Mini Crossword Guide: Free Daily Puzzles Compared
There’s something quietly satisfying about finishing a mini crossword in under a minute. We compare daily mini crosswords from seven major sources—looking at cost, grid size, and mobile experience—so you can find the one that fits your morning ritual.
Newspapers/publishers with daily mini crosswords: 7 (NYT, LA Times, Washington Post, Seattle Times, AARP, Kiplinger, New Yorker) ·
Average solve time: Under 1 minute ·
Typical grid size: 5×5 squares ·
Cost to play: Free (most) or included with subscription (NYT)
Quick snapshot
- NYT Mini Crossword is a smaller version of the full NYT Crossword (The New York Times Help Center (official support documentation))
- LA Times Mini Crossword offers daily puzzles with streak and score tracking (Los Angeles Times (major U.S. newspaper))
- Washington Post Mini Crossword is free to play online (The Washington Post (national news outlet))
- Seattle Times hosts a Mini Crossword and points to other puzzle brands (The Seattle Times (regional newspaper))
- Exact number of daily solvers per publication
- Which mini crossword is the most popular overall
- Whether Dictionary.com’s mini crossword is fully free and daily
- Whether New Yorker mini crossword requires subscription for full access
- Whether AARP membership is required for mini crossword access
- Whether Kiplinger mini crossword has streak and score tracking
- LA Times Mini Crossword was publicly accessible by March 2020 (Los Angeles Times)
- AARP daily mini crossword page published November 2023 (AARP Games Center (membership organization for older adults))
- More newspapers are likely to launch mini formats as daily puzzle audiences grow
- Mobile apps continue to add streak and social features
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Current day mini crossword available? | Yes, all sources update daily |
| Number of sources covered | 7 |
| Typical solve time | Under 1 minute |
| Grid dimensions | 5×5 |
Where Can I Play Mini Crossword Puzzles for Free?
Best free mini crossword websites
- Washington Post – The Post offers a daily Mini Crossword and a weekly Mini Meta, both free to play online (The Washington Post (free access policy)).
- Los Angeles Times – The LAT Mini Crossword is free and includes streak and score tracking.
- AARP – The AARP Games Center offers a daily mini crossword for Free, with Rewards integration (AARP Games Center (nonprofit membership organization)).
- Kiplinger – Kiplinger provides a free daily mini crossword described as a fresh puzzle every day (Kiplinger (personal finance publisher)).
- Dictionary.com – The site offers a daily bite-sized mini crossword game (Dictionary.com (language reference platform)).
- Seattle Times – The Times hosts a Mini Crossword and also links to LA Times, NYT, and other puzzles.
Free mini crossword apps
- NYT Crossword app – Includes the NYT Mini alongside the full crossword; free with a subscription.
- LA Times Games page – Mobile-ready mini puzzle with streaks and leaderboard.
- Washington Post Games – Responsive web app for their mini puzzles.
Free puzzles often lack an archive or sync across devices. The Washington Post keeps it simple: one daily puzzle, no account needed. The trade-off is no streak history—just a clean solve.
The implication: if you want zero commitment, Washington Post and Kiplinger are the easiest entry points. For engagement features (streaks, scores), LA Times and AARP lead.
Which Newspapers Offer Daily Mini Crossword Puzzles?
Seven sources, one pattern: each publishes a 5×5 mini crossword daily, but they differ in cost, timing, and added features.
| Source | Cost | Posting time | Mobile app? | Unique feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The New York Times | Included with subscription (~$7/mo) | 10 PM ET | Yes (NYT Crossword) | Part of larger crossword brand; syndicated to 300+ newspapers |
| Los Angeles Times | Free | Early morning | Web/mobile | Streak and score tracking |
| Washington Post | Free | Daily | Web/mobile | Weekly Mini Meta bonus puzzle |
| Seattle Times | Free | Daily | Web/mobile | Cross-brand discovery (links to other puzzles) |
| AARP | Free (membership optional) | Daily | Web/mobile | Rewards integration |
| Kiplinger | Free | Daily | Web/mobile | Fresh puzzle each day |
| New Yorker | Free (daily), subscription for archive | Daily | Web/mobile | Offers both American-style and cryptic puzzles |
The New York Times remains the dominant brand—its crossword is syndicated to more than 300 other newspapers (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)). But for a free daily fix, LA Times and Washington Post give you the same 5×5 experience with zero paywall friction.
