published puzzle books or original puzzles on your blog. These become assets you control. The most consistently recommended path involves an “entrepreneurial shift” from being just a solver to becoming a creator, publisher, content producer, or specialized service provider. This requires initiative and developing marketable products or skills.
Your Roadmap to Crossword Income: Getting Started
Feeling inspired? Here’s how you can begin turning your crossword passion into profit.
Matching Strategies to Your Goals, Skills, and Niche
First, think about your goals. If you’re seeking fun with a tiny chance of small earnings, some apps or online contests might suffice (with very low expectations!). For a serious side hustle or business, focus on creation-based models like self-publishing or freelancing. If you’re an expert solver, elite competitions are an option, but for those with strong design or analytical skills, freelancing is more accessible. Regardless of the creative path, finding your unique angle (niche selection) is crucial, especially in self-publishing or blogging. Focus on specific themes or underserved audiences to stand out. Above all, the quality of your puzzles matters most. They must be accurate, well-constructed, and enjoyable.
First Steps in Promising Areas and the Importance of Marketing
To start your puzzle book journey: research niches, learn creation tools and KDP, create quality puzzles, then publish and promote. For a crossword blog: choose a platform, master a puzzle tool for interactive content, plan a consistent posting schedule, and learn basic SEO. To kick off a freelance career: build a portfolio, create profiles on freelance sites, and clearly define your services. Remember, creating fantastic puzzles is only half the battle; marketing is essential. People need to know your creations exist. Use social media, learn basic SEO, network, and tell friends and family.
Combining Ideas for Diversified Income
For more stable earnings, consider combining several strategies. For example, your blog could feature ads, sell your puzzle books, and advertise your freelance services. Diversification offers resilience and broader opportunities.
Start Your Journey to Making Money with Crosswords Today!
Turning a passion for crosswords into income is achievable with creativity, effort, and an entrepreneurial mindset.
Key Takeaways and Final Encouragement
Remember, playing for prizes via apps offers minimal rewards, while tournaments are for elites. Creating and selling puzzles (books, PoD, blogs) or offering content and freelance services hold more potential but require significant effort. Focus on quality and finding your niche. The journey from enthusiast to earner can be challenging but also incredibly rewarding. Pick a path that excites you, start small, and see where your word skills can take you. Good luck!
