QuickCross is a free daily 5×5 mini crossword puzzle you can solve in minutes. Each day brings a fresh set of across and down clues — just click a cell, type your answer, and let the letters fall into place. There is no timer pressure, no paywall, and no account required. If you enjoy the NYT Mini Crossword, you will love QuickCross. It delivers the same quick daily crossword experience — short, satisfying, and mentally refreshing — but without a subscription or ads. The NYT Mini Crossword went behind a paywall, but QuickCross is completely free and will stay that way. Think of it as the best free mini crossword online: a quick daily puzzle, no subscription, no login, works offline. QuickCross is part of PuzzleBoxs, a collection of 10 free daily puzzle games. Every puzzle is playable in your browser with no download, no account, and zero tracking.
How to play QuickCross: You will see a 5×5 grid with black and white squares. White squares form across and down words — each numbered to match the clue list. Click a white cell to select it; the highlighted blue cells show which word you are working on. Type a letter to fill the cell and automatically advance to the next. Click an already-selected cell to toggle between the across and down direction. Press Backspace to erase a letter. Use Tab to jump to the next clue and Shift+Tab to go back. The puzzle is solved when every white cell contains the correct letter. Your time is tracked from your first keystroke — try to beat yesterday's score!
Start with the answers you're most confident about — short 3-letter entries are often giveaways that unlock crossing letters. Read all five Across and all five Down clues once before writing anything; a later clue sometimes jogs your memory for an earlier one. QuickCross clues regularly use wordplay, abbreviations, and pop-culture references — if a clue feels oddly phrased, look for a pun or hidden meaning. When you're stuck on a Down answer, check the Across letters already crossing it — even two confirmed letters can transform an impossible clue into an obvious answer. Use the Check button to verify partial progress rather than second-guessing yourself, and save Reveal for only your toughest single-letter stumpers.
QuickCross vs NYT Mini Crossword: Both are compact 5×5 daily crossword puzzles designed to be completed in five minutes or less. The key differences: QuickCross is completely free with no paywall, requires no New York Times account or subscription, collects zero user data, and works offline as a Progressive Web App. The NYT Mini Crossword is only available for free to non-subscribers on a limited basis, and NYT tracks user data. QuickCross is an independent game inspired by the mini crossword genre — not affiliated with or endorsed by The New York Times.
Why play QuickCross? You get a satisfying daily mini crossword puzzle — completely free, forever. No subscription, no paywall, no account, no ads. Your solve time and statistics are stored locally on your device; nothing is ever sent to a server. Install QuickCross as a Progressive Web App and solve the daily puzzle on the subway, a flight, or anywhere without Wi-Fi. The puzzle is the same for every player worldwide each day, so you can compare times with friends.
QuickCross is inspired by the mini crossword puzzle genre popularized by The New York Times, but it is a completely independent game. Unlike the NYT Mini Crossword (which now requires a paid subscription for full access), QuickCross is 100% free, requires no account, collects no user data, and works offline. QuickCross is not affiliated with or endorsed by The New York Times.
Yes — QuickCross is completely free with no paywall, no subscription, and no ads. We will never put QuickCross behind a paywall.
Click any white square to select it — the highlighted cells show your current word. Type a letter to fill the cell and auto-advance. Click an already-selected cell to toggle between the across and down direction. Press Backspace to erase. Use Tab to jump to the next clue. The puzzle is complete when every white cell has the correct letter.
Most players finish QuickCross in one to five minutes — it is designed to be a quick daily brain exercise. Your solve time is tracked from the first keystroke, and your personal best is saved in your browser. Try to beat your record each day!
No. QuickCross runs entirely in your browser with no server communication. We do not use cookies, analytics, or tracking scripts of any kind. Your solve time and statistics are stored locally on your device using localStorage and never leave your device.
Yes! Install QuickCross as a Progressive Web App (PWA) by tapping "Add to Home Screen" in your browser menu. Once installed, the full game works without an internet connection — perfect for commutes, flights, or anywhere without Wi-Fi.
Yes — a new mini crossword puzzle is available every day at midnight UTC. The same puzzle is shown to all players worldwide on the same day, so you can compare completion times with friends and family.
QuickCross is one of the best free mini crossword alternatives available. It offers a fresh daily 5×5 puzzle with full across and down clues, a clean interface, offline play, and zero tracking. Unlike the NYT Mini Crossword which requires a subscription, QuickCross is always free.