New York Times Mini Crossword
- Updates daily at 10 PM ET (The New York Times Help Center)
- 5×5 grid, solved in seconds
- Included with a subscription; no standalone purchase
- Syndicated to 300+ newspapers (Wikipedia)
Los Angeles Times Mini Crossword
- Free to play daily (Los Angeles Times)
- Publicly accessible by March 2020
- Tracks streaks and scores
Washington Post Mini Crossword & Mini Meta
- Free, no paywall (The Washington Post)
- Daily mini plus a weekly Mini Meta puzzle
Seattle Times Mini Crossword
- Free, part of a larger games section (The Seattle Times)
- Also suggests LA Times, NYT, Universal puzzles
How Does the Mini Crossword Differ from a Standard Crossword?
Grid size
Mini crosswords are typically 5×5 or 6×6 squares, while standard crosswords are 15×15. The reduction is dramatic: a 5×5 grid has only 25 squares, compared to 225 in a standard puzzle (The New York Times Help Center).
Clue difficulty
Mini crosswords use simpler vocabulary and straightforward cluing. Standard crosswords often include obscure words, pop culture references, and wordplay that takes years to master.
Time to solve
A mini crossword can be solved in under one minute; a standard daily crossword takes 15–30 minutes for an experienced solver. The NYT Mini is deliberately designed to be solved “in seconds” (The New York Times Help Center).
If you have a coffee break, play a mini. If you have a lunch break, play a full crossword. The two are complementary, not competing.
The implication: mini and standard crosswords serve different time budgets and skill levels, so the best choice depends on how many minutes you have to spare.
What Are the Best Mini Crossword Apps for Mobile?
NYT Crossword app
The official NYT app includes the Mini and full crossword, with push notifications when the new puzzle drops. It requires a subscription but offers the richest cross-platform experience.
LA Times Games page
Mobile-optimized web experience with streak tracking and a leaderboard (Los Angeles Times). No app download needed.
Washington Post Games
Responsive web app accessible from any browser. No login required (The Washington Post).
The catch: only the NYT offers a dedicated mobile app. Other publishers rely on mobile web, which works fine but lacks offline support and push notifications.
Are Mini Crosswords Updated Daily?
All seven sources covered here update their mini crosswords daily. New puzzles appear by early morning local time, and older puzzles are generally archived and accessible.
- The NYT mini updates at 10 PM ET
- LA Times mini is posted each morning
- Washington Post mini refreshes daily
- Seattle Times mini follows a daily schedule
- AARP, Kiplinger, and New Yorker also publish fresh puzzles each day
Some publishers (like AARP) may remove older puzzles after a period. If you like to replay, the NYT and LA Times have the deepest archives.
The implication: for daily variety, any of these sources works. But if you want to solve the same day’s puzzle without rushing, the NYT’s 10 PM ET release gives you a head start.
Confirmed facts
- New York Times has a daily mini crossword (NYT Help Center)
- Los Angeles Times offers a free mini crossword (LA Times)
- Washington Post offers a free mini crossword (Washington Post)
- Seattle Times hosts a mini crossword (Seattle Times)
- AARP Games Center has a daily mini crossword (AARP)
- Kiplinger publishes a daily mini crossword (Kiplinger)
What’s unclear
- Exact number of daily solvers per publication
- Which mini crossword is the most popular overall
For puzzle fans looking for a free daily challenge, the LA Times and Washington Post offer the best value—both are completely free with no paywall. But if you want the richest archive, community features, and a dedicated mobile app, the NYT Mini remains the gold standard, even with its subscription requirement.
For a broader comparison of free daily mini crossword puzzles, this guide also covers solve times and mobile apps.
Frequently asked questions
Is the mini crossword harder than a regular crossword?
No. Mini crosswords are designed to be solved in under a minute with simpler cluing. Regular crosswords have larger grids and more complex wordplay.
Can I play mini crosswords offline?
Only the NYT Crossword app offers offline downloading of puzzles (with subscription). Web-based sources require an internet connection.
How do I get hints in a mini crossword?
Most web players don’t provide hints. The NYT app has a “check” feature that reveals errors, but no direct hint mechanism.
Are mini crosswords only in English?
Yes, all major sources publish their mini crosswords in English. Some international newspapers may offer localized versions.
What is the history of the mini crossword?
The NYT Mini was introduced in 2014 as a smaller daily puzzle. Other newspapers quickly followed, with the LA Times mini appearing by March 2020.
Do I need an account to play the NYT mini?
Yes, a New York Times subscription is required. However, you can play the first few puzzles for free as a limited trial.
How long is a typical mini crossword available?
Most publishers keep the current day’s puzzle up for 24 hours, then it moves to an archive. NYT and LA Times have the most extensive archives.
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