Crossfire Alternative: Gridsmith vs Crossfire

Crossfire is the long-standing desktop crossword constructor: a one-time $50 purchase for Windows, macOS and Linux, with free updates for life. Gridsmith is a browser-based alternative for American-style grids that is free to build, fill, clue and save, with .puz export and print/PDF in a paid Plus tier. If you want the most established desktop tool and need rebus or custom dictionaries, pick Crossfire. If you want to start in a browser tab with nothing to install or buy, try Gridsmith.

Crossfire vs Gridsmith at a glance

Sources: the Crossfire product page for price, platforms, version, trial and feature claims, and Communicrossings for file-format details. Check both before you buy; vendors change terms.

Who should pick Crossfire?

Choose Crossfire if any of these describe you:

• You want one purchase and no subscription. $50 once, with updates for life, beats any monthly plan over a long horizon.
• You build puzzles with rebus squares. Crossfire has integrated rebus support. Gridsmith does not.
• You want a desktop app with offline control and multiple custom dictionaries you manage yourself.
• You use the Ginsberg clue database while writing clues.
• You are happy with an established tool. Crossfire has been in constructors' toolkits for years, and many tutorials and forum answers assume it.

Who should pick Gridsmith?

Choose Gridsmith if:

• You don't want to install anything. Open it in a browser on a Mac, Windows PC, Chromebook or Linux machine and start placing blocks.
• You want to try before paying. The free tier is not a timed demo. You can build, fill, clue and save as many puzzles as you like. You only pay for .puz and print/PDF.
• You build standard 15×15 dailies or 21×21 Sundays. Those are the two sizes Gridsmith supports. Symmetry is automatic and numbering updates as you edit.
• You like ranked suggestions. For the active slot Gridsmith lists candidate words consistent with the crossings. See crossword autofill for how the solver works and where it struggles.
• You mostly need a clean fill-and-clue workflow with a scored word list you import yourself.

Be aware of the limits. Gridsmith has no custom grid sizes, no minis, no barred or cryptic grids and no rebus. Filling a blank 15×15 from scratch is the hardest job for any solver, and it can be slow. It is not a collaboration tool, and puzzles live in your browser unless you export them.

What does each one really cost?

Crossfire is $50 once. Gridsmith is $0 for the core workflow and $39.96 per year (or $4.99 per month) if you need .puz or print.

Whether the paid tier matters depends on your goal. If you only want to construct, fill and clue a grid, you can stay on the free tier indefinitely. If you must hand a .puz file to an editor, a test-solver or Across Lite, you need Plus. At the annual price, Plus costs less than Crossfire for the first year and passes $50 after about 15 months of continuous use. Subscribe for a month when you are ready to export and cancel afterward, and it is far cheaper than $50.

How do I move a puzzle between Crossfire and Gridsmith?

Use the .puz format, which both tools can read and write. You need Gridsmith Plus for the Gridsmith side.

From Crossfire to Gridsmith

1. In Crossfire, export the puzzle as .puz (Across Lite).
2. In Gridsmith, open My Puzzles and import the .puz file (Plus).
3. Check the grid: block placement, numbering, clues and any circles or shading.

From Gridsmith to Crossfire

1. In Gridsmith, export the puzzle as .puz (Plus).
2. In Crossfire, import the .puz file.
3. Check the same items, then continue editing.

Two cautions. First, Gridsmith only opens 15×15 and 21×21 grids, so a different size will not come across. Second, rebus squares are a Crossfire feature that Gridsmith does not support, so a rebus puzzle should stay in Crossfire. Always look the puzzle over after any conversion. For background on the format, see how to open a .puz file and crossword file formats.

Are there other Crossfire alternatives?

Yes. Crossword Compiler is a feature-rich Windows program. Crosshare is free and open source, runs in a browser and also lets you publish for solvers. Ingrid, Exet, Qxw and Phil are free options with different strengths. The full list is in our roundup of crossword construction software.

Not ready to buy anything? Try Gridsmith in your browser and build a 15×15 grid with automatic symmetry. It is free to start.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free alternative to Crossfire?

Yes. Gridsmith is free to build, fill, clue and save in a browser, with .puz and print/PDF in a paid Plus tier. Crosshare is fully free and open source, and Exet, Qxw and Phil are free too. Each has different limits, so see the comparison of free constructors.

Does Crossfire run on Mac?

Yes. The vendor lists macOS (OS X 10.12 and later), Windows and Linux. It's a native desktop app, so you download and register it.

Can Gridsmith open Crossfire files?

Not the native .cfp format. Export your puzzle from Crossfire as .puz and import that into Gridsmith, which needs a Plus subscription. Only 15×15 and 21×21 grids can be opened.

Is Crossfire's free trial usable?

It lets you evaluate the app, but without a registration code it runs at reduced strength, sessions end after one hour and you can't save your work. That makes it a trial rather than a free tool.

Does Gridsmith support rebus puzzles?

No. If your puzzle needs multiple letters in one square, use a tool that supports rebus, such as Crossfire.

Which is better for a first-time constructor?

For a first puzzle, a browser tool with a free tier removes the cost and install steps. Gridsmith or Crosshare both work. Start with how to make a crossword puzzle if you want a walk-through.