Best Crossword Puzzle Makers for Teachers (2026)

Looking for the best way to turn your vocabulary list into a crossword puzzle? We compared four popular crossword generators so you can pick the one that fits your classroom.

Quick Comparison

FeatureGridlCrossword LabsDiscovery Education PuzzlemakerArmored PenguinWordMint
PriceFree (Pro $15/yr)Free (paid privacy tiers)FreeFreeFree to start (paid plans for full access)
AI clue generationYesNoNoNoNo
Live previewYesNoNoNoNo
Online solvingYesYesNoYesNo
Print / PDFYesYesYesYesYes
Background customizationYes (patterns + custom upload)NoNoLimitedImage library
Puzzle typesCrossword, word search, flash cards, matching, live quizCrosswords only10 types (criss-cross, word search, maze, cryptogram, etc.)Crosswords (word search and others are separate tools)Crossword, word search, bingo, matching, word scramble, multiple choice
Shareable linkYesYesNoTemporary (~2 months)No
Access codesYes (Pro)Paid onlyNoNoNo
CSV uploadYes (Pro)NoNoNoNo
Player trackingYes (Pro)NoNoNoNo

Detailed Comparisons

Why Teachers Choose Gridl

Try the Crossword Builder | View Pricing | Browse Puzzles | Blog